The laws of physics don't lie. Any downdraft that produces enough air flow to go against mother nature, will pull the flame, or suck it out. Change your layout to place the cooking zone on the perimeter.

I have had a downdraft with electric cooktop for years and years. It works well enough and much preferable to dropping a hood in my open space. Kind of presumptuous to say change the layout when you have no idea what the space is. But thanks for your comment.

I have a vague recollection of this being discussed on the GardenWeb kitchen pages. You may want to try searching/posting there. It seems it would have a lot to do with the BTUs you have to deal with and the CFMs it requires.

As an alternative thought - you mentioned you currently have electric. I have no idea what kind of electric range you have now but might you consider a induction range?

It is discussed frequently on Houzz. You can find past discussions by entering downdraft in the Houzz search bar and select the advice option from the drop down box. The primary complaint is as you stated, the downdraft does affect flame/heat. If you use a telescoping downdraft, one of the recent design changes is that they are generally 14" tall now which gets them above the flame of a gas range/cooktop.

downdrafts are much taller than they used to be, mine works just fine. thermador gas cooktop paired with thermador downdraft. no way a flame would be sucked down.

we were able to put the fan in the basement which saved a little room under the cooktop and makes it a fair bit quieter than our old one. which was 28 years old and also way to tall too suck down a flame.

I am talking a center downraft vent built into range. Not an option to do the cool telescoping one. And then there is the aestheics vs function...

oh the sort on jenn aire? do they make them with gas? i used to have one in another house on electric.

ok i answered my own question, yes they do. i have to think they couldnt make them if they were too dangerous, but what do i know.

If you have no other options, then you're stuck. You'll be going into it knowing that it is not the most effective form of ventilation but you've done the best you can.

given the parameters i'd stick with electric.

I have to downdraft our cooktop,and it does not work well, probably does just enough to keep you legal. The fire alarm goes off all the time. But heres the deal what else can you do short of completely changing course. Suck it up so to speak. I guess I would not go with an electric ranger either.

I currently have a gas stove downdraft vent. Can I change to electrical or am I stuck w gas?