Fuel for biofireplace: types, review of brands, how to do it yourself

Fireplace with the prefix "bio" works great in urban apartments. The device does not require permits, chimney, room for storing fuel. Spectacular unit does not recycle traditional firewood. So what does he need for burning? Agree, it is necessary to understand the issue, if you plan to get an environmentally safe fireplace.

We will tell you in detail how to choose the right fuel for a bio fireplace. You will learn from us what kind of fuel is required for its stable and safe operation, and what advantages its application has. Presented to your attention the article will introduce the popular brands of fuel.

Your attention is a detailed description of the types of fuel used for breeding and maintaining fire in biofireplaces. A recipe for self-preparation of the simplest fuel is presented and meticulously analyzed. Recommendations are given for refueling and igniting the fireplace, the observance of which will preclude the occurrence of threatening situations.

Types of environmentally friendly biofuels

The prefix "BIO" is now often added to labels based on the rules of successful marketing. Issues of conservation of ecology and cleanliness are in fashion all over the planet today. Bioproducts, biocosmetics, detergent biochemicals, purification and energy bio stations, and even biotoilets. It came to fireplaces and fuel to them.

Constructively biofuel fireplaces equipped with a standard burner and tank for liquid fuel. Adjusting the size of the flame and the rate of combustion of fuel is carried out by means of the valve.

If it is completely closed, the fire in the biocenter simply goes out by itself. In general, a fireplace is a great way to heat a room and bring a touch of coziness to it from the reflections of the “fire”.

Obtaining biofuels for such a fireplace involves the use of renewable natural resources, environmentally friendly technologies and feedstock in production. Plus, burning it should not give harmful emissions into the atmosphere. Humankind cannot do without fuel fuel yet. But to make it less harmful to us under the force.

Exists three types of biofuels:

1. Biogas.
2. Biodiesel.
3. Bioethanol.

The first option is a direct analogue of natural gas, only it is not extracted from the bowels of the planet, but is produced from organic waste. The second is done by processing various oils obtained as a result of squeezing Shrovetide plants.

As such, fuel for bio fireplaces is the third option - bioethanol. Biogas is mainly used to generate heat and electricity on an industrial scale, and biodiesel is more intended for automotive internal combustion engines.

Home fireplaces are most often charged with bioethanol based on denatured alcohol. The latter is made from sugar (cane or beet), corn or starch. Ethanol is ethyl alcohol, which is a colorless and highly flammable liquid.

But most importantly, when burned, it does not emit odors, carbon monoxide and soot. Just an ideal option for city apartments in which it is almost impossible to equip a chimney.

Wishing make biofireplace With your own hands will help step by step guide, which we recommend to read.

Fuel for work biofireplace

The use of smokeless bioethanol eliminates the need for a exhaust pipe, which often takes up to 60% of the thermal energy produced in the furnace. All the heat that comes from burning fuel remains in the room.

From this point of view, the efficiency of biofireplace is much higher than that of a conventional fireplace. The heat output of the biocenter reaches 95%. Plus, the flammable liquid itself has a higher calorific value than wood. WITH calorific value A variety of fuels will introduce our recommended article.

During combustion, bioethanol is decomposed into vapor and carbon monoxide (“bubbles in soda”), while releasing fairly large amounts of heat. No carbon monoxide and soot. The whole process takes place without toxic secretions and unpleasant amber.

Carbon dioxide in small quantities is harmless. It is even used in the food industry. However, you should not refuse from regular airing.

The resulting steam also slightly humidifies the air in the room with a burning bio fireplace. The same electric radiator only dries it. In this, Ekokamina wins over all heaters that work with electricity or heat carrier. But it gives less heat and as a result is not considered as a heating device.

Composition and fuel features

Biofuel is not only alcohol. It contains various additives that change the color of the flame, add odors and make the liquid unsuitable for “accidental” use inside. And the last point concerns not only attempts to drink alcoholic beverages by adults.

All manufacturers add bitrex to bitter taste in bioethanol. This almost completely eliminates the poisoning of liquid chimney fuel children who are able to find and try anything. When trying to drink ethanol with bitrex, the child will at least spit it out because of bitterness in the mouth. And often such a drink causes vomiting.

The composition of the fuel for bio fireplaces is present:

1. Ethyl alcohol (95%).
2. Water (4%).
3. Methylethylacetone solvent (about 0.5%).
4. Additives for odor and color (about 0.5%).
5. Denaturing bitrex (about 0.01%).

Pure biofuel when burning smells does not. But there are chimney fluids in which fragrances are specially added. Burning in a biofireplace, such fuel can emit aroma of needles, coffee, birch or maple firewood, etc.

But it is worth remembering, perfume requires more intensive ventilation. Airing the room will have more often, otherwise you may get tired of the excess of aromas. Total should be in moderation.

There are also variations of flammable liquids with different flame colors (red, orange, green). To select the desired biofuel, it is enough just to carefully read the label on the bottle.

There are always prescribed and the full composition, and additives, and heat transfer, and the shade of the flame. And if you need the “crackle of firewood”, then you need to look for a variant with sea salt. It burns slightly when burning, creating the illusion of using real logs.

