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| Gene, The ethanol fuel used in these fireplaces is not all ethanol as you suspected. Apparently the government frowns on selling 100% pure alcohol without a liquor license....anyway, the fuel is typically about 90% ethanol and or methanol which both burn with a blue flame due to their chemistry. The fuel also contains about 5% Isopropyl Alcohol (ISO). The remaining 5% is usually water. There is more carbon per mole of ISO than ethanol, and therefore it doesn't burn as efficiently. The yellow flame is due to incomplete combustion, likely in the ISO.
The thing that stopped me from buying one of these is the cost of the fuel. Something like $10 per quart. | |
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Ethanol fireplace opinions?
