Chimney cleaning door with integrated particle separator

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaning door with an integrated particle separator for a chimney and a chimney, comprising an opening and such a cleaning door, wherein the cleaning door can also be used in exhaust gas or supply air ducts or particle-carrying supply and discharge lines.

[0002] It is known from the prior art to use particle separators in chimneys for gas cleaning in order to remove particles from the flue gas circulating there. For this purpose, a spray electrode is arranged within the chimney and subjected to a direct voltage, which is why such particle separators are also often referred to as electrostatic precipitators. A main field of application for such particle separators is in so-called small combustion systems or room heaters or single-room fireplaces, such as room heaters, cooking stoves, tiled stoves, heating inserts or boilers that are fired with biomass such as wood, pellets or wood chips. The particle separator must therefore be integrated into the flue gas duct, i.e., into the chimney of the respective furnace.

[0003] The flue gas from such combustion systems contains fine dust and pollutant microparticles that should not be released into the atmosphere. To filter these particles out of the flue gas, electrostatic precipitators basically work according to the principle that the particles are first electrostatically charged by the direct current applied to the discharge electrode. They are then repelled by the discharge electrode and move to a collecting electrode where they accumulate. This collecting electrode is usually an inner wall bordering the interior of the chimney. The particles then agglomerate at the collecting electrode into coarse dust flakes, thus forming a dust layer. Since this dust layer can reduce the efficiency of the electrostatic precipitator as the layer thickness increases, occasional cleaning of the inner wall of the chimney is necessary.For this purpose and as inspection openings, cleaning doors are provided in appropriately equipped chimneys.

[0004] Examples of cleaning devices for similar applications are known from DE 20 2009 013 497 U1, DE 20 2006 016 244 U1, EP 2 163 309 A2 and DE 20 2018 105 322 U1.

[0005] However, it has been shown in such prior art particle separators that they are often complex to install and maintain, and that retrofitting existing chimneys is correspondingly labor-intensive and cost-intensive, as work on the chimney itself appears unavoidable. Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an easily retrofittable device that can be used not only in newly commissioned chimneys but also enables the integration of a particle separator into existing chimneys in a simple and cost-effective manner.

[0006] For this purpose, the cleaning door according to the invention comprises a suspension device by means of which the cleaning door can be connected to the chimney in a closable and openable manner, a door leaf with an inner side assigned to the interior of the chimney and an opposite outer side, which is designed to tightly cover a corresponding opening in a wall of the chimney in its closed state, wherein the door leaf has at least one opening, and a particle separator provided on the inner side of the door leaf, comprising a spray electrode which preferably extends parallel to the plane of the door leaf, is carried by an electrode holder extending from the inner side of the door leaf and can be supplied with a voltage by means of a voltage source, wherein the particle separator is attached to the door leaf by means of the at least one opening in the door leaf.

[0007] Thus, according to the invention, a particle separator is integrated with a cleaning door, which is to be provided anyway on such a chimney, in such a way that the door forms a single assembly with the particle separator and is accordingly easy to integrate but also replace or retrofit.

[0008] A control device can also be provided, which is arranged on the outside of the door leaf or connected to it via wiring components. This control device can be configured, in particular, to control the application of DC voltage to the discharge electrode during operation of the fireplace associated with the chimney, for example, based on externally input data regarding the operating status of the fireplace or by means of the temperature sensor discussed below.

[0009] In any case, the cleaning door according to the invention may further include a housing provided on the outside of the door leaf, which covers at least one opening in the door leaf and preferably comprises a removable cover. This housing can therefore accommodate, for example, electrical cables for supplying the discharge electrode and in any case serves to protect the at least one opening, thereby forming an additional barrier to prevent smoke from escaping from the chimney.

[0010] To enable optimal adaptation of the cleaning door to different geometries of the chimney to be equipped with it, the electrode holder can be designed to be length-adjustable, in particular by means of an adjustable threaded rod. This makes it possible to adjust the distance between the plane of the cleaning door and the extended position of the discharge electrode so that the discharge electrode is located centrally in the chimney, for example.

[0011] As already indicated above, the cleaning door according to the invention can further comprise a temperature sensor, which preferably extends substantially parallel to the electrode holder and / or is adjustable in terms of its length. During operation, the temperature sensor provided in this way accordingly supplies data about the temperature inside the chimney, which can be used, for example, by the control device already mentioned above or can also be forwarded to other external components, wherein it can also be adjustable in terms of its extension from the door leaf plane in order to compensate for different chimney geometries. Furthermore, it would also be conceivable to assign other types of sensors to the cleaning door according to the invention in a similar manner, for example sensors for specific types of gases, which could then likewise supply corresponding data to the control device.

[0012] In one possible embodiment, the connection of the particle separator to the door leaf can be made by means of a screw connection or a bayonet lock, but in principle there are no restrictions regarding possible connection techniques.

