Fireplaces on biofuel: device, types and principle of operation of biofireplaces

What is biofuel?

Biofuel is an environmentally friendly material produced on the basis of bioethanol. It is a colorless and odorless liquid. Possesses high combustibility. During combustion, it decomposes into water and carbon dioxide, therefore it is safe for indoor use.

The properties of biofuels are as follows:

1. Ethanol, which is part of the liquid, decomposes into steam, carbon monoxide during combustion and is accompanied by the release of energy. It is absolutely harmless to the human body and does not smell.
2. There are no solid decay products (soot, ash) during the operation of the eco-fireplace.
3. The combustion efficiency reaches 95%.
4. In liquids with the addition of sea salt, there is a crackling effect of natural firewood.
5. When burning fuel, the flames are similar in color and shape to the fire in a classic fireplace.

Composition of ecofuel:

The basis of biological fuel is ethanol, of vegetable origin.It is obtained by fermenting the sugars of most plant crops, such as wheat, beets, potatoes, sugar cane, bananas and others. However, this type of fuel is not sold in its pure form, but is required to denature alcohol.

For additional effects, dyes or sea salt are added to the liquid.

Ecofuel has the following characteristics:

1. Does not form ash during combustion.
2. Does not emit harmful gases.
3. Differs in ecological harmlessness.
4. Has a long burning period.
5. Easy to use.

Environmentally friendly fuel is produced all over the world. The leading positions in the manufacture of this fuel belong to South Africa, India, and China.

There are the following types of biofuels:

1. Biogas - waste from garbage and production is pre-treated and gas is produced from it, an analogue of natural gas.
2. Biodiesel - obtained from natural oils and fats of biological origin (animal, microbial, vegetable). The main raw materials for the production of this type of fuel are food industry waste or palm, coconut, rapeseed, and soybean oils. The most widespread in Europe.
3. Bioethanol is an alcohol-based fuel, a substitute for gasoline. Ethanol is produced by the fermentation of sugars. Cellulosic biomass is the raw material for production.

The advantages of environmentally friendly fuels include the following:

1. In the process of burning fuel, smoke, harmful gases, soot and soot are not formed.
2. The intensity of the flame and heat transfer during the combustion of biofuel can be adjusted.
3. The fuel block and individual structural elements are easy to clean.
4. For the operation of the structure, the installation of air outlet structures is not required.
5. Fuel for a biofireplace is easy to transport and store.
6. No debris during storage, unlike solid fuels.
7. It does not require a separate room to store a large amount of fuel.
8. Heat transfer during fuel combustion is 95%.
9. During the combustion of ecofuels, the air in the room is humidified due to the release of steam.
10. Flame return excluded.
11. Thanks to the device of the biofireplace and the structural features of the burner with biofuel, the design is fireproof.
12. Low fuel cost with low consumption.

The use of environmentally friendly fuel is simple in everyday life. Using the gel, you just need to open a jar of gel and install it in the biofireplace structure, hiding it in decorative elements or containers. When using liquid fuel, it is enough to pour it into the fuel tank and light it. However, despite all the positive qualities, this substance has several disadvantages.

Disadvantages of biofuels:

1. It is forbidden to store a container with fuel near an open flame;
2. It is impossible to add fuel during the operation of the biofireplace; it is required to extinguish the device and wait for it to cool completely;
3. Kindling the fireplace is allowed only with a special lighter or with the help of electric ignition.

Biofuel for fireplaces

Biofireplaces are modern devices that can replace classic brick fireplaces. The main advantage of eco-fireplaces can be considered that they can be used in apartments without chimneys and at the same time they are an excellent decoration solution and a portable heater.

Fuel for biofireplaces is made from natural substances and is absolutely harmless to human and animal health. The cost of this substance is democratic and affordable for everyone.In addition, if there is a desire, it can be made at home at minimal cost.

Biofireplaces are of the following types:

Biofireplaces are significantly different from classic fireplaces, which makes it possible to install it in any apartment.

In the case of a design the tank for fuel from stainless steel (burner) is located; biofuel is poured into it and ignited. Depending on the type of biofireplace, the fuel tank device may consist of one or two parts. The flame is regulated by means of a damper cover. With its help, reduce or increase the amount of oxygen supplied to the burner. You can extinguish the fire completely by closing the damper.

