Biofuel for a fireplace: types of biofuel, its properties + how to choose and how to make it yourself

A classic fireplace is a bulky structure and requires regular maintenance.But modern developments make it possible to equip a compact fireplace in the limited space of a residential building or apartment. To a greater extent, this is facilitated by high-quality biofuel for the fireplace, obtained from various raw materials.

We propose to understand what types of fuels of biological origin exist, what are the features of their production, use and storage. Those wishing to organize a home will find it useful to learn about the operation and maintenance rules of eco-fireplaces.

And for lovers of homemade products, we have prepared instructions for making biofuel from alcohol.

What are biofuels?

This term refers to various substances that are produced from raw materials of biological origin, plant or animal.

There are several types of such fuel, among which it is worth noting:

1. Biogas. To produce such fuel, waste of organic origin is literally used, which is decomposed by bacterial cultures.
2. Biodiesel. To produce biodiesel, vegetable fats are used, as well as some animal products. Canola, coconut, palm, soybean, etc. oils are suitable as a production resource. Many plant and animal components are obtained from food industry waste. This product is usually used for transport work.
3. Bioethanol. It is considered as an environmentally friendly analogue of gasoline. The product is obtained through the fermentation of carbohydrates, the source of which is raw materials with a high content of starch, sugar or cellulose.

Eco-fireplaces use denatured ethanol. It is formed as a result of the fermentation of wheat, cane sugar, beets, potatoes, etc. Ethanol is also produced by hydrolyzing wood, straw and other high cellulose content resources.

The combustion process of such practically pure alcohol is not accompanied by the release of soot, smoke and other products.

In the production of biodiesel, oils of various plant crops are most often used; such compositions are usually used to operate vehicles

This allows this biofuel to be burned in an open device without the need for a chimney. Therefore, an eco-fireplace - a convenient small structure - can be installed right in the middle of the room. Then you need to fill it with biofuel to enjoy the warmth and comfort.

It is worth noting that pure ethanol burns with a bluish, almost colorless flame. It gives off a lot of heat, but it's not fun to watch. Therefore, manufacturers of such fuel introduce special additives into its composition, which give the flame a pleasant yellowish tint.

In addition to bioethanol itself, the fuel may contain about 4% water and a small amount of additives, such as methylethylene and bitrex.

To ensure that biofuel burns bright enough, special additives are added to its composition. There are also additives to give the flame a pleasant smell.

In addition, the mixture is supplemented with substances that give it an unpleasant bitter taste. Denatured ethanol is hazardous to health if ingested. Bitter additives serve as protection against accidental ingestion of the composition, although in any case it is necessary to follow the rules for storing this dangerous composition.

Some types of fireplace biofuel are supplemented with another useful component - sea salt. This component gives the burning composition not only a pleasant color, but also a characteristic crackling sound.

Various flavorings can also be added to biofuel for eco-fireplaces. Compositions supplemented with pine aromas are very popular. Sea salt-scented options are also popular.

Ethanol is considered a neutral product in relation to nature, i.e. its production, storage and combustion does not cause harm. During combustion, this substance decomposes into carbon dioxide and water, but does not emit any unpleasant odors.

When burning biofuel, of course, a certain amount of combustion products is formed, but it is insignificant. The device used for combustion just needs to be wiped down occasionally.

The industrial process of producing bioethanol consists of many stages; repeating it at home will be difficult and expensive (+)

Denatured ethanol is produced as a liquid or gel. Liquid biofuel is supplied in cans; it must be poured into the eco-fireplace’s container provided for this purpose. The gel is available in cans, which before use you simply need to open, place in the eco-fireplace and set on fire.

Sometimes two or three cans of biogel are used simultaneously to get a more beautiful flame. The contents of one container can burn for about three hours.

To extinguish the flame, just close the lid on the jar. Liquid bioethanol is poured into canisters with a capacity of one to twenty liters. The container usually has a convenient fuel consumption scale.

