Brick Chimney Research Articles

Development and tests of the novel configuration of the solar chimney with sensible heat storage

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems account for a significant part of the energy usage in buildings and are primarily responsible for greenhouse gas emissions and operating costs. These can be lowered by the adoption of solar energy. This paper presents the developing and testing of a novel solar chimney with sensible heat storage. The thermal performance and potential contribution of the developed thermal chimney to decreasing residential buildings energy consumption in Polish climate conditions is investigated. The developed solar air chimney is composed of a novel accumulation material that allows for sensible heat storage. Solar radiation can heat the accumulation layer during the day and the stored energy can be used to preheat the ventilation air. The prototype of the solar chimney was tested in laboratory conditions using a dedicated experimental rig. Furthermore, numerical calculations were performed using TRNSYS software, where a validated dynamic numerical model was developed to simulate the performance of the device. The results show that airflow direction, volume, and the number of heated walls significantly impact the power transferred from the solar chimney walls to the air. The maximum power transferred from the solar chimney walls to the air per unit of surface varied from 360.2 W/m2 (when all walls were heated) to 672.4 W/m2 (when only one wall was heated). The validated model underestimates the outlet air temperature of the solar chimney by a maximum of 0.39 °C on average basis and shows that the increase of air temperature between −10 and 20 °C at 1000 W/m2 determines a decrease of 12.5 % of the thermal output. The obtained results allow one to highlight that the proposed solution can be considered as a replacement for typical brick chimneys located on roofs or as a thermal storage wall.

Automatic Detection of Surface Damage in Round Brick Chimneys by Finite Plane Modelling from Terrestrial Laser Scanning Point Clouds. Case Study of Bragança Dukes’ Palace, Guimarães, Portugal

ABSTRACT Chimneys are architectural elements of difficult access and analysis in heritage buildings. This paper presents a method for automatic modelling of round brick chimneys and analysing their inclination, straightness and surface. The method uses as input data point clouds acquired with a Terrestrial Laser Scanner. Four chimneys have been surveyed on the north face of Bragança Dukes’ Palace in Guimarães, Portugal. The method consists of two main processes. First, the point cloud of each chimney is segmented into circumferential sections and adjusted to cylinders by applying Maximum Likelihood Sample Consensus. From the set of centroids, the inclination and the straightness of the chimney is estimated. Second, the point cloud chimney is segmented longitudinally and adjusted to finite planes. The distance estimation between the input point cloud and the modelled planes allows detecting the lack of bricks or mortar erosions. The proposed method allows estimating characteristics in chimneys even if the chimneys have not been completely acquired.

Factors influencing envelope airtightness of lightweight timber-frame houses built in the Czech Republic in the period of 2006–2019

In this research, 558 family timber-frame houses newly built in the period of 2006–2019 in the Czech Republic were assessed in terms of their airtightness. The air leakage through the building envelope was evaluated via the ‘blower-door’ method, and the most important parameters affecting the airtightness of these types of buildings were simultaneously evaluated. In low-energy houses with natural ventilation, the mean air change rate at a pressure difference of 50 Pa (ACH50) was ascertained as 1.03 h−1, and in low-energy houses with mechanical ventilation and heat recovery, the average ACH50 value was 1.07 h−1. Passive houses had an average ACH50 value of 0.44 h−1. The positive effects of mandatory regulations and government subsidies were demonstrated. The ACH50 values improved with each new year of construction; this trend was especially evident for low-energy houses. A very significant influence was also found from the company conducting the construction and the construction technology being employed; an on-site construction method achieved lower ACH50 values than a method based on panel construction with a higher degree of prefabrication. The ACH50 values were also affected by the presence of a chimney and/or type of the interior airtight vapour barrier. In particular, a brick chimney body impaired the ACH50 values. Timber-frame houses with a vapour-permeable air barrier systems generally had smaller air leakage rate values than houses with a polyethylene vapour barrier. However, neither the internal building volume nor the envelope area were found to be significant parameters in terms of airtightness for the lightweight timber-frame residential houses.

