Chimney
**Historical Development of Chimneys:**
– Industrial chimney use dates back to the Romans.
– Domestic chimneys first appeared in northern Europe in the 12th century.
– Smoke hoods were early methods of collecting smoke.
– Built-in ovens contributed to chimney development.
– Traditional materials for chimney construction were brick or stone.
**Construction and Materials:**
– Chimneys in houses were often built in a stack.
– Modern high-efficiency heating appliances do not require a chimney.
– Industrial chimneys are commonly referred to as flue-gas stacks.
– Reinforced concrete has replaced brick in industrial chimney construction.
– Flashing is used to seal chimney joints on a pitched roof.
**Environmental Impact and Design Innovations:**
– Height of a chimney influences its ability to transfer flue gases.
– Dispersion of pollutants at higher altitudes can reduce impact on surroundings.
– Modern industrial chimneys are often made of reinforced concrete.
– Central heating systems have made chimney placement less critical.
– Height of industrial chimneys is designed to disperse pollutants over a wider area.
**Chimney Components and Maintenance:**
– Flue liners protect masonry from acidic products of combustion.
– Chimney pots, caps, and cowls improve draft and prevent nesting of animals.
– Chimney draught is influenced by factors like stack height and design.
– Regular maintenance, including inspections and cleaning, is crucial for safe operation.
– Draft hoods are essential for gas-fired appliances to regulate airflow.
**Specialized Chimney Uses and Structures:**
– Chimneys with observation decks are common in certain regions, serving as tourist attractions.
– Some chimneys are repurposed for hosting antennas for broadcasting services.
– Cooling towers at power stations can double as chimneys, with considerations for corrosion.
– Unique chimney structures, like those with water tanks or observation decks, exist worldwide.
– Chimneys have been creatively utilized in various industries and architectural designs.
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A chimney is an architectural ventilation structure made of masonry, clay or metal that isolates hot toxic exhaust gases or smoke produced by a boiler, stove, furnace, incinerator, or fireplace from human living areas. Chimneys are typically vertical, or as near as possible to vertical, to ensure that the gases flow smoothly, drawing air into the combustion in what is known as the stack, or chimney effect. The space inside a chimney is called the flue. Chimneys are adjacent to large industrial refineries, fossil fuel combustion facilities or part of buildings, steam locomotives and ships.
In the United States, the term smokestack industry refers to the environmental impacts of burning fossil fuels by industrial society, including the electric industry during its earliest history. The term smokestack (colloquially, stack) is also used when referring to locomotive chimneys or ship chimneys, and the term funnel can also be used.
The height of a chimney influences its ability to transfer flue gases to the external environment via stack effect. Additionally, the dispersion of pollutants at higher altitudes can reduce their impact on the immediate surroundings. The dispersion of pollutants over a greater area can reduce their concentrations and facilitate compliance with regulatory limits.