Such industrially produced compositions are supplied from Brazil, which is considered a leader in the manufacture of this product, as well as from European countries, Canada, the USA, South Africa, etc. This technology is being successfully mastered in India and China.

Liquid biofuel is supplied in plastic or glass canisters with a volume of one liter or more. Such containers should be stored away from heat and open flame.

When choosing biofuel for an eco-fireplace, you need to pay attention to its quality and safety. An important indicator is the amount of heat that is released during the combustion process. High-quality fuel usually comes with certificates confirming its safety and effectiveness.

Different compositions produce flames of different color and sharpness. This point also needs to be taken into account, especially if the fireplace will be used as interior decoration.

Bioethanol and its analogues are successfully used for lighting streets, gardens, etc. The mixture does not smoke; if the rules are followed, it is completely safe

This type of biofuel is successfully used for organizing street lighting. In this case, you should choose the composition that gives the brightest flame. It also doesn’t hurt to pay attention to the amount of combustion products; it should be minimal.

To store biofuels, you need to choose a place that is away from fire and heat. For ignition, use special metal lighters. The use of regular matches, paper and other similar materials can be dangerous.

Additional information about the types and choice of biofuels is presented in the articles:

1. Types of biofuels: comparison of the characteristics of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels
2. How to choose fuel for a biofireplace: a comparative review of fuel types + analysis of popular brands

Useful information on eco-fireplaces

The device is an enlarged version of a conventional alcohol lamp with an impressive design. There is a container for loading flammable substances, as well as a damper to regulate the intensity of the flame. To decorate an eco-fireplace, ceramic elements, metal parts and heat-resistant glass are used.

Bioethanol burns without soot and soot, so eco-fireplaces do not need chimney structures, this simplifies their operation and makes them mobile

Glass panels not only decorate such a device, but also serve to protect against heat. Not all devices have such protection, but glass screens of various modifications are sold separately.

It makes sense to purchase a protective element, especially if you plan to use a mobile model that will be installed in different places. Often such a fireplace is decorated with artificial firewood to give the structure a traditional look, but this is not the only option.

Eco-fireplaces come in floor-mounted, table-top, wall-mounted and even tabletop types, they vary in size but work the same way.

You cannot add fuel to the eco-fireplace while it is operating. If bioethanol has been spilled, the contaminated surface should be cleaned immediately

Such devices can be used to heat a room or as interior decoration. The device does not require wires, so it can be easily moved. For example, on a cool summer evening, an eco-fireplace can be installed on an open veranda. There are devices of various shapes.

An interesting option for a stylish office could be a miniature model, the chamber of which is built into the tabletop, with only the lid protruding above the surface. There are interesting options in the form of a basket, an elongated cylinder, etc.

Since an eco-fireplace in which such biofuels are burned does not need to be equipped with a combustion product removal system, the heat generated during combustion is not lost to heating additional structures.

The basic design of an eco-fireplace is almost no different from a conventional alcohol lamp, so such a device is not difficult to make with your own hands

Therefore, it is believed that the efficiency of such a device is about 95%, a fairly high figure for any system. For an ordinary eco-fireplace to operate for an hour, half a liter of bioethanol is usually sufficient. At the same time, 6-7 kW/h of energy can be obtained from a liter of fuel.

It is believed that a standard eco-fireplace can successfully replace an electric heater of about three kilowatts.

Wall-mounted models of eco-fireplaces can imitate traditional devices; they are varied and provide many options for the interior design of an apartment or office.

The advantage of using a biofireplace compared to other heaters is that this device slightly increases the humidity in the room. Almost any traditional heating method, on the contrary, removes moisture, which can have a negative impact on people’s health.

Both eco-fireplace and bioethanol are very easy to use, and this fuel is no more dangerous than other flammable substances used in everyday life. The combustion of bioethanol can be regulated if the design of eco-fireplaces provides for such a possibility.

The device can provide more or less heat and light, and accordingly, the time of fuel consumption will change.