Применение комплексного подхода к определению надежности и остаточного ресурса дымовых труб промышленных предприятий

The article discusses the problem of determining the reliability and residual life of chimneys of industrial buildings, taking into account an integrated approach, which includes calculating the reliability of the "Chimney" system using the theory of graphs.
 Four chimneys were considered as objects for assessment: three brick and one metal. During the inspection, typical damage to each type of structure was revealed, the results of measurements of the strength of materials and verification calculations were analyzed.
 It was found that the results of calculating the residual resource of brick pipe No. 1 (the residual resource is exhausted, the structure is inoperative) is confirmed by the result of calculating the roll of the building (the roll exceeds the maximum allowable). Also, as a result of the calculation using a comprehensive methodology, the reduced reliability of metal pipes was confirmed in comparison with brick chimneys.

Standard fire testing of chimney linings from composite materials

Improper construction on of chimneys can lead to dwelling-house fires, smoke poisoning or death [1]. Due to the constantly increasing demands, new and more advanced chimney linings are being produced and used. In the case of reinforced concrete and brick chimneys, modern chimney technology applies linings. It is well known that the stainless steel and aluminum linings already in use can eventually become victim to corrosion.Due to the emerging corrosion defects, the development of a newer, more advanced material providing the same level of air tightness in the long term, has been proposed. The new composite lining material is expected to withstand aggressive corrosive substances produced in the chimney shaft and to meet the flammability requirements specified in the regulations. It is well-known, however, that high temperatures or fire are generally unfavorable for plastics.In our experiments, a newly developed composite material was tested according to the standards (non-flammability A1, A2, flame spread) for chimney linings. In addition to the relevant standard requirements, a more rigorous flammability test was performed, i.e. the flammability of the composite material was tested with different oxygen contents, which in our opinion perfectly and realistically reveals the flammability of a material and also replaces other traditional tests.The main goal of our experiments was to observe the built-in sizes not the standard ones and to classify accordingly. This is not only the direction of safety, but also gives a more realistic approach to the behavior of composite inline exposed to heat and fire.Fire classification and requirements do not keep up with the development of plastics and composites, so we make a proposal for a realistic classification. Accompanied by the results of the oxygen index test, we have given the parameter that expresses the best the non-flammability of composites. Incineration in an oxygen-rich environment reveals potentially hidden flammability characteristics, which standard tests cannot detect. The requirements of fire standards mandatory for building materials [2] do not change even if the composites are tested in their actual size.

Improving the efficiency of power boilers by cooling the flue gases to the lowest possible temperature under the conditions of safe operation of reinforced concrete and brick chimneys of power plants

The article presents data on the calculated values of improving the efficiency of fuel use at the thermal power plant as a result of the introduction of a technical solution for cooling the flue gases of boilers to the lowest possible temperature under the conditions of safe operation of reinforced concrete and brick chimneys with a constant value of the flue gas temperature, when changing the operating mode of the boiler.

Drilling-and-blasting method of demolition

This article analyzes the experience and gives the examples of dismantling and demolition of the construction structures of the buildings and facilities using the drilling-and-blasting method. The drilling-and-blasting method is widely used in construction and reconstruction. The demolition means may be classified according to impact on a material of structures to be demolished and to forces application, where, by virtue of an impact energy type, we choose the blasting method. This method is used during the complete demolition or fragmentation of concrete, reinforced concrete, masonry structures, of old buildings and facilities demolition to their base or in the intended direction. Blasting method may be used as well during the steel and reinforced concrete structures demolition to the smaller easy-to-move parts. Reviewed are the organizational-process activities, which are performed during the various structures dismantling. Given are the areas of application for the various methods of structures demolition. Given is the example of demolition of “Sevemaya” boiler house brick chimney at the territory of Murmansk DSK using the blast in confined spaces of the operating company. Subject of research: methods of construction structures demolition in alarm situations and acts of God. Objects: determination of the most efficient demolition methods in the present conditions of construction operations development. Materials and methods: the developed activities on the construction structures dismantling are given. Results: the most efficient methods and ways of construction structures demolition are defined. Conclusions: it is required for improvement of methods and ways of the structures drilling-and-blasting demolition.

