Regulator Orifice Sizing
Required regulator opening area to throttle a ventilation split to a target quantity at a given pressure drop.
A regulator is a deliberate resistance โ a door with a hole sized to throttle a split to its planned quantity. The orifice formula here (A = Q/(1.26ยทโp... rearranged) is the classic McPherson square-law sizing; build the opening adjustable, because the circuit it lives in never stops changing.
Formula
Note: Mine ventilation is statutory and life-safety territory: airflow quantities, gas limits and re-entry times must be set by the registered ventilation engineer/manager under your jurisdiction's mining regulations โ this calculator is a planning and training aid.
Required regulator opening area to throttle a ventilation split to a target quantity at a given pressure drop. A free mine ventilation & air quality tool โ no sign-up, no upload, instant results in your browser.
About Regulator Orifice Sizing
Regulator Orifice Sizing computes the governing relationship A = Q / (Ccยทโ(2p/ฯ)), Cc โ 0.65 (sharp-edge orifice) live as you type. A regulator is a deliberate resistance โ a door with a hole sized to throttle a split to its planned quantity. The orifice formula here (A = Q/(1.26ยทโp... rearranged) is the classic McPherson square-law sizing; build the opening adjustable, because the circuit it lives in never stops changing. Defaults are pre-filled with realistic values for this exact scenario, and the worked example substitutes your numbers step by step so the math is never a black box.
How to use Regulator Orifice Sizing
- 1Enter your values โ Target quantity through split, Pressure to dissipate, Air density (sensible defaults are pre-filled).
- 2Read the live results: Orifice area required.
- 3Check the "with your numbers" line to see A = Q / (Ccยทโ(2p/ฯ)), Cc โ 0.65 (sharp-edge orifice) substituted step by step.
- 4Adjust inputs until the scenario matches yours, then copy or share the result.
Why use Regulator Orifice Sizing?
- โInstant, free and private โ every calculation runs client-side in your browser; nothing is uploaded
- โBuilt on the stated formula A = Q / (Ccยทโ(2p/ฯ)), Cc โ 0.65 (sharp-edge orifice) with authoritative sources cited on the page (McPherson, M.J., Subsurface Ventilation and Environmental Engineering; Hartman et al., Mine Ventilation and Air Conditioning, 3rd ed.)
- โA regulator is a deliberate resistance โ a door with a hole sized to throttle a split to its planned quantity.
- โSI โ Imperial toggle converts your inputs in place, so you can work in the units your drawings use
Frequently asked questions
What formula does the regulator orifice sizing use?+
It evaluates A = Q / (Ccยทโ(2p/ฯ)), Cc โ 0.65 (sharp-edge orifice), exactly as published. Sources: McPherson, M.J., Subsurface Ventilation and Environmental Engineering; Hartman et al., Mine Ventilation and Air Conditioning, 3rd ed.. The substituted worked example on the page lets you verify every step against the textbook.
How should I read the result โ and how far can I trust it?+
A regulator is a deliberate resistance โ a door with a hole sized to throttle a split to its planned quantity. Mine ventilation is statutory and life-safety territory: airflow quantities, gas limits and re-entry times must be set by the registered ventilation engineer/manager under your jurisdiction's mining regulations โ this calculator is a planning and training aid.
When is this calculator the right tool for the job?+
Required regulator opening area to throttle a ventilation split to a target quantity at a given pressure drop. A free mine ventilation & air quality tool. The orifice formula here (A = Q/(1.26ยทโp... For neighbouring scenarios, the related tools below cover the same engine with different presets.
Does it support both metric and imperial units?+
Yes โ the SI โ Imperial toggle converts the values already in the fields, preserving the physical quantity, so you can flip mid-calculation without re-entering anything.
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