US005882365A

United States Patent [19] [11] Patent Number: 5,882,365

Farj on et al. [45] Date of Patent: Mar. 16, 1999

[54] SOOT DISAGGREGATING COMBUSTIBLE 3,297,419 1/1967 Eyre, Jr. ...................................... .. 44/6
AGENT 3,637,355 1/1972 Brockbank .. 44/1 R
3,951,613 4/1976 Kiele ......... .. 44/5
[75] Inventors: Thierry Farjon, Chanteloup les Vignes; 4,062,655 12/1977 Brockbank .. 44/6
4,147,518 4/1979 DeHart et al. ............................ .. 44/13
Oliver Boinet, Paris, both of France
4,481,010 11/1984 MacKoWiak et al. ...................... .. 44/5
5,284,636 2/1994 Goff et al. ............................ .. 423/235
[73] Assignee: Eurexim, France
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
[21] Appl. No.: 947,627
2 554 458 5/1985 France .
[22] Filed: Oct. 9, 1997
[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Primary Examiner—Jerry D. Johnson
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Millen, White, Zelano, &
Oct. 10, 1996 [FR] France ................................. .. 96 12365 Branigan, PC.
[51] Int. C1.6 .................................................... ..C10L 10/06 [57] ABSTRACT
[52] U.S.Cl. ............................... .. 44/535; 44/553; 44/555;
44/557; 44/575; 44/576; 44/580; 44/590 Solid combustible agent for disaggregating soot and tarry
[58] Field Of Search ............................ .. 44/575,535,553, deposits in chimney ?ues, said agent comprising an aggre
44/555, 557, 576, 580, 590 gate of cellulosic particulate material, chemical and/or cata
lytic soot disaggregating agent and binder. This agent is
[56] References Cited preferably used alone, i.e. in the substantial absence of an
already ignited ?re, When combusted to treat the ?ue.
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
2,777,761 1/1957 Tarnoski ...................................... .. 44/5 20 Claims, No Drawings
 5,882,365
1 2
SOOT DISAGGREGATING COMBUSTIBLE GB-A- 1 001 772 discloses a cleaning agent for heat
AGENT transfer surfaces Which comprises a mixture of potassium
nitrate and a combustible material. This agent is introduced
FIELD OF THE INVENTION into a hot furnace.
This invention relates to the chemical and/or catalytic US. Pat. No. 4,481,010 discloses a creosote and soot
cleaning of combustion devices and chimney ?ues. It relates removing composition comprising a metallic chloride and
more speci?cally to a solid combustible agent for chemically trisodium phosphate, said composition being sprinkled onto
and/or catalytically disaggregating soot, a process for manu a ?re.
facturing said agent and the use thereof. US. Pat. No. 2,777,761 discloses a composition compris
Soot in the present disclosure is intended to mean deposits 10 ing ammonium chloride, copper sulfate and Wood ?our
of any kind Which form in heating devices and particularly Which assists in the burning of soot and carbon deposits in
in chimney ?ues. These deposits may be of various nature, combustion chambers, ?ues, etc.
such as particles of carbonaceous materials, ?ying ash and WO-A- 82 04065 discloses a process for removing soot
chie?y tars. The latter settle mainly in the loWer portion of from enclosed spaces comprising the introduction of steam
the ?ue ducts or chimneys. Formation and settling of these 15 saturated With speci?c chemicals.
materials are dramatically increased When burning solid US. Pat. No. 5,284,636 discloses the use of phosphorous
fuels such as coal and Wood, particularly When using air oxide to stabiliZe the ash produced by the combustion of a
tight stoves. heavy metals containing fuel.
STATE OF THE PRIOR ART DE-A- 3 429 584 discloses a combustion improving
20
composition comprising a number of chemicals including
The increased settling of these materials, and above all ammonium compounds Which are said to clean heating
tars, in chimneys is dangerous since these materials are devices and ?ues.
?ammable and can be responsible for ?res in chimneys. To resume, While a number of soot inhibiting or soot
They are also responsible for a decreased draft in chimneys removing (disaggregating) agents have been disclosed, it
and combustion devices since they decrease the ?ue section. 25
appears that none of them has been used in the same
Conventional sWeeping With a ?ue brush is not effective compositions or in the same manner as in the present
With tars Which form a hard layer strongly adhered to the invention.
