Real Operating Parameters of Bioethanol Burners in Terms of Heat Output

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the operating parameters of bioethanol burners used in the so-called bioethanol fireplaces, mainly in terms of their actual heat output. The method used to determine the actual heat output was designed considering procedures from the standard EN 16647 fireplaces for liquid fuel. Experiments were carried out on eight different types of burners with two different types of fuels. The measurements demonstrated a difference of up to 19% in the maximal heat output among individual fuels and a difference of up to 16% in the average heat output when comparing identical burners over approximately 60 min of operation. The average heat outputs of the burners during the measurements reached approximately 41–62% of the heat output declared by the manufacturers. The measured values were used to create graphs of the dependency of the burner opening size on its average heat output based on the fuel type. Two-chambered burners reached a higher average heat output than single-chambered burners with the same burner opening area of above ∼6000 mm2. The positions of the regulation damper (75 and 50%) increased the burning time by 21 and 86%, respectively.

Influence of fuel mixture and catalyst on the ethanol burner flue gas composition

“…2. Most of the emitted amount of CO was formed during the pre-heating and burnout phases (the phases are more detailed described in the study of Ryšavý et al [5]). Oppositely, the most of the emitted amount of NO x was formed during the main -heating phase, when, simultaneously, most of HE was released.…”

“…Input materials are usually connected with local production which significantly reduces dependence on imported products. The quality of the standardly sold fuels differs especially in the water content within the fuel, as was presented by Nozza et al [6], Martinka et al [13] and Ryšavý et al [5]. According to a study of Breaux [14], water/ethanol mixture is cheaper and much easier to manufacture since the distillation energy used for ethanol dehydration (for reaching more than 99% of the mass fraction of ethanol in the fuel) could cost approximately 1/3 of the overall energy consumed.…”

“…Two pieces of single-chambered EB were chosen for the experiments. The construction of single-chambered EB was described by Ryšavý et al [5]. The expected heat output of each burner according to the manufacturer was 1.5 kW.…”

“…The real utilization of EB as the source of HE was described by Hajamalala [4]. The heat output parameters of different construction types of EB were described by Ryšavý et al [5]. EB is usually installed in an EF.…”

“…As was proved by Ryšavý et al [22], conversion rates of the CO by Pt and Pd based catalyst in real FG formed during the wood combustion are strongly connected with FG parameters, especially the FG temperature. According to results achieved by Ryšavý et al [5], there is a presumption that the FG temperature of the EB will be sufficient for an oxidation catalyst operation.…”