Fireplace firewood retainer assembly with air deflector, fireplace incorporating the same and method of reducing particulate emissions in a wood burning fireplace

Abstract

A firewood retainer assembly and a fireplace incorporating the same are provided. The assembly includes a grate for supporting firewood at a level above a floor of a fireplace combustion chamber. The grate includes a first end opposite a second end such that a width of said grate is defined between these ends. The assembly also includes a deflector positioned adjacent the grate for deflecting air entering said combustion chamber below the level. A method of burning firewood is also provided which results in reduced particulate emissions. The method requires the deflection of air used for combustion below the firewood, heating the air with embers located below the firewood, and using the heated air for combustion.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]In wood burning fireplaces, firewood, such as wood logs, are typically placed on a log retainer or grate that sits above the floor of the fireplace fire box. Grates 10 are well known in the art and typically consist of spaced apart interconnected bar members which provide a support 11 for the wood logs at a distance 13 above a combustion chamber floor 17. As combustion of the wood logs 12, 14 supported by the grate takes place, air is drawn into the fireplace combustion chamber 15 where the logs are located. Gaseous combustion products generated by the combustion of the logs are collected and exhausted via a chimney system above the combustion zone, whereas ambers 16 from log combustion remain underneath the grate and can be removed manually after the flame is extinguished.[0002]In conventional wood burning fireplaces, as the air 18 enters the combustion chamber, it is drawn through the side of the grate, as for example shown in FIG. 1, and partially...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Applicant has discovered that this cooling of the front log results in inefficient combustion resulting in high particulate matter emissions.

In fact, a good portion of the air that enters the combustion chamber 15 is not used for combustion and just gets exhausted through the chimney along the path 20, resulting in an inefficient use of the air.

Moreover, this unused air tends to have a cooling effect resulting in high particulate combustion.

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