Walls, so that even after mechanical sWeeping, a ?re in the
chimney can again occur.
The disadvantages of the cleaning agents of the prior art
30 are reduced or suppressed When using the solid agent for
Materials for the so-called chemical or catalytic cleaning disaggregating soot, or cleaning agent, according to the
of chimneys are replete on the market. Some of these contain invention, particularly When operating according to the
sulfur Whose purpose is to decompose soot and tars to make preferred embodiment of use of this agent.
them more ?ammable With all the resulting risks, such as a
?re in the chimney, since the ?ue must be heated to a BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
35
maximum to make the material operative; there also remains The invention is based on the neW concept of manufac
a risk of damage to the ?ue When using caustic soda or turing a solid combustible material incorporating an agent
decomposition products thereof for disaggregating soot and specially tars. When this mate
The scienti?c literature and patents disclose many other rial is combusted, particularly in the absence of a previously
chemical or catalytic agents intended to inhibit the settling 40
ignited ?re, the agent for disaggregating soot is progres
of deposits in furnaces and chimneys or even to disaggregate sively released and comes into contact With the soot and tars.
these deposits once formed; these agents unhappily cannot The cleaning agent according to the invention thus con
be handled easily in many cases, particularly When present sists of a solid aggregate comprising, as essential constitu
as a liquid or a poWder. The liquid agents require injection ents:
noZZles and, their use is not feasible With domestic heating 45 a) a solid particulate combustible cellulosic material,
devices; the poWdered agents cannot be used easily since a b) a chemical and/or catalytic agent able to disaggregate
poWder in more or less precise dosage must be sprinkled soot, and
onto a ?re of variable intensity, Whose measure and control c) a binder.
cannot be carried out easily. The above components are preferably present in substan
Finally a large portion of the poWder or decomposition 50 tially homogeneous admixture, although there can be
products thereof is lost in the atmosphere Which results to provided, for example, successive layers of components (a)
losses and pollution haZards. and (b) bound With component (c), or otherWise a ?nal
FR-A-2 554 458 discloses a solid combustible agent for super?cial coating of the mixture With the component (c) or
preventing or curing soot in heat generating devices. The (a) alone or With the mixture of (c)With (a), for example for
agent comprises e.g. Wood particles, a soot preventing or 55 accelerating ignition. In another embodiment the Whole
curing agent and a binder. The agent is used in an active component (b) is arranged in the center of the composition
conventional ?re in loW proportion, eg a feW tens of grams or along the central axis thereof.
of active material per each metric ton of fuel. The cleaning agent according to the invention offers a
The use of Wax as binder for saWdust in arti?cial logs is number of advantages When compared With the prior knoWn
knoWn from US. Pat. No. 4,147,518, US. Pat. No. 3,297, 60 cleaning agents, such as: it is “autonomous”, ie it is no
419 and US. Pat. No. 3,637,355. Chemicals in minor more necessary to make a separate ?re and to add thereto an
proportions may be added to improve the combustion or arti?cial log or a poWder in proportions not easily con
produce colored ?ames, but the resulting logs do not appear trolled; it can thus be used more easily by any user in hull
to have any effect on soot or tars in chimney ?ues. security and con?dence, particularly in strongly soiled chim
GB-A- 2 145 731 discloses cellulose briquettes incorpo 65 neys Where there is a high risk of ?re.
rating combustion modi?ers such as sulfur oxyacid deriva it also performs better since the active material Will be
tives or phosphorus oxyacid derivatives. released smoothly all along the combustion thereof,
 5,882,365
3 4
Which gives to the active material ample time to treat erence is given to paraf?n Wax Which is solid at room
the tars, the combustion of the cleaning agent heating temperature. Paraf?n Wax is a material Which burns by Wick
the tars up to a temperature Well adapted to an ef?cient effect and Which, once melted, may impregnate the elements
treatment. Cleaning is thus obtained more quickly than (a) and (b) and, after cooling, maintains a good cohesion
When using the knoWn chemical and/or catalytic pro betWeen these elements in the resultant solid material.
