Bioethanol Fuel - Fuel For Your Bioethanol Fire

For your perfect bioethanol fire experience, we have put together a selection of bioethanol fuel sets for you here. Depending on your needs, you can decide whether to buy just a single bottle or to stock up on a small supply of high-quality bioethanol fuel right away. Aside from plenty other appealing bio ethanol fire accessories, the bioethanol fuel is an excellent way of creating a cosy, eco-friendly home.

Our bioethanol fuel is produced in Germany and has an alcohol percentage of 96.6 - we recommend to always use bioethanol with an alcohol percentage between 95% - 97,5% for the best experience. Lower percentage bioethanol fuel can burn with a blueish flame and give off a smell of alcohol. Higher percentage bioethanol fuel burns faster and hotter, and not all fireplaces are made for this.

We recommend to always check the manual for your fireplace with bioethanol to see what type of bioethanol fuel is recommended.

NOTE: It is not possible to ship bioethanol fuel to Ireland.

Products - Bioethanol For Ethanol Fireplaces

What Exactly is Bioethanol?

Bioethanol fuel is ethanol produced exclusively from biomass or from biodegradable waste. Some are produced exclusively from plant waste such as wood, straw, or whole plants. In such a case the ethanol is also called "cellulose ethanol". More about this later.

It was first used in the 1970s when an oil price crisis occurred. The result of this crisis was that the oil price rose sharply and oil became unaffordable or economically unviable for many people. At that time, it was rediscovered as a fuel. It also helped recycle surplus agricultural products during this period.

The bio ethanol fuel can be used for both indoor and outdoor bio ethanol fires at your home or restaurant etc. If you want you can make your bioethanol fuel scented  - but be aware that it needs to be placed around the burner, as you will otherwise get a bad smell from the bioethanol fuel.

Bioethanol Fuel - Dangerous or Cosy?

An ethanol fire looks so cosy when it burns and fills the whole room at the home with a pleasantly relaxed atmosphere that you do not want to miss. For this reason, many people consider the fuel to be completely harmless - but is it true? We will get to the bottom of this assumption.

It is, as already mentioned, a fuel that is entirely or partly obtained from biological masses or waste. The fuel starts to burn when a flame is added to it.

But be careful, the cosy characteristics of such a fireplace should not be underestimated. Yes, it is cosy when it burns, but accidents do happen due to carelessness and lack of readiness for danger. But do not worry. If you use common sense when approaching the heater, nothing can and will happen to you.

It is important to be aware that it is a combustible material just like any other. Just because it is also used in the ethanol fire, which looks nice and cosy when burning, does not mean that the fuel cannot be dangerous.

You can also use a bioethanol fire outdoor, just make sure that it will not get water and other dirt inside the burner. The wind will also affect the flame, so to get the most safety and controlled fire, it will be a good idea to employ it in closed areas or on terraces with a half wall.

If you are unsure whether a certain bioethanol fire will work on your terrace, feel free to send us an email and maybe some pictures of your terrace. Then we will be happy to help you!

Things to be Aware of

There are a few things that needs to be payed attention to the next time you operate an ethanol fire.

Bioethanol (or any fuel) should not be stored next to or near your fire.

1. If you want to refill it, it is important to wait at least 30 minutes. During this time the fire can cool down.

2. The fireplace should never be filled up when it is burning. It could lead to explosive combustion, which you may not be able to control. Therefore, as with the previous point, you must wait at least half an hour before pouring new ethanol into it.

3. If possible, only use bio-ethanol with a purity level of 96.6%. Failure to do so is unlikely to lead to a dangerous situation, but can still be unpleasant. This means that poor quality fuel or fuel with an incorrect degree of purity can lead to poor oxidation. This, in turn, leads to an unpleasant smell. In addition, it is possible that the flame of the fireplace will often go out because the degree of purity is too low.

4. When lighting your bioethanol fire, it is best to employ long matches or a long stick lighter. Often it ignites very quickly, which may prevent you from getting your fingers pulled away in time, which in turn may lead to slight oxidation. If you use matches to light the fire, it is important not to leave them inside.

If you have any further questions about the correct use of ethanol, we would be very happy to hear from you.

Refilling or Pumping Bio Ethanol Fuel

Burners and fireplaces are available in different designs and sizes. From very large burners with a high capacity to small burners with a lower capacity. Depending on the model, a corresponding amount of ethanol is required. The rule is simple: for a larger one, you need more ethanol than for a small one.

With large fireplaces, the burning liquid usually does not need to be refilled as often. This is due to the fact that they hold a lot and the bioethanol burner is usually not completely empty. Since you do not have to refill it so often, you can certainly refill it manually. To do this, you pour the ethanol directly into the burner.

To ensure that nothing goes wrong, it is recommended to use a funnel when pouring. If something should go wrong during pouring, it is important to remove the spill immediately and completely. This is best done with a damp cloth. If the spilled liquid is not removed immediately, this can lead to stains on the floor. If you have any questions regarding the refilling, we will, of course, be happy to help you.

We have also compiled a small collection of useful instructions in which we explain many of the basic things; for example, how to properly fill, light and extinguish an ethanol fireplace.

However, if the ethanol fire is used a lot, you may be looking for something simpler. In our online shop, you can obtain practical ethanol pumps that easily transport the flammable liquid from the canister/bottle to the bioethanol burner. This can be done at the push of a button. One end of the pump goes into the container with the flammable liquid and the other end is put into the ethanol fireplace. In this way, the bioethanol fire is automatically supplied with sufficient bio ethanol fuel.

If it interests you, be sure to check out additional bio fire equipment to view all the useful accessories for bioethanol fireplaces.