Efficacy and evaluation of environmental management system to control sandfly vector of Kala-azar

The established vector for visceral leishmaniasis, Phlebotomus argentipes (Diptera: Psychodidae) breeds inside the human dwellings and cattle shed under crevices at the base of the wall. P. argentipes was controlled by plastering the base of wall (9″height × 9″base). The study was conducted in two phases: (i) Screening of plastering materials (ii) validation of the most suitable material.During the first phase (2014); four intervention materials were evaluated in four different arms: (i) cement (ii) brick chimney fly ash (BCFA i.e. waste material from an oven for backing raw earthen brick in charcoal) mixed with lime (95:5) (iii) wire mesh (25 holes/cm2) and (iv) glazed tiles. Ten houses were selected as test and same as control in four different villages for each arm having similar ecotype and similar density of sandflies. The pre and post intervention density of sandflies were evaluated. Significant reduction in sandfly density was found with cement (46.2%) and BCFA (29.6%) plastering (P < 0.05).In the second phase of the study (2015); the two most effective interventions were validated at village level with one control. A significant reduction in the density of P. argentipes was found with cement; 60.2% (Mean ± S.D. = 2.48 ± 2.78, 95% CI = 1.93–3.02) and BCFA; 48.2% (Mean ± S.D. = 1.98 ± 2.20, 95% CI = 1.55–2.41) (P < 0.05). BCFA was found easily accessible, acceptable and cost effective that can be used in any type of wall materials at own cost. This can be implemented as one of the integrated vector control approach in the programme.

Влияние местоположения отвеса на точность определения крена дымовой трубы фотографическим способом

There is a method of using the corded plumb as vertical reference straight line, located in front of the objective of a digital photocamera in the article. When we take picture of the object under study, there will be this straight line in the photo, from which we can carry out all necessary measurements in the Paint system with the following conversion them into metric system. All possible variants of location of the reference straight line relative to it axis are considered by the example of the construction of the tower round shape and it is shown a method of heeling calculation by image processing results. Experimental research to determine the degree of influence of plumb location in the photo relative to it axe on the accuracy of the heeling determination was carried out by shooting the brick chimney with the 30 metres height when the plumb is located on the chimney axis and on different distance from the left and right of the axis. It is set in the result that the plumb location has influence on the accuracy of heeling determination. The optimal location is on the centre of the top section of the chimney and there is shown the method of accounting corrections due to inaccurate location.

Causes of damage to industrial brick masonry chimneys

Abstract From the early 19th to the middle of the 20th century, brick chimneys formed part of the industrial landscape. As technology advanced, factories were abandoned and became absorbed by the cities growing around them but masonry brick chimneys found a new role as part of the historical heritage. A large number of these structures are now protected buildings, which means they have to be maintained in a good state of conservation. Architects and engineers who have to assess the condition or retrofit these structures therefore need to be familiar with the different types of damage that can affect brickwork chimneys, and having access to a classification of the different types of damage they are prone to would be very useful to them. This paper classifies and describes the most common defects found in these structures, compiled after a close inspection of 538 Spanish industrial chimneys. The types of damage were classified according to: a) changes in the materials used in their construction, b) damage caused by repeated actions, c) damage due to extraordinary events, and d) damage caused by living organisms.

Proceso de ejecución de chimeneas industriales de ladrillo valencianas y murcianas

The system used in Spain for the construction of industrial brick chimneys in east and south east of Spain and those that have been its influence is described in this paper, from interviews with different master builders belonging to the Valencia and Murcia schools, with styles and systems of very different execution. The addressed systems implement the knowledge of the Spanish Construction History, of an item that had a short life though it was essential in industrial development and becomes the key for a possible restoration of the element.