cesses. Paraffin Wax melting above 40° C. is preferred. Other useful
DETAILED DESCRIPTION binders are a naturally occuring, arti?cial or synthetic
The solid particulate combustible cellulosic material pref adhesive, for example a vinyl glue, a thermoplastic resin, an
amylaceous matter or stearic acid.
erably consists of Wood particles, for example as saWdust,
poWder, chips, ?bers or the like. Other combustible cellu 10 The relative proportions of the elements (a,b,c) may vary
losic materials can be used as Well, such as crushed or broadly depending particularly on the nature of each element
ground cereal straW, crushed and dried residues from certain in the composition, its porosity, its combustibility and, as
toWn refuses (vegetal residues) or residues from paper mills. concerns the soot disaggregating agent, its efficiency.
The siZe of the particles is usefully betWeen 0.1 and 10 mm In most of cases, the relative proportions by Weight are in
for saWdust and Wood meal. Other materials may be of the range of 20 to 80% of (a), 10 to 40% of (b) and 10 to 70%
greater length (chips or ?bers) but are preferably from 0,1 to of (c) for 100 parts of the mixture (a+b+c). Additional
2 mm thick. materials may be present, hoWever, either as carriers, e.g.
silica or silicates, or as combustion additives, or otherWise as
The chemical and/or catalytic soot and tar disaggregating
aesthetics modifying agents, e. g. a dye or pigment, or for any
agent may be any agent knoWn for that purpose. These
agents can be found in large number in the scienti?c 20 other purpose. Their amount by Weight Will remain beloW
literature and patents. A non limiting list of these agents half the proportion of (a+b+c) and Will be preferably beloW
10% and better beloW 5% of this proportion.
comprises ammonium salts such as ammonium chloride,
nitrate, acetate or sulfate, potassium and/or magnesium
The folloWing proportions are preferred:
acetate and nitrate, phosphates such as ammonium phos (a): 25 to 45% b.W.
25 (b): 15 to 30% b.W.
phates and alkali and alkaline earth metal phosphates, alkali
and alkaline earth metal carbonates, oxides and hydroxides, (c): 40 to 65% b.W.
such as for example those of sodium, potassium, calcium for 100 parts b.W. of (a+b+c).
and ammonium. Compounds of multivalent metals such as The combustible soot disaggregating agent according to
copper, manganese, iron and cerium may have a catalytic the invention may appear in any desired shape, either regular
30 such as cubes, cylinders, polygons of any type, spheres, or
effect and are thus useful in this invention, eg from 0.1 to
2% b.W. thereof. These compounds may be used as such or random shape. In the case of ?replaces normally operated
as mixtures. With Wood, the shape of a log, either large or small, is
Examples of such mixtures are: preferred both for aesthetical and practical reasons. The siZe
a mixture of potassium nitrate and ammonium sulfate of the log may be selected at Will and Will preferably be that
35 of the logs normally used in ?replaces, generally betWeen 10
(1:10 to 10:1 b.W.),
and 40 cm in length.
a mixture of ammonium sulfate and magnesium chloride
The process for manufacturing aggregates according to
(2:10 to 10:2 b.W.), the invention may be of the same type as that conventionally
a mixture of dicalcium phosphate, ammonium chloride, used When manufacturing a saWdust/paraf?n Wax log or
iron sulfate and calcium nitrate, 40 When manufacturing a merely compressed log, except that
a mixture of ammonium phosphate, ammonium sulfate the combustible material (a) is admixed With the anti-soot
and copper nitrate, agent (b) before coating or sticking With the agent (c) or
a mixture of potassium acetate and magnesium nitrate. during same. The resulting mixture of (a+b+c) may be
Improved results have been obtained With a mixture of press-molded or extruded or poured into molds. If the binder
P205 or phosphoric acid With an ammonium salt such as a 45 is used as a solution or dispersion in a solvent, the latter is
mixture of phosphorus pentoxide and an ammonium salt in removed thereafter by vaporiZing or drying. The constitu
the relative proportions of 10—90% b.W. of the former and ents of the aggregate are preferably distributed in a substan
90—10% b.W. of the latter, eg a mixture of phosphorus tially homogeneous manner, although the agent (b) can also
pentoxide and ammonium sulfate (1:10 to 10:1 b.W.) With or be arranged at the center or as successive layers.