This heating method also has some disadvantages. For example, despite all the ease of use, bioethanol cannot be added to the fireplace container. You need to not only wait for the composition to burn out, but also let the device cool. This point will have to be taken into account when planning the time to use the fireplace.

Although bioethanol fireplaces do not require a chimney, such devices should not be used uncontrolled.

An open flame always poses a fire hazard, so it is better to hide it behind a heat-resistant glass screen. This item can be purchased separately

A room that is heated in this way must be regularly ventilated to balance the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide. If a little fuel is spilled while refueling the fireplace, it must be wiped up immediately, even if it is only a couple of drops of flammable substance.

To do this, it is better to keep rags with good absorbent properties on hand. For ignition, it is allowed to use special long matches, but long metal lighters are more often used. Some biofuel fireplaces are equipped with an electric ignition function, which is very convenient, but increases the cost of the model.

How to make biofuel for an eco-fireplace

Making this type of composition yourself is not difficult. To do this, you can simply buy pure alcohol, for example, at a pharmacy. If you pour it in its pure form, the flame will be almost colorless. To give it a yellow color, you need to add a little gasoline to the alcohol.

The proportion is approximately 20:1 or 20:2, i.e. For one liter of alcohol you need to take 50-100 ml of gasoline.

Homemade fuel for an eco-fireplace can be made from pharmaceutical alcohol or purified strong moonshine. To make the flame beautiful, add a little gasoline

Instead of alcohol, some use moonshine, but it must be very well purified. Mixing alcohol with gasoline must be done immediately before pouring the mixture into the fireplace.

Long-term storage of the mixture is useless and dangerous, since in a calm state the elements disintegrate into separate liquids. The components should be mixed very thoroughly.

Homemade eco-fuel can burn with a characteristic smell of alcohol, which causes an unpleasant sensation. To remedy the situation, you can add a few drops of essential oil with a pleasant smell to the fireplace (but not to the composition). Usually, pine needle aromas are suitable for this, which create the illusion of burning real wood.

The same mixture can be used for kerosene lamps, instead of kerosene. The composition does not produce soot and smells much better than kerosene.

How biogas is produced

This type of fuel differs significantly from the bioethanol described above in composition, method of production and use. If desired, such a flammable substance can be produced on your own site. This gas is not suitable for an eco-fireplace, but it is quite successfully used for ordinary fireplaces equipped with special burners.

A biogas production plant is a sealed container into which raw materials are loaded and converted into a combustible mixture for heating homes or utility rooms.

Through them, not only biogas enters the combustion chamber, but also an additional flow of oxygen. This way you can ensure efficient combustion of biofuels. A fireplace intended to use biogas must have a chimney.This allows it to be used not only for burning gas, but also for more traditional types of fuel: wood, coal, etc.

If the house already has a fireplace, converting it to use biogas will not be particularly difficult. If you have enough firewood, you can make your own charcoal to save some money. Can produce biogas from manure.

It must be mixed with products of plant origin: straw, peat, tree leaves, vegetable tops, sawdust, etc. This mixture is placed in a tightly closed container, where it ferments under the influence of bacterial cultures.

The result is a flammable gas that consists mainly of methane. It can be burned to heat residential premises, greenhouses, and utility rooms.

One of the mandatory requirements for biogas plant - absolute tightness. Since the process is accompanied by the release of a characteristic stench, the fermentation container is installed underground.

A hose is brought outside through which the resulting gas flows. Another hose is needed to feed material inside for recycling. You can make a biogas generator yourself, but there are also industrial models that are safer and more productive.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Useful information on bioethanol production is contained in this video:

Here you can see the process of creating a simple eco-fireplace model:

This is what an industrial eco-fireplace looks like in a living room interior:

Biofuel is a fairly broad concept. The composition option is selected depending on what type of fireplace is intended to be used.But this is always a flammable substance, the use of which must strictly adhere to safety requirements.

Options for using biofuels should be considered, if only because they are produced from renewable resources.

Do you have anything to add or have questions about choosing and using biofuel for your fireplace? You can leave comments and participate in discussions about the publication. The communication block is below.