[0013] Although it is in principle possible to provide the door leaf with just a single opening to establish all relevant connections between the inside and outside of the chimney, and in particular to enable a connection between the discharge electrode and an externally arranged voltage source, as long as the corresponding opening is sufficiently large, in a preferred embodiment the door leaf can have two openings, one of which is assigned to the electrode holder and the other to the temperature sensor. In this way, the total area of ​​the openings can, under certain circumstances, be selected to be even smaller than would be the case with a single opening, which can be advantageous, particularly with regard to heat loss and the necessary sealing.

[0014] Although there are initially no restrictions regarding the specific design of the particle separator, the electrode holder can be accommodated at least in sections in an insulator in order to reliably exclude unwanted discharges of the spray electrode.

[0015] The cleaning door according to the invention further comprises a locking element which, when mounted, is configured to interact in a locked state with both a first counter-element on the door leaf and a second counter-element on the chimney in such a way that the cleaning door is clamped or pressed into the opening. The locking element can be removed from the counter-elements when in the locked state and thus detached from the door leaf and the chimney. In this embodiment, the attachable locking element allows the cleaning door to be installed and removed without pivoting the cleaning door, while the clamping or pressing of the cleaning door into the opening ensures tightness at this point.

[0016] However, in a further development of this embodiment, the locking element and the second counter-element can be designed such that they form a pivotable hinge, which allows the cleaning door to pivot about a pivot axis extending through the second counter-element in the locked state. In this variant, both a pivoting opening of the cleaning door and, in the event of the locking element being released, the removal of the door leaf as a whole are possible when the locking element is released from the counter-elements.

[0017] According to a second aspect, the present invention also relates to a chimney comprising an opening and a cleaning door according to the invention, wherein the cleaning door, when closed, tightly seals the opening to ensure that no combustion gases can escape from the chimney. The cleaning door according to the invention can be used in both ceramic and stainless steel chimney systems and shafts, and the cleaning door according to the invention can be easily installed or removed by simply attaching or detaching the door to or from appropriate hinge parts or other suspension devices and, if necessary, connecting the control system.

[0018] For cleaning the chimney, the cleaning door according to the invention can be replaced by an existing standard cleaning door without any openings. While, in principle, the cleaning door according to the invention can be installed, for example, in the attic of a building and thus be unobtrusive to the operator, it could also be used outdoors in adapted versions in which additional precautions have been taken to seal it and increase its weather resistance.

[0019] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof, when considered together with the accompanying figures. These show in detail: Fig. 1: a cross-section through a cleaning door according to the invention; Fig. 2: the cleaning door from Figure 1in a chimney installed condition, also in cross-sectional view; and Fig. 3: four views to explain a combined latch-hinge closure, which is used in the cleaning door from the Figures 1 and 2 can be used

[0020] In the Figure 1 First, a cleaning door according to the invention with a particle separator for a chimney is shown in a cross-sectional view and is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The cleaning door 10 comprises a door leaf 12, which is provided with a suspension device (not shown), for example a conventional hinge or the one shown in FIG. Figure 3 the combined latch-hinge closure explained below, with a Figure 1can be connected to a chimney (not shown). In this case, the door leaf 12 has an inner side 12a, which in the assembled state is associated with the interior of the chimney, and an opposite outer side 12b. Care must always be taken to ensure that, in the assembled and closed state, the cleaning door 10 seals the inside of the chimney from the outside in accordance with applicable standards and guidelines.

[0021] Furthermore, it can be seen that the door leaf 12 has two openings 12c and 12d through which the components described below are passed and through which a connection is accordingly established between the interior and the exterior of the chimney, in particular an electrical connection.

[0022] First, the first of the openings 12c is assigned a particle separator 14, which comprises a spray electrode 14a and an electrode holder 16, which is partially surrounded by an insulator 16a. Since the electrode holder 16 extends outward through the opening 12c in the door leaf 12 to below a cover 20, it can be contacted there to apply a direct voltage to the spray electrode 14a, so that the particle separator 14 can be operated in the manner of an electrostatic precipitator in the chimney.

[0023] Furthermore, a temperature sensor 18 is assigned to the second opening 12d, which also extends through this opening 12d and can be contacted on the outside of the door leaf 12 within the cover 20. Both the temperature sensor 18 and the electrode holder 16 are designed with adjustable lengths to adjust the corresponding distances between the spray electrode 14a and the door leaf 12 or between the sensor tip of the temperature sensor 18 and the door leaf 12, so that the cleaning door 10 can be used with different chimney geometries.

[0024] The cover 20 already mentioned above comprises, in addition to a removable lid 20a for access to the interior, a connection socket 22 to which a connection can be made to a control unit which is not shown in the present figure, but which can be attached, for example, below the cleaning door 10 on the outer wall of the chimney and which, on the one hand, instructs the application of a direct voltage to the spray electrode 14a and, on the other hand, receives and processes the data output by the temperature sensor 18.

