Method for reducing flammable creosote and other organic deposits in fireboxes

Abstract

A composition and method for creosote control in firebox flues burning solid fuels combines hydrophobic metal additives with a fire accelerant. According to certain embodiments, the compositions may inhibit corrosion of metal flues in addition to creosote deposits. When the metal salts are added to an accelerant at effective concentrations, the combination delivers the metal catalyst to the lining of the exhaust system upon combustion. As such, the metals are conveniently and efficiently transported up the flue.

1 . A composition for use in solid fuel burning flues, comprising:
 (a) a hydrocarbon based fire accelerant; and   (b) a hydrocarbon soluble transition metal salt added to said accelerant, said metal salt having a chemical structure of the formula:
   X +m [Y −n ] p , wherein 
 (i) X is a transition metal having an ionic charge of +m and selected from the group comprising Mn, Zn, Ti, V, Cr, Fe Co, Ni, and Cu; 
 (ii) Y is an aliphatic anion, having a charge of −n, and selected from the group comprising RCOO − , RSO 3   − , RPO 3   − H, RPO 3   2− , RSO 2   − , RSO − , RO − , RS − , RN − R′, RCON − R 1 , and RCOC − O 2 R 2 , wherein
 R and R′ are each a hydrocarbon group selected from H, aliphatic alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, and hydrocarbon chains containing halogens, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur, aromatics, cycles, and ambiphilic chains; and 
 
 (iii) m=pn, and wherein 
 said composition is effective in controlling creosote deposits resulting from the burning of said solid fuels in a firebox flue. 
   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said hydrocarbon transition metal salt comprises manganese naphthenate, manganese 2-ethylhexanoate, manganese dinonylnaphthalene sulfonate, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein said composition further includes calcium dinonylnaphthalene sulfonate. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said composition is effective in controlling corrosion of metal flues. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said composition is effective in inhibiting combustibility of said flues. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said transition metal salt is added to said accelerant at a concentration of between approximately 0.01% and 25% (w/v). 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said transition metal salt remains homogenously dispersed in said accelerant after initial mixing. 
     
     
         8 . A method of maintaining a flue system burning solid-fuel, said flue system including an exhaust, the method comprising:
 (a) providing an accelerant comprising saturated hydrocarbons with added metal salts, said metal salts being soluble in said saturated hydrocarbons and having a chemical structure of the formula:
   X +m [Y −n ] p , wherein 
 (i) X is a transition metal having an ionic charge of +m and selected from the group comprising Mn, Zn, Ti, V, Cr, Fe Co, Ni, and Cu; 
 (ii) Y is an aliphatic anion, having a charge of −n, and selected from the group comprising RCOO − , RSO 3   − , RPO 3   − H, RPO 3   2− , RSO 2   − , RSO − , RO − , RS − , RN − R′, RCON − R 1 , and RCOC − O 2 R 2 , wherein
 R and R′ are each a hydrocarbon group selected from H, aliphatic alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, and hydrocarbon chains containing halogens, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur, aromatics, cycles, and ambiphilic chains; and 
 
 (iii) m=pn; and 
   (b) igniting said accelerant, wherein said metal salts are delivered to said exhaust upon igniting.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said accelerant is applied to a solid fuel which is ignited with the accelerant. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , said flue system being at least partially metal, wherein said metal salts are effective in controlling corrosion of the metal. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said metal salts are effective in preventing combustibility of said flue system including said exhaust. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said metal salts are effective in controlling creosote deposits in said flue system including said exhaust. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , said accelerant further comprising calcium dinonylnaphthalene sulfonate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , said accelerant comprising:
 manganese naphthenate, manganese 2-ethylhexanoate, manganese dinonylnaphthalene sulfonate, or combinations thereof, and   optionally, calcium dinonylnaphthalene sulfonate.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , said solid fuel being wood, charcoal, peat, coal, corn, grains, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , said metal salt being present at a concentration of between approximately 0.01% and 25% (w/v) of said accelerant. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8 , said method comprising periodically igniting said accelerant in said flue system in order to clean said flue system. 
     
     
         18 . A method of inhibiting corrosion, flammability, and/or creosote deposit in a flue system in which solid fuel is burned, said method comprising:
 a) providing a hydrocarbon soluble transition metal salt having a chemical structure of the formula:
   X +m [Y −n ] p , wherein 
 (i) X is a transition metal having an ionic charge of +m and selected from the group comprising Mn, Zn, Ti, V, Cr, Fe Co, Ni, and Cu; 
 (ii) Y is an aliphatic anion, having a charge of −n, and selected from the group comprising RCOO − , RSO 3   − , RPO 3   − H, RPO 3   2− , RSO 2   − , RSO − , RO − , RS − , RN − R′, RCON − R 1 , and RCOC − O 2 R 2 , wherein
 R and R′ are each a hydrocarbon group selected from H, aliphatic alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, and hydrocarbon chains containing halogens, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur, aromatics, cycles, and ambiphilic chains; and 
 
 (iii) m=pn; and 
   b) delivering said salt to components of the flue system during ignition of a fuel in the system.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , comprising delivering to the flue system manganese naphthenate, manganese 2-ethylhexanoate, manganese dinonylnaphthalene sulfonate, or combinations thereof; and optionally calcium dinonylnaphthalene sulfonate.