Ethanaol / Methylated Spirits heaters
Submitted: Monday, Jun 21, 2010 at 14:11
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Mandrake's Solar Power
Has anyone had any experiences with these things .
Outdoor Ethanol Heater
I'm going to get one for either the backyard or for taking camping -
Probably will depend on how much "Ethanol" they use per hour ..
Cheers
Steve
Reply By: Member - John and Val - Monday, Jun 21, 2010 at 17:07
Monday, Jun 21, 2010 at 17:07
Steve,
Looks like a simple metho burner. Suggest before you buy, put some metho in a can with a similar size opening and light it. I think you'll find it pretty useless as an outdoor space heater and expensive to run. The naked flame looks a serious disadvantage too.
Once upon a time, metho, or methylated spirit was methanol (methyl alcohol), but some people in desperate circumstances used it as drinking alcohol - very bad for health and the brain. So now what's sold as methylated spirit is in fact crude ethanol (ethyl alcohol), which doesn't have the same health problems and, in its refined form, is the drug of choice for many at happy hour.
Cheers
John | J and V
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Follow Up By: Member - John R (cQld) - Monday, Jun 21, 2010 at 20:27
Monday, Jun 21, 2010 at 20:27
Hi
John, "methylated spirits" was never methanol, but used to be ethanol with up to 10% methanol added to make it "undrinkable". In Oz these days, small amounts of other substances are used instead of methanol. According to the MSDS, these may be one or more unpleasant tasting substances but in less than 1%.
Cheers,
John
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Follow Up By: Ianw - Monday, Jun 21, 2010 at 20:36
Monday, Jun 21, 2010 at 20:36
If you read the label it is 96% ethanol, which is the highest purity you can get without distilling it in a vacuum. When exposed to air it will quickly absorb 4% water. A small amount of other stuff is added to make it non palatable.
Ian
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Follow Up By: Dave(NSW) - Monday, Jun 21, 2010 at 22:40
Monday, Jun 21, 2010 at 22:40
The other stuff they add is because ethanol burns with an invisible flame and the other stuff is added so if on fire you can see it. Tankers loading ethanol have to load a percentage of petrol to each compartment before they can load the ethanol.
Dave
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