1. Easy to operate. The flame and the amount of heat generated in the biofireplace are easily adjustable. You can put out the fire in the device at any time.
2. Ease of maintenance. You can clean the housing and the heated block with clean water.
3. Mobility. Biofireplace can be easily moved to any part of the room.
4. Ease of installation. When burning biofuels, smoke, gases and soot are not emitted. There is no need for a device above the hood structure.
5. Reliability. All structural parts of the device undergo multiple quality checks. The fire during operation is under control and the possibility of accidental ignition or violation of the insulation of the fireplace is excluded.
6. Light ignition. Biofuel instantly ignites.
7. Efficient heating. Biofireplace can be used as an additional source of heating. In terms of power indicators, it is similar to the 2nd simple electric heaters.
8. The lineup. There are many different types of devices on the market.The difference in shapes, colors, design allows you to choose a biofireplace for any interior.

Basics of safety in the operation of a biofireplace:

1. It is forbidden to add fuel during the operation of the fireplace; it is possible to refuel the fuel tank only when the device has cooled down;
2. To ignite biofuel, it is necessary to use a special lighter or automatic ignition (in equipped models);
3. It is recommended to fill the burner with combustible fuel no more than 1/3;
4. Decorative elements should be made of stone or heat-resistant ceramics.

Classification of biofireplaces

Depending on the location, such fireplaces are divided into the following categories:

• floor - in appearance they are no different from classic fireplaces, made of stone or glass and plastic;
• desktop - compact models, as a rule, have the form of a cylinder, box or bowl with a stand;
• wall - also quite compact, unlike floor structures, are made of metal and can have the effect of a living picture.

There are also corner models, built-in and decorative, but they are not as popular as those listed above for installation in apartments.

Features of the manufacture of the burner

Before starting work on creating an eco-fireplace, it is important to decide on the model of the hearth: whether it will be a large device installed on the floor, a hanging option against the wall, or a compact device that can be placed on the table. This directly affects the size of the burner.

Having decided, try to sketch out a project for a biofireplace in order to prepare design drawings based on it, as well as a heating element.Since the principle of operation of various models usually coincides, design and functionality come to the fore.

It is important to pay great attention to the quality of the materials used, since the safety of the operation of the hearth depends on this, as well as the period of its use. The heating unit made of durable blanks will work properly and without failures.

Although biofuel for fireplaces is often packaged in plastic bottles, this does not mean that the burner can be made of plastic: such a device must be completely made of metal.

Safety regulations require that the inner surface of the container used for the manufacture of the burner should not have an additional coating (enamelled, Teflon or other)

The most durable and reliable fixtures are made of stainless steel, since such a material combines high chemical and thermal resistance. It is also possible to use ordinary structural steel, although its quality indicators are somewhat lower.

For the manufacture of the fuel block, it is important to use blanks with thick walls. Thin parts will deform when heated, which can lead to depressurization of the seams and fuel leakage, as a result of which a fire may start.

The size and parameters of the fuel tank depend not only on the dimensions of the model, but also on the design features. If the fuel tank does not involve the use of absorbent, the capacity can be made low. In this case, it is desirable to make sure that only a small surface part of the combustible material is involved in combustion.

Biofireplace burners can also be equipped with a protective glass screen. For this purpose, it is better to take a refractory material.If it is not at hand, you can use ordinary glass, for example, taking it from A4 photo frames. In this case, a greater distance from the burner should be provided so that the material does not burst due to overheating.

In order for the flame to be evenly distributed in all directions, it is recommended to cover the fuel tank from above with a metal mesh. A similar detail will also serve as the basis for strengthening decorative elements.

As a metal mesh for a bio-fireplace, you can use a regular construction net or even an oven fixture (barbecue), which is cut to the desired size.

To ignite a homemade burner, a wick is used, which can be made from shoe lace. One end of it is placed in a tank filled with biofuel, the other is brought out and set on fire. An eco-fireplace has a particularly spectacular look, the outer wick of which is hidden between decorative elements.

The distance from the burner to the glass screen should be approximately 15 cm, the same distance should be observed between several heating elements if they are installed in one biofireplace.

One burner is designed for an area of ​​16 square meters: this standard should be taken into account when planning a hearth with several heating devices. As soon as the biofireplace burner is assembled, it is necessary to visually evaluate the design, compare it with the drawing, and also make sure that there is no deformation.

If defects are found, the device should be disassembled and the parts carefully adjusted again.

As soon as the biofireplace burner is assembled, it is necessary to visually evaluate the design, compare it with the drawing, and also make sure that there is no deformation.If defects are found, the device should be disassembled and the parts carefully adjusted again.

Types of fireplaces and their cost

The first type of fireplace is a floor fireplace. He received great demand and popularity among the advanced urban population. In its manufacture, manufacturers actively use high-quality glass, metal and durable marble. If we talk specifically about a wall-mounted fireplace, then it is considered the most effective and favorable, according to experienced specialists in this field of activity. The corner fireplace is particularly compact and versatile.

