Patent ID: 7806127

Claim:
An enclosure for a smelt spout of a chemical recovery boiler, the enclosure comprising: a hood cover disposed above the smelt spout; an extension enclosing a first central region through which smelt flowing from the smelt spout falls in route to a dissolving tank; a double-walled skirt having a height extending between the hood cover and the extension along a perimeter inside of the extension, the skirt enclosing a second central region through which smelt flowing from the smelt spout falls in route to a dissolving tank, the skirt comprised of an outer wall enclosing an inner wall to define a trough between the walls, wherein the trough is filled with a fluid having a depth substantially equal to the entire height of the skirt, the trough and fluid adapted to cool the skirt, a fluid source coupled to the trough for supplying fluid to the trough; such that fluid overflows the trough and flows downward substantially evenly across the inner wall toward the dissolving tank to clean and cool the inner wall of the skirt; a steam source coupled to the trough, adapted to supply steam to the trough for cleaning out the trough; and a controller adapted to control the, fluid source and the steam source according to predetermined sequences.