Without added copper or manganese compound. 50 The aggregate, for example a log, can thereafter be
The Way the soot and tar disaggregating agent (element b Wrapped up, Whenever desired, preferably With a combus
according to the invention) operates depends someWhat on tible material to make the ignition easier, e.g. paper,
the selected agent. HoWever, irrespective of this agent, this cardboard, Waxy paper or cardboard, or paper or cardboard
Way has not been fully understood up to noW. It is apparent treated in some Way to be more easily ignited.
that these agents faciliate the conversion of the tarry deposits 55 The folloWing is a non limiting example of the invention.
to poWdered and poorly adherent ashes Which separate more
easily. The ammonium salts vaporiZe easily and appear to EXAMPLE
operate as strippers for the other inorganic compounds 400 parts by Weight of dry saWdust of 1 mm average
present. They have also themselves a self-disaggregating diameter are admixed With 200 parts by Weight of a mixture
effect on the deposits. 60 by equal parts b.W. of ammonium sulfate and phosphorus
It is thought that the mechanism is mainly chemical but pentoxide and With 600 parts by Weight of molten paraf?n
the optional metal compounds such as iron, copper or Wax at 80° C. After partial cooling to solidify at least partly
manganese compounds may have a catalytic effect. the paraffin Wax, the mixture is extruded and extrudates of
The above explanations must not be considered as limit about 30 cm in length and 12 to 15 cm in average diameter
ing the scope of the invention in any respect Whatsoever. 65 are cut therefrom. These extrudates have the aspect of logs.
The binder consists of any material able to maintain the These logs are Wrapped in individual paper bags, Which
cohesion of the mixture of the elements (a) and Pref hoWever is not compulsory.
 5,882,365
5 6
A log of the above type is placed in a ?replace Where the 7. A combustible solid agent according to claim 5,
?re had been previously fully extinguished and Where Wood Wherein the agent (b) comprises phosphorus pentoxide or
had been used as the usual fuel to such an extent that the phosphoric acid and an ammonium salt.
chimney necessitated cleaning. The log is ignited and burns 8. A combustible solid agent according to claim 5,
With ?ame for about 30 min to 2 hours depending on its siZe. Wherein the agent (b) comprises a mixture of phosphorus
Heat is evolved Which reheats the chimney and softens the pentoxide and ammonium salt in a proportion of 10—90% by
deposits therein, While the active agent begins to treat the Weight of the former and 90—10% by Weight of the latter.
?ue. Thereafter the log continues to burn sloWly While 9. A combustible solid agent according to claim 8,
evolving combustion gas, Which can last for example for 2 Wherein the ammonium salt is ammonium sulfate.
to 6 hours. The active material continues to operate and it 10. A combustible solid agent according to claim 5,
10
can be checked thereafter that the deposits in the chimney Wherein the agent (b) comprises ammonium phosphate.
have been strongly reduced, When not suppressed, or have 11. A combustible solid agent according to claim 1, in the
been made crumbly Which makes their removal easy. When form of a log.
treating strongly soiled chimneys, the treatment can be 12. Aprocess for manufacturing a combustible solid agent
reneWed or several logs can be combusted together. for disaggregating soot and tarry deposits from chimney
15
Thus after a feW hours a result is obtained Which is similar ?ues, comprising the steps of admixing:
to, or better than, that obtained in 8 to 10 days of treatment a/ a solid particulate combustible cellulosic material,
With the poWders of the trade.
b/ a chemical and/or catalytic agent able to disaggregate
It can be remarked that it is not necessary to place the log
according to the invention into a ?re already ignited and kept soot, and
alive. On the contrary the best results are obtained When 20 c/ a binder,
operating in the substantial absence of any other combus the relative proportions thereof being by Weight 20 to 80%
tible material or already ignited ?re. of (a), 10 to 40% of (b) and 10 to 70% of (c), for 100 parts
Good results have also been obtained With a similar log of (a+b+c) and shaping the resultant mixture.
comprising, as the active agent, a mixture of 40 parts b.W. of 13. A process according to claim 12, Wherein the com
ammonium sulfate With 60 parts b.W. of potassium chloride 25 ponent (c) is paraf?n Wax and the admixing is carried Out
or a mixture of 30 parts b.W. of potassium acetate With 70 With melted paraf?n Wax, the resultant mixture is at least
parts b.W. of ammonium sulfate With or Without added partly cooled doWn to solidify at least partly the paraf?n Wax
copper nitrate. and the mixture is extruded thereafter.