Расчетные исследования режимов работы кирпичных дымовых труб в условиях эксплуатации

Расчетные исследования режимов работы кирпичных дымовых труб в условиях эксплуатации

Voice-over, and: Scrimshaw

Voice-over, and: Scrimshaw Robert Gibb (bio) Voice-over i I live in Homestead with ghosts, says a voice From the blue, the town coming into view Below me on my walk, a voice more overheard Than thought out loud, more audio and earbud. Down to my right the twelve brick chimneys That used to rise from Open Hearth Five Now loom in memento, the Monongahela Beyond them and the Homestead Grays Bridge. The ghosts of the steel mills lapse-dissolved Behind the mall, ghosts on the avenue sidewalks, Chockablock bodies across. Tugboats And barges. The voice a kind of status report, One part of the brain to another, The one off-hand, the other caught off-guard. ii Working turns we called it, one week following Another in the mills: eight-to-four, Four-to-twelve, twelve-to-eight and graveyard, Lunch breaks in the middle of the night. Jet lag as though from time zones. I never got used to it, eating breakfast On my way to bed or getting ready for work, Winter afternoons when the light was already Turning ghostly. Keeping the Sabbath Was an early casualty of the spinning jenny, Clocks that never stopped. Turns like falls, [End Page 42] Two out of three, and you lost out On all you’d punched-in from, your portion Of labor under the sun shifting to fit the gears. iii My father ducked into his bar those mornings On the way to the office, the ghost Of his Uncle Andrew leading the way. The men working turns pouring through the gates Or standing in line in bakeries to pick up Their daily bread, lights still burning On the river, lights burning through the downdrafts Of smoke. And so loud you had to shout At the top of your voice if you wanted to be heard Near the furnaces. The ghosts of laundry Hung from lines in the small backyards, In the semaphore strung above the courtyards Of the vanished wards. Flagship tenements. Voices carried upward by the winds. iv Or a small still voice, like the one from within The whirlwind. A kind of remark made in passing, Its half of the conversation, a kind of overhearing. I live in Homestead with ghosts. “A good talking to,” they used to say, meaning You were in for an earful. They used to say The windsocks of smoke streaming from the chimneys Meant that men were working— The sledge of the forge and fire being bellowed— Casting sheds their tabernacles. In the sweat of thy face shall thou eat bread. Voiced, silent, bicameral talk. Below me the derelict roof of an old bowling alley . . . How quickly, in Genesis, it all comes to a halt. [End Page 43] Scrimshaw for the artist, Gendron Jensen i A littoral of a desk, spread with the photographs He’s sent from that rendered country: The salt-stung skulls and mandibles As pitted as pieces of driftwood, Ribs like timbers from a salvaged ship, The “great knobbed blocks” of the vertebrae . . . Mostly, though, I’ve pictured them As the last shapes dust takes on its own. ii In the museum I haunted, growing up, A sperm whale’s lower jawbone stood on end In the fathoms at the far end of its hall— A keel of sorts, forked like a witching rod, A tuning fork to set the waters churning. Imagine taking hold of it. The torque. [End Page 44] Robert Gibb Robert Gibb’s books include The Origins of Evening (1997), which was a National Poetry Series winner. Among his other awards are two National Endowment for the Arts (nea) Fellowships and a Pushcart Prize. His most recent books, Sheet Music (Autumn House) and The Empty Loom (U of Arkansas P), were both published in 2012. Copyright © 2015 University of Nebraska Press

