Does bio ethanol fuel produce smoke or soot ? (2024)

FAQs

Does bio ethanol fuel produce smoke or soot ? ›

Bioethanol fuel burns with 98% efficiency, so when used correctly it is very clean burning and therefore does not produce any smoke, soot or nasty residues.

Burning bioethanol uses oxygen from the air and emits a small amount of carbon dioxide back into the room. You might think that sounds worrying, but a bioethanol fireplace generally releases roughly the same amount of carbon dioxide as two burning candles. So, there's nothing to worry about.

Fuelling a hot burner

It is important to avoid filling a hot burner with Bio Ethanol. When lighting Bio Ethanol, it is the fumes that ignite and burn, not the liquid itself. Pouring Bio Ethanol into a hot burner increases the evaporation of the fuel, leading to more fumes.

First, ethanol comes from fermented plant sugars, so it is derived from completely natural renewable sources. And when it is burned, the only byproduct is heat, steam and carbon dioxide - no messy pollutants like soot, smoke and ash.

Very little ongoing maintenance – bioethanol fireplaces require very little ongoing maintenance, mostly because the only by-products of burning bioethanol are water, heat, and a tiny amount of carbon dioxide.

Accounting for the oxygenated nature of ethanol, E85 and E98 fuels produced similar amounts of soot at a given ϕ_ox,, suggesting other factors outside of fuel oxygen content, such as fuel morphology, impact soot formation.

The burner must ensure a complete combustion of the vapors. Only in the first minutes of ignition, when combustion is still precarious, there can be some odor; then, once it is well started, the smell must disappear.

As the fuel is plant-based, the flames burn cleanly without releasing harmful substances into the air. This is one of the main reasons why bioethanol fires are safe indoors.

Are Bioethanol Fires Safe Indoors? Yes, they are. Bioethanol fires do produce CO₂ (carbon dioxide), but not only is this substance present in very small amounts, but it is also a by-product of any real fire.

A common problem with having a bio fireplace is the spilling of bioethanol fuel outside of the burning chamber during filling or refilling. Bio ethanol fuel can behave differently than other liquids when pouring. Furthermore, it can be tricky to pour directly into the opening of the burner without spilling.

What is the cleanest burning biofuel? ›

Biodiesel is a domestically produced, clean-burning, renewable substitute for petroleum diesel. Using biodiesel as a vehicle fuel improves public health and the environment, provides safety benefits, and contributes to a resilient transportation system.

Bioethanol fireplaces give off roughly 3kWh of heat - approximately the same amount as an electric fire on medium/high. A bioethanol fireplace won't heat a freezing room but will bring the temperature up a good 2-3 degrees (ºC) - perfect for taking the chill out of the air.

The good news is E85 doesn't cause white smoke. It can cause steam to come out of the tailpipe.

No. Bioethanol fireplaces don't give off fumes or smoke, so you don't need a flue or a chimney. However, you can install a false flue to contribute to the traditional aesthetic of your fireplace.

The most common biofuel are biodiesel and ethanol where as biodiesel is derived from vegetable oils or animal fats, and bioethanol is produced by fermentation, especially from carbohydrates made in starch crops or sugar in the form of alcohol.

While both fuels emit heat and combustion byproducts, ethanol, especially that derived from petrochemical sources, may have a more pungent and unpleasant odor. In contrast, bioethanol, derived from plant sources, often produces cleaner combustion with a less pronounced and more pleasant odor.

Not that you can drink the stuff or rub it on your skin, but as far as burning it goes, you're in the clear so long as you are buying from a reputable manufacturer. Ethanol does not contain any pollutants, carbon monoxide, and other impurities that wood, gas and other sources of fuel release when being burned.

Are bioethanol fires safe indoors? Yes, you can buy specially-designed indoor bioethanol fires that are perfectly safe to use indoors. While bioethanol fires do produce carbon dioxide, this substance is only produced in small amounts and is a natural by-product of any real fire.

Ethanol Fuel is highly flammable and presents real danger when not used in direct compliance with the equipment. Ethanol Fuel should ONLY be handled by adults, NEVER by children. To ensure safe use you must carefully read and adhere to all the manufacturer instructions.

What are the dangers of ethanol? Ethanol produces explosive vapour concentrations in the range of 3.3–19.0% (v/v) in air. At 350 parts per million, the chemical is detectable by nose, while higher levels of 5000–10000 parts per million can irritate the eyes and upper respiratory mucous membranes.