Furnace valve design
The furnace valve is a three-piece structure:
- Cast iron body - frames (sometimes steel is used instead of cast iron) with side slots.
- A shut-off part in the form of a panel damper, thanks to the movement along the grooves of which, the sealing of the chimney is controlled.
- The control part is on a panel damper in the form of a handle. This makes it easy to manually operate the panel damper.
The shapes of the valves must completely match the shape of the chimney, according to this parameter, they are rectangular, square, round.
A few words about rectangular valves
The rectangular valve can be of various sizes from the smallest to the largest, when the valve length reaches 600 mm. Large options are usually suitable for Russian stove chimneys, fireplaces, barbecues, etc. The design task is the same - to block the flow in the ducts.
The smallest stove valve has dimensions of 13x13 cm, and the largest is determined according to the individual requirements of the consumer. The most popular size for these structures is 26 × 13 cm, since this is the size of the chimney of an ordinary Russian stove.
Thanks to square or rectangular stove valves, it is possible not only to stop the air exchange in the chimney, but also to adjust the intensity of the fire by changing the draft in the chimney and the throughput. For this purpose, they simply do not close the damper completely, and then gradually pull the handle towards themselves, thereby controlling uniform combustion in the firebox.
Steel gate valve with disc gate: main types
Depending on the shape, two types of construction are distinguished, while they accurately repeat the section of the pipe:
- retractable is the most preferred option today. Such a gate can be installed on steel, brick chimney systems. The product is distinguished by the presence of several holes, which are necessary so that the valve does not fully obstruct the chimney channel. This is provided for by fire regulations, requirements;
- swivel - characterized by the ability to rotate around its own axis. This option is considered to be less reliable, it is rarely used, only when there is no way to establish the previous type.
The specific choice of which chimney gate to buy will depend on the structure of the chimney system and the functional tasks that will be put on the valve. For example, if a fireplace or stove is bought, then most often the design in question will come complete with the entire system.
Round stove valve or view
A round stove valve is otherwise called a view. This is a special valve with a slightly different design than the conventional version.
The view consists of the following parts:
- Housings, in the form of a plate, which can be round or square with a round hole.
- A shut-off element in the form of a disc that closes the opening and closes the air exchange in the pipe.
- The control part, in the form of a conventional handle in the center of the disc valve.
It is impossible to use a view to control air exchange, since you need to remove the damper from the throughput manually, which is practically impossible in a heated stove, in addition to exhaust gases. The design is used exclusively as a shut-off element, often as an additional damper for a full-fledged result before igniting the furnace and after it has died out.
It is recommended to install both types of cast iron stove valves far from the firebox.
Chimney gate valve - DIY instructions
Most owners of country houses and summer cottages prefer to independently equip the heating system by building fireplaces and stoves. This, of course, requires a certain amount of experience, knowledge and understanding of construction technology.
One of the necessary elements for the stove, ensuring its efficient operation, is the chimney gate valve. In this article we will try to explain to you the principle of its operation and the step-by-step process of creating and installing it yourself.
Today, a stylish fireplace or an exclusive stove is no longer a luxury item and, if desired, you can build it yourself. In this article, we will tell you in detail what a chimney gate valve is, its main purpose and installation features.
How the stove valve closes, operating rules
The operation of a stove valve is quite simple in itself, but it definitely comes with some risks to human health. If you close the structure in a still burning stove or if the fuel has not completely burned out, then exhaust products can enter the room, poisoning the air.
Therefore, it is extremely reasonable to use a valve that allows you to save heat in the furnace longer, that is, you should close the structure on time. It is known that due to the cast-iron valve, the heat in the furnace and, accordingly, in the room remains for a long time. The use of such fuels as coal increases the temperature inside the furnace by about 60-700C.
Sometimes, in order to save fuel, the valve is closed earlier, before its complete combustion, which is highly undesirable. After all, human health and life are higher than any savings. Closing the damper earlier than necessary increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a combustion product that is poisonous. Therefore, in order to avoid such situations, you need to correctly use the chimney valve, following some rules:
- Before closing, it is imperative to stir up the coals to avoid the presence of completely unburned pieces.
- At the initial attenuation of the coal, when the blue fire is no longer visible on the surface, the shutter must be slightly closed, but it is not recommended to close it completely. After all, the presence of coals does not mean that they are completely burnt out. If there is a need to seal the pipe, then this should be done after the coal has completely burned out.
- Next, you need to open the blower so that traction is formed, and the remaining coals completely turned into ash and ash.
Principle of use
In order to reduce the thrust, you need to close the damper a little. If you want, on the contrary, to increase the thrust, you need to open the gate. The principle of use is extremely simple.
The main thing is to choose the right device for your oven and learn how to use it (although it is very simple). An important nuance is that when the oven is idle for a long time, you must keep the gate closed in order to avoid foreign elements getting there.
Also, the gate separates the insulated part of the chimney from the non-insulated part. The gate is usually installed at the beginning of the pipe. At the end, where the pipes are well insulated, the installation of a valve is not recommended.
What are the functions of the damper?
- With its help, the thrust is regulated.
- It protects the chimney from temperature extremes.
The need for valves and views in the chimney
The damper is an integral part of the stove, which closes the chimney after firing it. In combined furnaces, such as cooking and heating, this design allows you to switch between the flue ducts.