To summariZe, the use of a chimney cleaning, soot 14. A process for disaggregating soot and tarry deposits
disaggregating agent according to the invention preferably 30 from the chimney ?ue of a ?replace or combustion device,
implies the folloWing process steps: said ?ue requiring cleaning of soot and tarry products
1/ providing the ?replace Which is free of ?re With a solid accumulated therein, comprising providing in said ?replace,
combustible agent comprising as essential constituents: in the substantial absence of ?re, a solid combustible agent
a/ a solid particulate combustible cellulosic material, comprising as essential elements:
b/ a chemical and/or catalytic agent able to disaggregate 35 a/ a solid particulate combustible cellulosic material,
soot, and b/ a chemical and/or catalytic agent able to disaggregate
c/ a binder, and soot, and
2/ igniting and burning said agent in said ?replace, Whereby c/ a binder
the evolved gas treats the chimney and disaggregates the and igniting and combusting said agent in said ?replace, the
40
deposits therein. percentage and amounts of (a), (b), and (c) being effective to
What is claimed as our invention: disaggregate the soot and tarry products substantially,
1. A combustible solid agent for disaggregating soot and thereby cleaning said ?ue.
tarry deposits in chimney ?ues, Which comprises as essential 15. A process according to claim 14, Wherein the solid
aggregated constituents: combustible agent Which comprises the constituents (a), (b)
45
a/ a solid particulate combustible cellulosic material, and (c) is in the form of at least one log and constitutes the
b/ a chemical and/or catalytic agent able to disaggregate only combustible material in the ?replace, the relative
soot, and proportions thereof being by Weight 20—80% of (a), 10—40%
c/ a binder,
of (b) and 10—70% of (c) for 100 parts of (a+b+c).
Wherein the relative proportions of said essential constitu 16. A Process according to claim 15, Wherein the cellu
50 losic material (a) comprises Wood particles and the binder
ents are, by Weight, from 20 to 80% of (a), from 10 to 40%
(c) is paraf?n Wax, an adhesive material, a thermoplastic
of (b) and from 10 to 70% of (c) for 100 parts of (a+b+c). resin, an amylaceous material or stearic acid.
2. A combustable solid agent according to claim 1,
Wherein the relative proportions are, by Weight, from 25 to 17. Aprocess according to claim 16, Wherein the relative
45% of (a), from 15 to 30% of (b) and from 40 to 65% of proportions of the constituents (a), (b) and (c) are, by Weight,
55 from 25 to 45% of (a), from 15 to 30% of (b) and from 40
(c) for 100 parts of (a+b+c). to 65% of (c) for 100 parts of (a+b+c).
3. A combustible solid agent according to claim 1, in the
form of a log of 10 to 40 cm in length. 18. A Process according to claim 16, Wherein the con
4. A combustible solid agent according to claim 1, in the stituent (b) comprises phosphorus pentoxide or phosphoric
form of a log having an autonomous combustion time With acid and an ammonium salt.
?ame of from 30 min to 2 hours. 60 19. A Process according to claim 16, Wherein the con
5. A combustable solid agent according to claim 1, stituent (b) comprises ammonium phosphate.
Wherein the solid particulate combustible cellulosic material 20. Process according to claim 16, Wherein the constituent
(a) consists essentially of Wood particles and the binder (c) (b) comprises phosphorus pentoxide and ammonium sulfate
is paraffin Wax, an adhesive material, a thermoplastic resin, in proportions of 10—90% by Weight of the former to
an amylaceous material or stearic acid. 65 90—10% by Weight of the latter.
6. A combustible solid agent according to claim 5,
Wherein the agent (b) comprises an ammonium salt. * * * * *