Dignity and fuel consumption

Among the many advantages of the use of biofuels should be highlighted:

• no soot and ease of cleaning the burner elements;
• high safety in the issue of the occurrence and spread of fire;
• ability to control the intensity of burning fuel;
• almost one hundred percent heat transfer;
• humidification of room air due to the release of water when ethanol is heated;
• easy storage of liquid fuels in closed bottles.

The fireplace itself can be installed in any part of the room. It is light and mobile. If necessary, such a fireplace is transferred to another room, like a regular electric heater.

Only the biocenter has no wires and doesn’t need to arrange a small pile of firewood near it in order to put firewood in the firebox all the time. I filled the tank, ignited the burner, adjusted it, and then sit back and enjoy the heat and the sight of the flame.

When burning one liter of liquid bioethanol, about 3.5–6 kWh of thermal energy is released. The tank for most models of fireplaces under it is designed so that the flame without human intervention on one fill was maintained for at least 4 hours.

Some modifications of such equipment can work at all up to 30 hours. But much depends on the height and width of the flame. A single tongue is one thing, and another is a wall of fire in a wide hearth.

Pouring biofuel into the fireplace tank is carried out exclusively with the extinguished burner. You must first put out the fire and wait for the elements of the hearth to cool (at least 15 minutes), and only then add flammable liquid. Otherwise, it may spill and ignite in the wrong place.

Fuel consumption in most biofireplaces is around 0.35–0.5 liters / hour. For its ignition, a special metal lighter is used. It is absolutely impossible to use matches, paper or other combustible materials for this.

Browse popular brands

Biodiesel fuel for cars is mainly produced in America (USA, Canada and Brazil), as well as in India, China and Europe. Often this is presented as a concern for the environment and the expansion of the use of alternative energy sources.

But there is one caveat - for the manufacture of large volumes of biodiesel requires large amounts of organic matter (corn, rapeseed, sugar cane). However, large-scale cultivation of these crops consumes a lot of water and, again, fuel for agricultural machinery.

The result on the output is quite ambiguous. It is one thing when waste is recycled to produce such fuel, and quite another is the processing of plants specially grown for it.

With ethanol biofuels, the situation is somewhat different. It is produced on a much smaller scale. This is mainly done in Europe, but Russia also has its own factories. For the production of this bio-fuel, raw materials of plant origin are also needed, but not in such huge amounts as in the case of the automotive equivalent.

In domestic stores fireplace biofuel, you can choose from the following brands:

1. Kratki BioDECO (Poland).
2. InterFlame (Russia).
3. BioKer (Russia).
4. Planika Fanola (Germany).
5. Vegeflame (France).
6. Bionlov (Switzerland).
7. Bioteplo Slimfire (Italy).

The choice is quite extensive. Price per liter ranges from 260-600 rubles. The cost often depends on the presence / absence and combination of additional additives. Some aromatic oils are quite expensive. Although they are present in the composition of biofuels in the smallest proportions, they still influence the price.

Fuel self-made

For the manufacture on an industrial scale of ethanol, the basis of biofuels, technologies of hydration (hydrolysis) or fermentation are used. In the first case, the alcohol is obtained from cellulose. Straw or wood is used as a raw material here.

The second option provides for microbiological fermentation of organic matter under the influence of enzymes of bacteria and yeast. Raw materials in such industries are raw sugar, starch, rice, corn, grapes, etc.

It is ungrateful, difficult and expensive to make ethyl alcohol by fermentation or in any other way at home. Simply go and buy it in its pure form at the pharmacy. For biofuel manufacturing It is needed without additives and impurities. To achieve the necessary concentration and purity of the house, not having a chemical laboratory in place, is almost unreal.

To personally make for the fireplace 1 liter of biofuel, you will need:

• liter of 96-degree medical alcohol;
• 50–10 ml of purified gasoline (as in lighters).

Ideally, the second component should be transparent and odorless. It is needed to give the resulting fuel orange flame. Gasoline is also required so that the alcohol does not flare up all at once during arson, and after it burns with an even flame.

It is best to mix the composition immediately before pouring into the tank of biofireplace. The liquids used in self-manufacturing of fireplace fuel have different densities.

If they are left for several hours after preparing the mixture in any container, they will begin to separate. Gasoline will be released from alcohol and will turn into a film floating separately in it.

When using such self-made biofuels, a slight alcohol odor may appear in the room. To get drunk from him or to poison him is difficult.

Plus it disappears quickly. But the “flavor” of alcohol causes unpleasant associations in many. To get rid of such an amber, a few drops of a particular aromatic oil should be added to the composition of the fuel when mixed.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Video # 1. How to pour fuel in biofireplace:

Video # 2. The simplest table candle-fireplace on biofuel:

Video # 3. Making your own fuel for biofireplace - from the rectification of alcohol to mixing with gasoline:

A small biofireplace can be installed both in the apartment and in the office. It is safe and will revive any interior. When choosing a liquid fuel for it, the main attention should be paid to the availability of certificates from the seller for specific products.

All of these fluids have almost the same composition. They differ only in aromatic additives. Therefore, the main thing is that the alcohol should be of high quality and clean, and not fake with a bunch of harmful impurities.

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