CHIMNEY

A Chimney is a self standing structure for venting hot gases from a boiler to the outside
atmosphere and to disperse them at a considerable height. Chimney also refers to a system for
venting hot gases and smoke from a stove, furnace or fireplace to the outside atmosphere. “They
are typically almost vertical to ensure the hot gases flow smoothly”, drawing air into the
combustion through convention or forced by fans”.
The gas flow on each boiler is assisted by FORCED DRAFT FANS forcing the
atmospheric air into combustion chamber and also assisted by INDUCED DRAFT FANS
sucking out the combustion gases from the combustion chamber.
“Flue gases are produced when coal, fuel oil, natural gas, wood or any other fuel is
combusted in an industrial furnace or boiler”. Flue gas is usually composed of carbon dioxide
(CO2) and water vapor as well as nitrogen and excess oxygen remaining from the intake
combustion air. It also contains a small percentage of pollutants such as particulate matter,
carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides.
NOTE:
 When only a chimney is used, the system is a NATURAL DRAFT SYSTEM.
 When this is aided by an induced-draft or forced draft fan or both, the system is
MECHANICAL DRAFT- SYSTEM.
 Natural draft is normally used by small boiler, but large steam plants need mechanical-
draft to handle the large volume of air and gas products against resistance to flow.
 Their main role is to conduct waste gases and fly ash high enough to dilute them with air
and reduce air pollution nuisance.
Stack – name given to a steel chimney.
- The steel chimneys are made of steel plants and supported on foundation. The steel
chimneys are cylindrical in shape.
Functions of Chimney:
1. To dispose the exhaust gases at suitable height so that no pollution will occur in the
vicinity.
2. To produce the necessary draft required for the flow of the gases.
Calculations of Chimney Diameter and Height using Basic gas Laws:
T2
D

H
Fuel
mf kg/s
Furnace
Air
ma kg/s
 T1
Flue Gase; mg

D = internal diameter of chimney, meters

Calculating chimney draft and chimney area

The capacity of a chimney depends on the potential chimney draft - the pressure difference created by the
inside and outside air temperature difference and chimney height - and the chimney area
The pressure difference in the chimney pulls air and fuel gas from the boiler or fireplace through the
chimney and out of the building.

HEIGHT: H

Draft head/draft pressure/chimney draft; hw - the pressure difference created by the inside and
outside air temperature difference and chimney height.
- The difference between atmospheric pressure and the pressure existing in the furnace or
flue gas passage of a boiler is termed as draft. Draft can also be referred to the
difference in pressure in the combustion chamber area which results in the motion of the
flue gases and the air flow.

hw = ( ρa −ρg ¿ H ; KPa
OR:
h w = ha + h f ha = actual draft hf = frictional draft
hw
Therefore: H= where:
(ρa −ρg )

Density of air; ρa
P kg
ρa = where: T a = absolute temperature of air
T a Ra m3
Ra =¿ gas constant of air
Density of flue gas; ρ g
 P
ρg = where: R g=¿ gas constant of flue gas
T g Rg
T 1+T 2
T g= = average temperature of flue gases
2
DIAMETER: D

Ʋg = Area x Vs ; m3/s
π D2
Ʋg = ( ¿Vs
4
4ʋ g
Therefore: D =
√
π Vs
where:

π D2
Cross Sectional Area of the chimney, Area = ( ¿
4
mg R g T
Volume Flow Rate of Flue Gases; ʋ g = g
; m3/s
P
mg = mass of flue gas
Velocity, Vs = actual velocity of flue gases ; m/s

hw
Theoretical Velocity of Flue Gas in chimney, Vt = 2 g (
√
ρg
)

** Actual velocity of flue gases in chimney is only 30% to 50% of theoretical velocity, thus to
get the actual velocity, multiply the theoretical velocity by a velocity coefficient of 0.30 to 0.50.

Vel(actual) = (theo vel) x Cv where: Cv = velocity coefficient = 0.40(usual assumption)

 Value of R for any gases

ma mg

mf

mash
ma + mf = mash +mg
where: mash = usually expressed as percentage of mf.
 ma = mass of air
mf = mass of fuel
mg = mass of gas

1. A steam generator with economizer and air heater has an over all draft loss of 21.78 cm
of water. If the stack gases are at 177oC and if the atmosphere is at 101.3 kPa and 26oC.
What is the theoretical height of the stack in meter is needed when no draft fans are
used? Assume that Ra = Rg. Ans. H = 550 m
2. If the air required for combustion is 20 kg per kg of coal and the boiler uses 3000 kg of coal
per hr, determine the mass of gas entering the chimney. Assume an ash loss of 15%.Ans.
62,550 kg/hr.
3. A 15 kg gas enters a chimney at 10 m/s. I f the temperature and pressure of a gas are
26oC and 100 kPa respectively, what is the diameter of the chimney. Use R = 0.287
kj/kgK. Ans. D = 1.28 m
4. A boiler uses 2500 kg of coal per hour and air required for combustion is 16 kg per kg
coal. If ashloss is 10%, determine the mass of gas entering the chimney?A.42,250 kg/hr
5. The gas density of chimney is 0.75 kg/m³. If the driving pressure is 0.25 kpa, determine
the height of chimney? 54.6 m
6. The actual velocity of gas entering in a chimney is 8 m/sec. The gas temperature is 25 °C
andpressure of 98 kpa with a gas constant of 0.287 KJ/kg-°K. Determine the chimney
diameter ifmass of gas is 50,000 kg/hr?A. 1.39 m
7. A coal fired steam boiler uses 3000 kg of coal per hour. Air required for combustion is
15.5 kg per kg of coal at barometric pressure of 98.2 kpa. The flue gas has temperature of
285°C and an average molecular weight of 30. Assuming an ash loss of 11% and
allowable gas velocity of 7.5m/sec, find the diameter of chimney? Ans. 1.91 m
8. A steam generator with economizer and air heater has an overall draft loss of 21.78 cm of
water. If the stack gases are at 177°C and if the atmosphere is at 101.3 kpa and 26°C,
what theoretical height of stack in meters is needed when no draft fan are used? Assume
that the gas constant for the flue gases is the same as that for air. A.D. 550
9. If the actual draft required for a furnace is 6.239 cm of water and the frictional losses in
the stack are 15% of the theoretical draft, calculate the required stack height in meters.
Assume that the flue gas have an average temperature of 149°C and molecular weight of
30. Assume air temperature of 21°C. A.215
10. A steam boiler plant consumes 9000 kg of coal per hour and produces 20 kg of dry flue
gases per kg of coal fired. Outside air temperature is 32°C, average temperature of the
flue gas entering the chimney is 343°C and average temperature of dry flue gas in the
chimney is 260°C. The gage fluid density is 994.78 kg per cubic meters and the
theoretical draft of 2.286 cm of water at the chimney base is needed when the barometric
pressure is 760 mmHg. Determine the height of the chimney. A.46