What does the simple area calculation mean?
Gross area equals required airflow divided by approved face velocity and free-area fraction, after using consistent units. It is only an opening-size screen.
| Input | Unit | Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Required airflow | Cubic meters per second | Genset and mechanical team |
| Face velocity | Meters per second | Mechanical engineer |
| Free area | Fraction of opening | Louver supplier |
| Gross opening area | Square meters | Preliminary calculation |
What else must be verified?
Cummins' ventilation guidance and Caterpillar's ambient capability discussion both show why air paths, restriction, heating and recirculation matter beyond opening area.
Sources: Cummins: Application Manual: Liquid Cooled Generator Sets, ventilation chapter, Caterpillar: Ambient Capability of Enclosed Generator Sets
Common questions
What else should the bid team know?
Is the result a final louver selection?
No. A supplier and responsible engineer must review pressure drop, weather protection, noise and installation details.
Can manufacturer airflow be copied from another model?
No. Use the selected generator's current data.
Are inputs transmitted?
No. The calculation runs in your browser.
Primary sources
- Application Manual: Liquid Cooled Generator Sets, ventilation chapterCummins
- Ambient Capability of Enclosed Generator SetsCaterpillar
- ISO 8528-10:2022, Measurement of airborne noiseInternational Organization for Standardization
- ISO 3744:2025, Determination of sound power levelsInternational Organization for Standardization