The outdoor fireplace has the most elongated body. A mini-fireplace serves as an additional and beautiful decorative element of the living space. The cost of outdoor fireplaces varies up to two hundred thousand Russian rubles. The price of wall-mounted fireplaces starts from two hundred thousand Russian rubles. Corner fireplaces cost an average of eighty thousand Russian rubles. The most inexpensive outdoor fireplaces and mini-fireplaces, their maximum price is sixty thousand Russian rubles. Also on sale now you can see numerous harmless biocandles, the price of which is approximately six thousand Russian rubles.

Peculiarities

Compared to traditional biofireplaces, it has the following advantages:

• Security - the design of the fuel block makes it possible to control the open fire zone. The thermal insulation of the casing allows the use of the fireplace indoors.
• Ease of installation - the fireplace does not need a chimney.In relation to the unit, the prefix "eco" is often used, so there is no point in laying ventilation pipes and agreeing to carry out work of a similar nature if there is a desire to install it in an apartment. According to the principle of operation, a biofireplace is similar to an ordinary candle, but the fire does not produce soot. This device runs on biofuel and bioethanol is used as a fuel - a liquid based on ethanol, that is, ethyl alcohol, which decomposes into carbon dioxide and water when burned, so there is no orange tint in the flame. At the moment, there are mixtures containing components to give the fire a natural color. Some bio-fireplace owners like to use sea salt gel lighter fluid that mimics the crackle of logs on fire.
• Kindling such a fireplace is not difficult.
• The fireplace is safe for humans, does not harm pets and the environment.

• Ease of use and ease of maintenance. The flame can be extinguished at any time. Since bioethanol does not produce solid decomposition products, there is no need to clean out the ash or remove the soot. To care for the heating tank, it is enough to wash it with running water. The fireplace can simply be lit, without worrying about the preliminary preparation of coal or logs.
• A huge variety of models makes it possible to choose the perfect option for any interior.
• Light weight - even the heaviest models weigh no more than 100 kg, which is suitable even for an ordinary city apartment.
• Relative fire safety - it is quite difficult to overturn the fireplace due to its severity, the flame itself looks like a household spirit lamp.In any case, it is necessary to observe fire safety measures, namely, do not add fuel directly during the operation of the biofireplace, do not fill the burner with biofuel by more than a third, use an automatic ignition system or use a specialized lighter.

Decorate biofireplaces with all kinds of materials - from stone and marble to precious woods, a combination of any type of finish is also used.

When buying an eco-fireplace, it is reasonable to take into account the disadvantages of this type of interior element:

• The fireplace has an exclusively decorative function - such equipment is not suitable for heating even a small room.
• Despite the environmental friendliness of the fuel and due to the lack of a chimney, there must be good ventilation in the room where the eco-fireplace is installed. Otherwise, the air will become excessively humid and therefore unbreathable.
• Fuel can not be bought everywhere, besides, it has a rather high price.

Requirements for installing an eco-fireplace:

• good ventilation in the room;
• lack of drafts;
• sufficient space.

Rules for the safe operation of a biofireplace

Although manufacturers have tried to make the device as safe as possible for home use, there is still a certain list of rules that are important for owners of eco-fireplaces to follow. The easiest thing to do is not to leave a working hearth unattended and not to place it near flammable objects, for example, near curtains, under clothes hangers, wooden or plastic shelves and flammable accessories.

The easiest thing to do is not to leave a working fire unattended and not to place it near flammable objects, for example, near curtains, under clothes hangers, wooden or plastic shelves and flammable accessories.

Do not forget that despite its decorative accent and the presence of a protective screen, the biofireplace remains a device with an open flame, which means it is a potentially dangerous device.

In addition to the obvious rules, there are specific nuances, for example:

• Install the device only on a reliable and as flat surface as possible to prevent accidental tipping over (by the way, expensive devices have a special evenness sensor that will help determine the curvature of the surface no worse than the building level).
• Pour biofuel only into a cool, non-operating appliance and never replenish stocks during combustion.
• If the combustible mixture spills during refueling, immediately wipe the area dry to prevent self-ignition.
• Use only heat-resistant accessories for decoration, such as stones, metal, glass or ceramic models.
• Monitor the fuel level in the tank and try to fill the liquid for exactly one use, otherwise the ethanol residue will poison the air in your home with its vapors.
• To start a fire, use a special metal fireplace lighter with a long handle.