Disaster of an industrial hall caused by an explosion of wood dust and fire

This article scrutinises a disaster affecting an industrial hall built of prefabricated reinforced concrete. As a result of an explosion of technological equipment used in the woodworking process, the entire pretensioned prestressed concrete girder structure, as well as the roof slabs, was badly damaged. Additional damage was caused by the high temperature generated by the resultant fire, as well as rapid cooling due to fire-fighting activities. Increased air pressure and the ensuing shock wave caused extensive damage to the brick walls in the neighbouring technology rooms. The explosion caused deformations of a brick chimney located more than 100 m from the blast zone. Subsequent investigations showed that a lack of adhesion of the tension members in the contact zone with an incoherent concrete structure could have led to a complete destruction of the covering structure. In the degraded girders located directly above the explosion area, a gradual loss of the prestressing force was observed. To prevent spreading of the disaster, ad hoc operations to protect both the structure of the building and the remaining technological equipment were developed. The girders located directly in the explosion zone were temporarily propped up and prepared for immediate removal. The article also presents an account of the reconstruction of the damaged building. In place of the removed prestressed girders, a light cover supported on truss steel girders was designed. The investigations that followed confirmed that an immediate cause of the hall’s damage was destructive processes triggered by the self-ignition of a mixture of wood dust in the improperly ventilated wood processing machinery. The resultant flame brought about a secondary explosion of the dust accumulated in the hall. The lack of proper human supervision of the industry control systems additionally increased the extent of the damage and financial losses.

Linking Population Declines with Diet Quality in Vaux's Swifts

Over the past 50 years, a range of environmental stressors has resulted in aerial insectivores throughout North America experiencing sharp population declines. Vaux’s swifts (Chaetura vauxi) are small, long-distance migratory birds that are currently experiencing range-wide population declines, especially at the their northern range limit. Many studies attribute the Vaux’s swift’s population decline to a loss in nesting habitat; however, other potentially exacerbating factors, such as changes in insect composition and diet, remain unstudied. Here, we examine a ~26 year dietary archive of Vaux’s swift guano to ask whether diet composition has changed over time. Vaux’s swifts roost communally at the same roost sites each year when migrating, often within decommissioned brick chimneys. As a result, guano accumulates at the base of these roost sites, providing a chronostratified snapshot of the bird’s historic diet. We obtained a vertical core sample from a Vaux’s swift guano deposit in a chimney on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. We symmetrically stratified the guano and assessed diet composition by visually analyzing egested arthropod exoskeletons, identifying them to order, and measuring δ15N signatures at each layer. Our 26-year data set revealed an increase in the ratio of Hemiptera to Coleoptera corresponding with an increase in δ15N, suggesting a possible decline in diet quality through time because Hemipterans tend towards higher trophic status than Coleopterans, but are of less caloric value per capita. In addition, δ15N was significantly negatively correlated with an annual population index (Breeding Bird Survey). We suggest a reduction in diet quality may be contributing to the decline of Vaux’s swift populations, and could be contributing to more declines in other aerial insectivore species.

3-D strong tilting observed in tall, isolated brick chimneys during the excavation of the Athens Metro

Excavation of a metro tunnel in the historical centre of Athens (Gazi/Technopolis area) in soft rocks produced considerable tilting, up to 7.5 ‰, but no damage to three isolated historical brick chimneys, 26–34 m high. Tilting was derived from coordinate changes of control points at the top of the chimneys measured from a remote total station and permitted to understand that during the tunnel excavation, the control points on the chimneys were moving roughly along semi-circles with radii up to 20 cm and that the overall motion of the structures can be simulated by inverted half-cones. While deformation of the ground due to tunnelling was so far usually assumed as a 2-D effect approximated by a Gaussian function, evidence presented clearly indicates a 3-D deformation (tilting of chimneys as rigid structures in different directions), in full agreement with new theoretical models of ground deformation due to nearby excavations (ground loss). Measurement of the 3-D tunnelling-induced ground deformation became for the first time possible for two reasons: first, the Gazi historical chimneys are isolated slender structures functioning as huge tiltmetres amplifying the amount of local ground deformation; in most other cases, this deformation is obscured/compensated by the response of bulky buildings. And second, the use of geodetic total stations (electronic theodolites) permits remote measurement of changes of 3-D coordinates of control points with nearly millimetre accuracy. Observed amount of tilting of the chimneys is several times larger than the accepted threshold of failure of structures during tunnelling/excavations, and this due to their foundations, limited in dimensions and directly on the ground, practically not subject to differential displacements. This result is important for future underground works in the vicinity of isolated slender structures such as towers, bell towers and minarets.