Buy More and Save More!

A question many people ask themselves, and one that most people would probably like to be answered with a yes. Of course, most things become more expensive if you buy more of them. At bioethanol-fireplace.co.uk this is a bit different.

1 litre of bio ethanol fuel costs £5 in our online shop. Depending on the size of the bioethanol burner and the fireplace, 1 litre also holds accordingly. But if you buy a larger quantity, such as 24 litres, it now costs only £3.95. The price per litre will therefore be lower the larger the amount you purchase.

In addition, if the value of goods is over £100, shipping is free of charge. This, of course, lowers the final price further. If you would like more information about this, please contact us and we will be happy to help you.

Bioethanol in Fuel

Now some may wonder whether it is still used as a fuel for fireplaces today, now that the price of oil and gasoline is reasonably stable again. The answer is E10, and therefore 'yes'.

Common blends for fuels other than E10 are E5, E15, E25, E50, E85, and E100. The number after the 'E' indicates (in %) how much bioethanol is contained in the fuel. The rest is conventional petrol. For example, in E25 the fuel consists of 25% bioethanol and 75% of petrol. With E100 the bioethanol content is 100%.

Good fuel that burns optimally should have a purity level of 96.6%. This has proven to be the perfect mixture for the small decorative stove.

This ethanol is a safety fuel – if you just use your common sense! That means for example not to put the accessories directly into the fire, and get flammable materials away from the fire – e.g. curtains.

How Much Bioethanol Fuel do I Need?

How much you need depends on several factors. Each bioethanol burner is different and so each burner uses a different amount of ethanol. Another factor that is very determined in terms of consumption is the way the fire is used.

A decisive factor in how much is burned is of course how much goes into the burner. Most common fireplaces have a capacity from 0,5 to 5 litres. Of course, there are also fireplaces that are smaller or larger. The calculation is simple. An ethanol fire with a capacity of 5 litres will also burn 5 litres of ethanol when used. So you should be aware that the higher the capacity of the fireplace, the more it usually consumes.

Above a certain size, some bio ethanol fires have a small metal plate made of stainless steel that can be pushed over the opening with a suitable tool. This plate ultimately serves to extinguish the fire. If the plate is pushed over the opening of the fire while it is on, the fire of the biofuel fireplace is smothered and it goes out. A great trick is not to push the stainless steel plate completely over the opening, but only a part of it. This restricts the air supply to the flames and the fire becomes a little smaller. This method allows you to save bio ethanol fuel, because less fuel is burned and fewer litres are used.

It is also important to ensure a good indoor climate. This is achieved by operating your product only in a well-ventilated room.

The combustion of bioethanol is a chemical process. One of the chemical end products that are produced during this combustion is CO2. CO2 is produced during the oxidation of oxygen and is toxic to humans. However, an ethanol fire can by no means produce so much CO2 that it becomes dangerous to humans.

Although you cannot suffer from CO2 poisoning, it is important to have a supply of fresh air, otherwise, you may get a headache after a long stay in a room with a bio fireplace burning. This is by no means pleasant and of course, wants to be avoided. However, the solution is quite simple and does not require much work. It is usually enough to open a window while the fireplace is burning.

How is the Alcohol Produced?

There are several producers of it. One of the biggest producers is located in Zeitz in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Like any other alcohol, it is obtained by fermentation. Sugar is added under the right temperature conditions to start the fermentation.

As already mentioned, ethanol is produced from biological materials or waste. One of these raw materials is starch or sugar. These two raw materials are available in many plants or grains that are locally available in many different countries. In Europe, the starch is mostly based on wheat and the sugar is mostly derived from sugar beets. In other countries and continents, sugar cane, corn, sugar millet or even the Asian cassava root is also often used.

There is also the so-called "cellulose ethanol". This is obtained from cheaper plant residues such as straw or wood residues. The great thing about this is that the plant residues are usually very inexpensive and also grow on soils that are not high quality. The end product in both processes is "bioethanol" and there is therefore no differences between the two products.

In order to obtain the glucose, i.e. the sugar, the respective raw materials have to be processed. The wheat we use is the first ground. Enzymes are then added to the ground wheat, which converts the starch in the wheat into sugar. Raw materials containing cellulose, such as straw, are processed in the same way.

The mass produced after processing is called mash. Yeast is now added to this sugar-containing mash to start the fermentation process. After this process, the previously non-alcoholic mass now has an alcohol content of about 12%. The sugar- and alcohol-containing mash is now distilled. After successful distillation, raw alcohol with a concentration of 94.6% is obtained.

The next step in the production of alcohol is dehydration. The remaining 5.4% is in fact water. This is removed in the dewatering process with the help of a so-called molecular sieve. The final product now has a purity level of over 99.95%. Depending on the application, the process is stopped earlier. Because as you remember the ethanol used for our fireplaces should contain only 96.6% ethanol. The ethanol with the degree of purity of over 99.95% is intended for blending with petrol for engines.

A great advantage of producing ethanol is that it produces many useful by-products. The settled fats, proteins, and plant fibres can easily be processed into food, feed, and fertiliser.

So What is Bioethanol? Questions About our Products?

Bioethanol is a spirit that is used for ethanol fireplaces, and it will create a nice flame. If you order a bigger amount it will be cheaper to buy. Enjoy the nice flames and heat in your home. We ship bio ethanol fuel to the UK, and the delivery time is usually 2-3 business days from the order has been completed. This fuel do also work for outdoor use, but if there is a lot of wind it will affect the flame – so be careful.

If you have further questions about our products or especially about bio ethanol fuel, feel free to contact us. We are available on weekdays by phone, email, and live-chat. Our competent and expert team is looking forward to help you.