Last but not least, don't forget ventilation. Although a biofireplace does not require an exhaust hood and does not evaporate harmful substances, carbon dioxide is released during the combustion of any flame.

Be sure to ventilate the room after using the device and replenish the burned oxygen reserves.

What to look for when choosing

Although most often buyers are guided by the appearance of the device and its compliance with the interior design, do not lose sight of the technical characteristics of the device.

The longer the fireplace burner, the more area it can heat, and if you plan to use the appliance as an additional heat source, consider options with a power of 3 kW.

Important parameters:

1. The power of the biofireplace varies from 1 to 7 kW. The higher this indicator, the greater the heat transfer from the device, as well as the brighter the flame and the higher the column of fire. But the consumption of expensive fuel increases proportionally.
2. The volume of the fuel tank is from 50 ml to 9 liters. Of course, a device with a capacious capacity functions longer without refueling, but since it is not recommended to leave unused liquid in the device, it is worthwhile to estimate the actual operating time of the fireplace before buying.
3. Burner material - for the safe operation of the device, this element must be made of high-quality stainless steel 3-5 mm thick or ceramic.
4. Dual circuit burner - provides additional thermal insulation and controls the fuel level. For example, if you pour a lot of fuel, its excess will “leave” in the second circuit and will be consumed only after the liquid has burned in the first.

But the fuel consumption, which is often of interest to buyers, is a very conditional value, because a lot depends on the power of the device, the size of its tank and the given flame strength. For an hour, a medium-sized fireplace can consume from 350 ml to 1 liter of combustible mixture, so many manufacturers indicate either a “fork” of consumption or the minimum required to start.

What is a biofireplace

Bio-fireplace is an improved version of wood-burning fireplaces that runs on a special fuel and does not emit soot and smoke.

Biofireplace, or ecofireplace is an improved version of wood-burning fireplaces. The first hints of it appeared in antiquity, when such installations were a container with oil and a burning wick. Despite the development of science and technology, the principle of operation of modern biofireplaces has remained the same. True, today they operate on a special liquid fuel, which is a mixture of ethanol with other substances. In the process of combustion, it does not emit smoke and ash, but still burns oxygen. Because of this, it becomes necessary to periodically ventilate the rooms in which they stand. And perhaps this is their only significant drawback.

There are several types of bio-fireplaces, which are arranged in the same way and consist of the same elements:

• Heating block - its function can be performed by a conventional burner or a fuel tank with a valve that allows you to adjust the intensity of the flame. It is made of metal or stainless steel of sufficient thickness, which will protect the product from deformation under the influence of high temperature and extend its service life. The volume of the fuel tank ranges from 60 ml - 5 liters.
• Case - it depends on the design of the biofireplace and can take the form of any geometric figure or it can be styled as a coffee table, shelf, candelabra. It happens open or closed.
• Decorative elements - they are designed for decoration and are made of refractory materials. Most often these are stones for burners of all sizes and colors, ceramic logs, tongs, a poker, forged grates and other surroundings of ordinary fireplaces.

The first step is drawing up a sketch of a biofireplace

When creating this interior accessory on your own, it is best to start by making a drawing and placing on it the approximate dimensions of the future biofireplace. Seeing what happened in the end, it will be quite possible to visually assess your capabilities for its manufacture.

It is quite difficult to make a fuel block on your own, so it is usually purchased in a finished factory form in specialized stores.

If you plan to make a decorative frame from separate parts, then it is further recommended to make a drawing with exact dimensions so that they fit perfectly together, otherwise you may have to redo all the work. In addition, the drawing and drawing will help you see what materials are needed and how many of them need to be prepared.

As an example, we can consider the manufacture of a biofireplace located between two glass screens.

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What is biofuel?

For the operation of eco-fireplaces, special combustible compositions obtained from the processing of biological waste or made on the basis of vegetable raw materials are intended. It gives a beautiful "live" flame without sparking, odors, soot and smoke.

The most common type of fuel is denatured ethanol. Additionally, it is enriched with special additives that color the fire in a warm orange color.

And for those who want to enjoy the full illusion of a fire with a characteristic crackle of firewood, there are special bio-gels, which include sea salt.

Ecofuel is sold in the form of a liquid or jelly-like gel in cans, bottles or canisters with a capacity of 1 to 5 liters, and the compositions can be flavored or neutral

The composition of industrial eco-fuels should contain at least 95% bioethanol, 3-4% water and 1-2% various additives (for example, methyl etiketone or bitrex), which prevent the mixture from separating into water and alcohol and give a beautiful color to the flame.

