Technical > General Technical
Do multi-fuel stoves include alcohol for fuel?
Pavel:
Quick question here - I am very happy so far with my alcohol stove, but am thinking of perhaps buying something like the whisperlight multi fuel stove. The reason for it would be simply for the ability to cook a lot longer without interrupting the process with re-filling every eight minutes or so.
I don't like the idea of carrying two fuel types along, especially ever since I mixed things up and took my coleman stove's fuel by mistake. That was quite the bonfire in my alcohol burner.
Is it possible then to burn alcohol in a multi-fuel stove? I know the caloric values are very different, but that is fine by me, I'm never in a rush. I don't see why it would not work, but I haven't seen alcohol advertised, leading to the mystery I hope one of you can solve for me. :)
Danneaux:
--- Quote ---Is it possible then to burn alcohol in a multi-fuel stove?
--- End quote ---
In a word...no...at least to my knowledge. The issue seems to be the lower volatility of alcohol fuel failing to pressurize adequately in a multifuel stove (the opposite of your experience with white gas in the spirit stove[!]...you got very lucky on that one compared to What Could Have Been).
That said, my multifuel stoves (I have two Coleman Peak1/eXponent multifuels with different generator tubes for white gas/unleaded petrol and kerosene) might have that capability, but I don't need to test it. Better to instead toss in one of my beer-can spirit stoves and wire stands if I need a backup (and I sometimes do).
Don't forget -- and this was covered in part in a recent discussion of fuel vessels -- alcohol has different characteristics than petrol-based fuels and might not do the inside of your fuel-based stove any favors with continued use. I'm thinking in particular of the sealing o-rings.
Best,
Dan.
rualexander:
--- Quote from: pavel on June 10, 2017, 06:50:31 pm ---. The reason for it would be simply for the ability to cook a lot longer without interrupting the process with re-filling every eight minutes or so.
--- End quote ---
Eight minutes? A full Trangia burner will burn for twice that at least.
You could convert it to external fuel feed https://youtu.be/eGsCZYFzi1s
Pavel:
Thanks Dan, that makes sense. My trangia does however have a seal on it, perhaps it's silicone.
I've never actually timed it rualexander, but that guess seemed about right. I want to get more skilled with cooking on the road and am actually entertaining the thought of bringing a carbon steel frying pan along, or perhaps a small steel wok. Both require high heat and so perhaps alcohol is no longer the way for me. But for the sake of knowledge, perhaps I will do a burn test on alcohol as well as heat - soon. Would be good to know. It has always seemed a bit on the short side to me, however.
The one thing I miss on this forum is a dedicated cooking and eating, complete maybe with some recipes sub-forum. I wonder if there would be demand for that? Aside from learning how to eat better on the road, I soon hope to buy a desiccator and vacuum packer and start to prepare my ready to re-constitute meals, if I decide that I am actually as hopeless in any kitchen as I suspect I am. So much to learn.
Danneaux:
--- Quote ---... for the sake of knowledge, perhaps I will do a burn test on alcohol...
--- End quote ---
Do beware: If a Trangia is repeatedly allowed to burn dry, it can ultimately result in cracks and leaks. I found this to my great dismay in testing a fleet of genuine and imitation Trangias to check time-to-boil and ultimate burn times.
The problem seemed to arise from vessel overheating in the last 30 seconds or so due to a lack of evaporative cooling; in other words, there was not enough liquid in the well to outgas and cool the upper portion of the burner to compensate for the hot flame as happens in normal operation. I used a non-contact thermometer to monitor operation and the rise in upper-level vessel temperature just before burnout was remarkable...followed by cracks appearing after repeated operation in that burn-to-empty state.
NB: It is often possible to resolder/solder shut cracks in compromised Trangias.
All the best,
Dan.
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