GB2304889A

GB2304889A - A damper for use in an open fire

Info

Publication number: GB2304889A
Application number: GB9518459A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Clark
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-09-09
Filing date: 1995-09-09
Publication date: 1997-03-26
Also published as: GB9518459D0

Abstract

A damper (13) for use in an open fire having a boiler flue outlet (27) and a main chimney outlet restricts the exhaust gas flow through the main chimney exit and promotes the gas flow through the back boiler opening (11), increasing the efficiency of the boiler (3). The damper includes a plurality of apertures, allowing some combustion gas flow into the main chimney exit, when the boiler flue is in the open position.

Description

"An Extended Damper" The Extended Damper performs differently from a conventional damper, due to the fact that when the Extended Damper is in the open position for the boiler flue, then the front part of the Extended Damper projects across and closes the main chimney exit for the exhaust smoke and gasses at the front of the boiler. This in turn directs almost all the air through the boiler flue feeding more oxygen to the fuel en route and causing it to bum with great vigour and thus generating more energy in the form of heat for the central heating system.

When the Extended Damper is pushed forward into the closed position for the boiler flue then it leaves the main chimney exit for the smoke and gases in the open position.

The Extended Damper has a double acting effect.

This invention relates to an Extended Damper preferably, but not exclusively, for increasing the efficiency of solid fuel central heating systems.

Typically in solid fuel room heater with central heating boiler, there are two routes for the exhaust gases. Conventionally, the first route is the route that draws the most air passing through the boiler, that is the route from the front of opening of the fireplace, straight up to the chimney.

This first route does not provide much opportunity for the solid fuel to burn with the oxygen in the air passing through. The second route draws the air through the front opening of the fireplace, through the solid fuel and up the flue that is adjacent to the back wall of the boiler. At the top of the flue is a damper which may be set at open when the boiler is required to be heated, and also may be set at closed if for instance overnight burning is required.

The present invention provides an Extended Damper for use in a boiler having a flue outlet and a chimney outlet, the Extended Damper having at least one aperture cutout and being dimensioned to be placed across a given chimney outlet. The perimeter being of various shapes to accommodate different makes and models of back boilers.

The invention has the advantage that it increases the efficiency of solid fuel central heating systems, by diverting the main flow of air, from straight up the chimney to the flue exhaust, which is adjacent to the back wall of the boiler. This change in the airflow patter greatly increases the amount of oxygen supplied to the solid fuel, and thus far more heat energy is released. The heat energy is then transferred to the central heating system by the escaping flue exhaust gases and flames.

Preferably, the Extended Damper is kept in place by one or more retainers.

Typically the Extended Damper is kept in place by a retainer at either side, in such a manner that when the Extended Damper is fully open then the front edge of the Extended Damper will be flush with the fireplace lintel. Preferably the Extended Damper is supported by the boiler and most preferably the Extended Damper is supported by the upper surface of the boiler arms.

Preferably, the Extended Damper is of 16" length, 10" breadth and 1/8" thick and is constructed from a plurality of suitable materials and most preferably there are a plurality of apertures cut out at regular intervals.

The Extended Damper may have a sliding vent, allowing for an open or closed position, or any position in between open and closed.

Alternatively, the Extended Damper may be constructed without a sliding vent.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front view of a fireplace, which incorporates a solid fuel central heating boiler with the Extended Damper in its operation position.

Fig. 2 is a side view of a solid fuel central heating boiler with the Extended Damper in the boiler flue open position. This in turn shows the main chimney exit closed.

Fig. 3 is a top view of one embodiment of the Extended Damper.

Fig. 4 is a side view of a solid fuel central heating boiler with the Extended Damper in the boiler flue closed position. This in turn shows the main chimney exit open.

Fig. 5 is a front view of the Extended Damper.

Fig. 6 is a side view of an Extended Damper.

In Fig. 1 a fireplace 1 comprises a boiler 3, a nest 5 that is situated at the foot of the boiler 3, and is surrounded on three sides by the boiler 3. Solid fuel (not shown) is loaded onto the nest 5 so that when the fireplace 1 is in use, the solid fuel combusts with oxygen that is drawn from in front of the fire front 7. The exhaust gases produced rise up and escape through two routes. Most of the exhaust gases escape by rising straight up the chimney, that is through the gap in between the top of the fire surround 9 and the top of the boiler 3. However, some of the exhaust gas escapes via the flue exhaust (not shown in Fig 1) that is located behind the back of the boiler 3. The exhaust gases enter the flue exhaust from the back boiler opening 11, which is situated at the bottom of the back of the boiler 3, and behind the nest 5.

The handle 17 of the damper is shown, the damper 13 controlling the exhaust gas flow through the flue, and thus controlling the level of combustion of the solid fuel in the nest 5.

An Extended Damper 13, having apertures 29, is positioned in the chimney exhaust to control the direction of the gas flow therethrough.

Thuswith the Extended Damper 13 in use, in the boiler flue open position, the main flow of air is directed through the solid fuel and thence through the back boiler opening 11 and up the flue. Thus there is a vast increase in oxygen available to combust with the solid fuel, and as a result, much more energy in the form of heat is released from the reaction. This increase in energy is transferred to the central heating system via the boiler 3.

Although there is an increase in the quantity of solid fuel that is burned, the extra fuel consumption is offset by the fact that the fireplace 1 can burn an almost continuous supply of a much cheaper fuel, such as dross or coaldust, instead of the more expensive coal.

It can be seen in Fig. 2 that when the Extended Damper 13 is in the boiler flue fully open position, the airflow pattern will be substantially different, with most of the exhaust gas now passing up the flue 27, due to the main chimney exit now being closed.

In Fig. 3, the Extended Damper 13 is shown with a plurality of apertures 29 cut in the body of the Extended Damper 13. For differing solid fuel central heating boilers, different vent sizes and arrangements may be required to optimise the efficiency of the central heating boiler. The Extended Damper 13, as shown in Fig. 3 is 16" length by 10" breadth.

Fig. 6 show the Extended Damper 13 to be substantially planar, with 1/8" depth.

Modifications and improvements may be made to the aforegoing within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An Extended Damper for the use in a boiler having a flue outlet and a chimney outlet, the Extended Damper having at least one aperture and being dimensioned to be placed across a given chimney outlet.

2. An Extended Damper according to Claim 1, wherein the Extended Damper is kept in place by a retaining device at either end.

3. An Extended Damper according to any of the preceding claims wherein the Extended Damper is supported by the upper surface of the boiler arms.

4. An Extended Damper according to any of the preceding claims wherein there are a plurality of apertures in the body of the Extended Damper at regular intervals.

5. An Extended Damper according to any of the preceding claims wherein a sliding vent is provided, allowing for an open or closed position, or any position in between open and closed.

6. An Extended Damper substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the drawings.