Archeological Investigations for the Levi Jordan Plantation House Stabilization, Brazoria County, Texas

The Levi Jordan plantation house is one of the few antebellum plantation structures to have survived in Brazoria County. It is the only standing structure associated with the plantation, which began operating in 1848 and was occupied continually up through the 1990s. The original house, built in the early 1850s using slave labor, was a 20x60-ft two-story wooden frame structure. It was altered many times during its long occupation, often due to hurricane damage. A portion of the Levi Jordan Plantation was acquired by the State of Texas in 2002 and managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department until 2008, when the Texas Historical Commission took over its management. By then, the 160-year-old plantation house had suffered greatly and was in bad condition. The Texas Historical Commission began plans to stabilize and restore the historic house. Prewitt and Associates archeologists were contracted to conduct the archeological investigations associated with this work. The stabilization project included the permanent removal of the twentieth-century additions, hydraulic lifting of the antebellum house, removal of the original foundation piers, and installation of a new concrete perimeter foundation. The two original brick chimneys were removed and reconstructed. The investigations, conducted in 2010 and 2011, documented the following features: 2 cisterns, 2 chimney footings and 39 foundation piers associated with the plantation house; a chimney footing associated with an east wing behind the house; a chimney foundation associated with a former detached kitchen behind the main house; a brick patio and walkway associated with the original house; two large brick rubble concentrations and a small brick cluster; and a possible rain barrel brick pad. Other features examined were 15 possible piers that may be associated with the original house, the original east wing, a possible west wing, a south porch, a west porch, and an east porch. The archeological investigations revealed many details about the architecture of the original plantation house and subsequent additions. The evidence provides a better understanding of the building construction sequence and insights into the complex evolution of the Levi Jordan plantation house over its ca. 160-year existence. The most significant find is an 1853 gold coin found in the brick pad at the bottom of the southeast corner pier. This is almost certainly a date coin that was placed in this location by Levi Jordan or a master builder in a cornerstone foundation rite, and it provides an accurate date for the beginning of the house construction.

Directional Blasting Demolition of Thick-Wall Brick Chimney with 65 Meters High

According to the environmental conditions on the blasting spot,the blasting notch shape and the blasting parameters were reasonably chosen,and series safety measures were reasonably adopted,which made a sixty-five-meter brick chimney to be demolished successfully.

Demolition of a Complex Brick-Structure Chimney with a Height of 56 Meters without Recoil by Demolitional Blasting

A complex brick-structure chimney with a height of 56 meters was successfully demolished without recoil through directional blasting in complicated environment. Some effective measures that helped control the direction of collapse and avoid recoil were taken in the demolition of brick chimney. The calculation principle and method of blasting cut is elaborated. The blasting is satisfactory.

Source

Source Jesse Graves (bio) Try to see the house as though you didn’t grow up there, as though your grandmother hadn’t been born in the front corner room. Would you want to live there? Would you slow down driving past? Not slow enough to notice, probably, the tiny green globes on the grapevine spiraling up one porch column, or to make out the faded white paint across the face of the brick chimney, which once read, “Nick 1977,” your brother, who got in so much trouble for writing it, whose life is now such a fast-fading dream. How could your life have happened here, so far from the universities and libraries where you flourished into yourself? Look in the upstairs window, there behind the lace curtain, where others have seen your grandfather’s face, who died before you were born, whom you know in pictures, like you know the taste of those grapes, too sour to swallow, too sweet to leave alone. [End Page 64] Jesse Graves Jesse Graves grew up in Sharp’s Chapel, Tennessee, in a family that came to America from Germany in 1730. His first poetry collection, Tennessee Landscape with Blighted Pine (2012), won the Weatherford Award as the outstanding Appalachian poetry book of the year. He teaches English at East Tennessee State University, where he won the College of Arts and Sciences New Faculty Award last spring. Copyright © 2012 Berea College