The damper, as a rule, is installed in the chimney when laying the stove, securing it with several rows of bricks.Often, two valves are installed, especially in rooms in cold climatic conditions, when temperature differences are more significant, which leads to rapid heat transfer.
The view is installed in the chimney in the same way, but it is usually used in Russian stoves. Such a valve is closed from the outside with a special door. If it is necessary to ventilate and cool the oven, all this can be organized in a closed view door.
The design of the furnace view eliminates the installation of an additional valve, because it completely copes with the sealing of the chimney. When using a second valve, it is installed below the view.
What is a gate?
The basis for a good draft in your heating system is the gate.
The stove damper (gate) is an element that regulates the air flow and helps maintain a healthy draft of the apparatus. Simply put, it is a metal damper that is installed in the chimney duct.
Experience shows that no furnace can do without a gate. Without this device, you will lose traction and, consequently, heat. A gate for a homemade stove is easy to buy or even do it yourself. Its construction is quite simple.
How to install a damper on a chimney
The valve is usually installed during the construction and assembly of the stove. The process is carried out in several stages:
- Laying bricks around the fittings in a selected location at a specific stage in the construction of the chimney. In this case, the dimensions of the hole left must completely coincide with the dimensions of the valve. Often, a wire is installed in the corners of the body, mounting it into the body of the masonry.
- Installation of the valve frame with fixing the upper part with cement mortar.
- Application of cement mortar along the perimeter of the frame and a wire about 1 cm thick, followed by laying a row of bricks.
- Installation of a valve in the chimney.
A conventional cast-iron stove gate valve is locked by a shield shutter, which is mounted in the frame body through a slot. It can also be installed after the frame has been installed. The flap at the view is closed manually, therefore, a special door must be installed above the body of this design, with which it will be possible to control the lid.
After this, the chimney continues to be laid accordingly.
Summer damper and its meaning
Often in furnaces there is an element such as a summer damper, which has a specific purpose. The summer damper is used in fireplaces or Russian stoves that are heated irregularly or periodically at long intervals. For example, in stoves in a country or country house, when it is heated only in the summer season.
The summer valve has some design features and a special arrangement, which makes the heating process much easier after prolonged cooling, even in the most severe weather conditions.
The operation of this structure is carried out in the following way: The stove must be flooded with an open summer valve, then, when the flame in the firebox flares up and some of the firewood is completely burned out, the valve should be closed to prevent heat loss.
Stoves with a summer damper installed in them have a number of advantages, for example, by pushing the summer damper and blower, you can use the stove at any time of the year as a classic open fireplace. With the help of the damper, you can easily get rid of excess heat in the room. However, it should be remembered that it is recommended to heat such a stove no more than 20 minutes, since the temperature can rise a lot, which is a feature of such fireplaces.
Benefits and Specifications
The chimney dampers are usually made of stainless steel with a thickness of one millimeter.The surface of the valve is polished, almost perfectly smooth, which greatly facilitates the process of removing soot.
Stainless steel gate
A gate made of such steel. able to withstand temperatures up to 900 degrees Celsius. The smooth surface of the gate allows you to achieve maximum efficiency of the equipment, as it provides excellent traction and does not create obstacles in the path of flue gases.
- Also a stainless steel gate with such characteristics has high resistance to corrosive processes, excellent mechanical and strength characteristics and low coefficient of thermal expansion. The last of the listed characteristics makes it possible to ensure the smallest change in the dimensions of the product with temperature fluctuations.
- Stainless steel gates have high thermal conductivity, which makes it possible to use them as efficiently as possible in heat exchange systems. Butt joints on chimney dampers are made by rolling.
Gate diagram - A standard stainless steel flue damper covers the flue area by 85 percent. This percentage is optimal for efficient removal of carbon monoxide gases... This is extremely important in rooms such as baths, as it can significantly increase the safety of being in them.
Shiber varieties
There are two models of the gate, differing from each other in some design features.
- Horizontal retractable gate allows you to regulate the process by extending the plate, thus changing the cross-sectional area of the smoke channel. This model is most often installed horizontally in brick chimneys. There are also special models for chimneys that are made of stainless steel. There are holes (or a cut-out segment) in the overlapping plate of the sliding gate. Their presence is explained by the fact that even in the closed position, the slide gate should not completely close the channel. This complies with building codes and fire safety regulations.
Rotary gate - Rotary gate (throttle valve) is a classic type. It is a plate mounted on a rotating axis located inside a pipe or chimney.
Both retractable and rotary chimney damper can be made by hand. To complete the work, you will need a grinder and a welding machine. It is not difficult to assemble these structures with your own hands, the main thing is to make the measurements correctly. If the measurements were accurate, then installing the finished gate with your own hands will not cause difficulties.
Gate location options
The most common options for installing a gate are:
- A gate built directly into the structure (located in the firebox as a separate element or in the outlet pipe). In this case, the chimney damper is installed on the first meter, that is, on the section closest to the heater. With this arrangement, it is as easy as possible to control the valve, since the handle rod does not touch the cladding and the portal.
- The gate located in the chimney is connected to other elements without additional fastening, using the pipe-to-pipe method.
- Before installing the gate with your own hands, you need to take into account that this design may have some disadvantages. For example, with a straight chimney, it will be difficult to clean the firebox from soot. Also, in some models, the gate can occasionally jam.