To choose the right fuel for your fireplace, focus on the heat output of the fuel (on average, when burning 1 liter, about 6.5 kW / h of heat is generated) and the availability of a quality certificate. Although regular alcohol can be used as fuel for a fireplace, its bluish flame does not compare with the warm fire characteristic of burning wood, which is produced by bioethanol.

Although regular alcohol can be used as fuel for a fireplace, its bluish flame does not compare with the warm fire characteristic of burning wood, which is produced by bioethanol.

But if you wish, you can make a mixture for dressing with your own hands.

For this you will need:

1. Purified 96% ethyl alcohol with a colorless flame - 1 liter.
2. Gasoline with a high octane rating, for example, "Kalosha" (a simple automobile will not work - a characteristic smell will be released during combustion) - 50 ml.
3. Aromatic additives from essential oils (optional) - 5-7 drops.

Then you need to mix the liquids in the indicated proportions, shake until a homogeneous mass is obtained and pour into the burner or fuel block.

The disadvantage of this method is that the combustible composition is suitable for use only immediately after preparation; it will not work to make a stock for long-term storage - the mixture will delaminate.

Read more about the types of fuel for a biofireplace in this material.

Instructions for assembling a large bio-fireplace

If you need to make a large biofireplace, the most difficult thing will be the manufacture of a fuel tank. The easiest way is to purchase a finished item in a specialized store.

If you plan to make a tank yourself, you need to take a sheet of metal with a thickness of more than 3 mm. It must be stainless steel, otherwise, during combustion, undesirable chemical reactions and even the appearance of toxic fumes are possible.

Specialized stores sell stainless steel fuel tanks for biofireplaces. They are equipped with convenient latches for extinguishing fire.

Actually the tank should consist of two compartments. The bottom one is for filling fuel. Flammable liquid vapors burn in the upper compartment. Between these compartments there must be a separating plate with holes through which the vapors enter the combustion zone. The shape of the tank may be different, it depends on the model of the fireplace.

The most popular option is a parallelepiped-shaped fuel tank with a narrow upper compartment.

It is easier to make a cylindrical tank. To do this, you can take an ordinary mug and cover it with a cut-to-size lid made of fine-mesh metal mesh. It will be possible to fill fuel through the grid, which is quite convenient.

There can be several such tank mugs in the design of a biofireplace. They can be arranged in several rows or in a circle.

It is important not to forget to remove the handles from the mugs. This must be done carefully so that a hole does not form.

Having decided on the fuel tank, you can begin to manufacture a biofireplace. Let's make a floor model with two glass screens.For work, you need to prepare fire-resistant glass for screens, a parallelepiped-shaped fuel tank, washers, bolts and silicone gaskets for glass, plastic or metal legs.

In addition, for the manufacture of the base, we need thick plywood or drywall, self-tapping screws and wood bars 40x30 mm.

We start from the foundation. We mark out a sheet of plywood and carefully cut out the side parts of the base box and the top panel from it. We will not do the lower part of the box.

Firstly, its presence will significantly weight the structure. Secondly, without it, it will be much more convenient to fix glass sheets. We are preparing two pieces of a wooden block, on which plywood will be fixed.

Biofireplace with two glass screens can be made independently. The design of the base can be very different - in the form of a console, table, box

On the panel cut out of plywood, we outline the place where the fuel tank will be fixed. Cut out the required mounting hole for the tank. Now we assemble the frame and fix the top panel on it. The edges of the structure are well processed.

If we used not plywood, but drywall, its edges must be treated with putty. We decorate the resulting base in any suitable way: paint, varnish, etc.

Cooking glass panels. First, cut out two pieces of the desired size. In each of them you need to drill holes for decorative fasteners. This is quite difficult, because the slightest mistake can crack the glass. If there is no experience in such work, it is better to entrust the process to an experienced craftsman with a set of special tools. Holes for fasteners are also drilled on the side walls of the base.

Now we fix the glass screen on the base.To do this, we pass a bolt through the glass, do not forget to put on a silicone gasket so as not to damage the glass. We pass the bolt through the base, put on the washer and tighten the nut

This must be done with extreme caution, without applying excessive force, otherwise the glass may crack. Thus we install both glass screens

In the process of assembling the structure, silicone gaskets are necessarily used, otherwise the glass may not withstand the load and crack. It is wise to use a more durable option - tempered glass

On the bottom of the glass sheet you need to put the legs. To do this, we put rubber gaskets into the parts and put them in place. We check the correct installation of the legs. The biofireplace should stand exactly, not sway.

Using the prepared hole, we mount the fuel tank and securely fix it. The structure is almost ready. It remains to decorate it with stones or ceramic logs, if necessary.