[0025] In Figure 2The cleaning door 10 is now shown again in a sectional view in a state in which it is mounted on a chimney 100 and closed to seal the interior 100a of the chimney 100 from the environment. This shows that the spray electrode 14a has been arranged with the aid of the adjustable electrode holder 16 such that it extends vertically upwards precisely centrally in the interior 100a of the chimney 100, while the temperature sensor 18 has also been extended far enough to be located in a suitable position in the interior 100a of the chimney 100 and to be able to measure the temperature there.

[0026] Furthermore, it should be noted that the chimney 100 is provided on its inside in the area of ​​the cleaning door 10 with an inner wall 102, which in the illustrated configuration functions as a collecting electrode and thus as the counterpole to the spray electrode 14a of the cleaning door 10, so that the counterpole to the spray electrode 14a is formed by the entire inner wall of the chimney 100 starting from the spray electrode 14a.

[0027] Most recently, Figure 3 in four views a combined latch-hinge closure 200 is shown, which in the cleaning door 10 from the Figures 1 and 2 can be used and which enables both pivoting of the door leaf 12 about a vertical axis A200 and easy removal of the door leaf 12 as a whole.

[0028] For this purpose, the closure 200 comprises a locking element 202, which is designed to be in the position shown in the left figure Figure 3shown locked state both with a first counter element 204 on the outer side 12b of the door leaf 12 and with a two-part second counter element 206 on the chimney 100 in such a way that the cleaning door 10 is clamped or pressed into the opening.

[0029] For this purpose, the first counter element 204 is designed as a pin onto which a tapered slot 208 in the locking element 202 can be plugged, while the second counter element 206 is formed by two hinge pins onto which, in the locked state, two corresponding hinge sleeves 210 of the locking element 202 are plugged, so that in the Figure 3 In the state shown on the left, the door leaf can be pivoted around the hinge axis A200.

[0030] As can be seen from the second and third figures in Figure 3As can be seen, the locking element 202 can be pulled out of the locked state from the counter-elements 204 and 206 in the direction of the indicated arrow and can thus be detached from the door leaf 12 and the chimney 100, so that in addition to the pivoting of the door leaf 12 about the hinge axis A200 just described, a simple removal or installation of the door leaf 12 as a whole is also possible.

Claims

1. Cleaning door (10) for a chimney (100), comprising: - a suspension device by means of which the cleaning door (10) can be connected to the chimney (100) in such a manner that it can be closed and opened; - a door leaf (12) having an inner side (12a), which is to be associated with the interior (100a) of the chimney (100), and an opposite outer side (12b), which is adapted, in its closed state, to tightly cover a corresponding opening in a wall of the chimney (100), wherein the door leaf (12) has at least one through-hole (12c, 12d); and - a particle separator (14) provided on the inner side (12a) of the door leaf and comprising a discharge electrode (14a) which extends preferably parallel to the plane of the door leaf (12) and is carried by an electrode holder (16) extending from the inner side (12a) of the door leaf (12), and to which a voltage can be applied by means of a voltage source, wherein the particle separator (14) is attached to the door leaf (12) by means of the at least one through-hole (12c, 12d) thereof, wherein the cleaning door further comprises a bolt element (202) which, in the mounted state, is adapted to cooperate in a locked state both with a first counter-element (204) on the door leaf (12) and with a second counter-element (206) on the chimney in such a manner that the cleaning door (10) is clamped or pressed into the opening, wherein the bolt element (202) can be pulled from the counter-elements (204, 206) out of the locked state and can thus be released from the door leaf (12) and the chimney (100).

2. Cleaning door (10) according to claim 1, further comprising a control device, which is arranged on the outer side (12b) of the door leaf (12) or is connected thereto via cable components.

3. Cleaning door (10) according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a housing (20) provided on the outer side (12b) of the door leaf (12), which housing covers the at least one through-hole (12c, 12d) in the door leaf (12) and preferably comprises a removable cover (20a).

4. Cleaning door (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrode holder (16) is configured so as to be adjustable in length, in particular by means of an adjustable threaded rod.

5. Cleaning door (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a temperature sensor (18), which preferably extends substantially parallel to the electrode holder (16) and / or is adjustable in terms of its length.

6. Cleaning door (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection of the particle separator (14) to the door leaf (12) is produced by means of a screw connection or a bayonet coupling.

7. Cleaning door (10) according to claim 5, wherein the door leaf (12) has two through-holes (12c, 12d), of which one is associated with the electrode holder (16) and the other is associated with the temperature sensor (18).

8. Cleaning door (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrode holder (16) is accommodated at least in part in an insulator (16a).

9. Cleaning door according to claim 1, wherein the bolt element (202) and the second counter-element (206) are configured in such a manner that they form a pivot hinge (200) which allows the cleaning door (10), in the locked state, to pivot about an axis (A200) running through the second counter-element (206).

10. Chimney (100), comprising an opening and a cleaning door (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning door (10) in its closed state tightly closes the opening.