초록 ▼

Pollutants in the exhaust from wood burning in a fireplace are removed by positioning reticulated foam between the smoke chamber and the flue. The reticulated foam is a three dimensional latticework of interconnected ligaments forming a porous, open-celled structure with a large internal surface are

Pollutants in the exhaust from wood burning in a fireplace are removed by positioning reticulated foam between the smoke chamber and the flue. The reticulated foam is a three dimensional latticework of interconnected ligaments forming a porous, open-celled structure with a large internal surface area. The internal surfaces are coated with a catalytic material which converts pollutants in the exhaust to harmless compounds. Heat from the exhaust, when the fire is burning, maintains the catalyst at a temperature for efficient conversion operation. Thermostatically controlled heaters are embedded in the foam, or thermostatically controlled electrical current is applied directly to the catalyst, to raise the catalyst temperature when the fire is growing or smoldering, periods during which the exhaust temperature is insufficient for good conversion operation.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.]1. A catalytic cleaner for reducing pollutants in emissions from wood burning in a fireplace having a smoke chamber and a flue comprising:a reticulated foam having external porous surfaces and internal pores interconnected by ligaments, said pores and ligaments in total, providing a

[ We claim:] [1.]1. A catalytic cleaner for reducing pollutants in emissions from wood burning in a fireplace having a smoke chamber and a flue comprising:a reticulated foam having external porous surfaces and internal pores interconnected by ligaments, said pores and ligaments in total, providing a low density structure with a high internal void volume and a high internal surface area, thereby, when positioned in a flow path of said emissions, producing a back pressure that is less than differential pressure between said flue and said smoke chamber; anda catalyst coating on said internal surface area which converts pollutants flowing through said pores to harmless compounds, thereby creating a catalyst coated reticulated foam.