According to the proverb, “live” fire is one of the phenomena that each of us is ready to admire endlessly. But if in a private house it is really possible to arrange a real wood hearth, then in an apartment you can count only on its electric analogue with an imitation of flame.
But that was before biofuel fireplaces entered our lives. Consider the principle of operation of these devices and several nuances that are important in the selection and further operation.
How does a bio fireplace work?
Unlike woodburning fireplaces, eco-fireplaces have a more decorative function - although heat is generated during the burning of a flame, it is not enough for proper heating of the room.
Biological devices do not need a chimney, exhaust hood and other additional elements that threaten to turn the installation of an accessory into a new repair.
A biofireplace can be selected for a room of any purpose and interior design - manufacturers offer a wide range of models of various shapes, sizes and colors
They work on liquid fuel, which gives a beautiful fire with even “tongues” of the flame.
Instrument Design Features
Ecofireplace is a fairly simple device that consists of three main components - a fuel block, a burner, and a body made of non-flammable material (usually glass, heat-resistant plastic or metal). Most often, devices also have a backlight, a protective screen and a flame control regulator.
The fuel block is an essential structural element that can be represented by a small tank with a fuel supply or an open tank with a burner
Automated systems are also equipped with a remote control unit to control the device from a remote control, mobile phone or tablet.
As well as many nice additions, for example:
- LED informative display, which displays data on the current state of the device, possible breakdowns, the presence of fuel in the tank;
- automatic ignition and extinction;
- cooling system with integrated fan;
- sensors for monitoring temperature, fuel, and even the content of carbon dioxide and humidity in the room;
- child lock function;
- the ability to connect to Wi-Fi and the Smart Home system.
The principle of operation of the device is as follows: fuel is poured into a tank or an open container, the burner is ignited and "gives out" a flame until the fuel is consumed. But a lot depends on the technical equipment of the fireplace.
Simple appliances will require “manual” ignition and control of the flame level in the burner. You will also have to extinguish the fire yourself - using a special poker or damper.
To start / stop the automated fireplace, just turn on the corresponding button on the control panel.
Automation provides the maximum level of comfort and safety for the home, but also several times increases the cost of the device itself and its repair in the event of a breakdown
The specifics of the operation of the device is that the tongues of flame are not formed directly from the combustion of fuel, but only from its vapors, which are supplied to the burner through the outlet channel. And since the fire burns without smoke and smell, there is no need to build exhaust ducts, and the heat generated by the device remains completely in the room.
But, despite the high coefficient of efficiency, it will not work to use ecofireplace as the main source of heating - the power is not the same.
An important component of the device is decorative elements. Typically, these are ceramic products, stained glass, pebbles, mirrors and other refractory materials, with the help of which the device can both reliably depict a classic hearth and become the trendy highlight of the urban interior.
Advantages and disadvantages of eco-fireplaces
Unlike wood and gas fires, most biofireplaces (except for built-in ones) are mobile devices and have small dimensions.
Therefore, they can be installed in almost any room of the house and even taken out into the open air - for example, a terrace, a balcony or a house territory in a summer cottage.
Portable bio-fireplaces can also be used for advertising purposes, for example, to decorate interior or landscape elements, unobtrusively emphasize the high status of the institution
Advantages of the device:
- Versatility - there is no such interior where the home fireplace with beautiful flame petals does not fit.
- Easy installation - the device can be built into furniture or purchased a mobile structure, in any case, the installation does not require special knowledge and skills.
- Easy operation - biofireplaces will not require maintenance of chimneys, washing multi-layer soot, harvesting firewood and other labor-intensive care. In order for the hearth to work, it is enough to fill it with special fuel on time and periodically clean the burner with a soft cloth.
- No need to apply for installation permission - for the installation of the bio-focus, it will not be necessary to engage in long-term negotiations with the fire inspectorate and other services, as with the installation of a gas or wood counterpart. It is enough to follow the safety rules when choosing a place and the subsequent operation of an open fire, and there will be no complaints from the regulatory authorities to you.
- Beneficial effects on the psyche - “live” flame is associated with warmth and tranquility, relaxes and sets up for relaxation, which is not the last thing at all with the bustling rhythm of modern life.
As for the minuses, the most global of them is the impressive cost of both the equipment itself and biofuels, the reserves of which have to be constantly replenished. But if you are willing to pay for the opportunity to decorate your interior with a spectacular highlight - consider the options for various models.
Classification of biofuel fireplaces
A huge number of eco-fireplaces are presented on the modern market, so even the most fastidious buyers will not have problems choosing the right shape, design and color scheme.
But the choice of the device should be based not only on the spectacular appearance, but also on the availability of free space, because it is one thing to purchase a compact mobile device that can be moved or hidden if necessary, and quite another - a stationary fireplace with a portal.
By installation method
In the simplest version, a biofireplace is a small desktop device that can be placed on any horizontal surface, the main thing is that it be sufficiently stable and wide. Its main advantages are mobility, compactness, low fuel consumption and affordable price.
A table fireplace can become a stylish accessory in your office or a symbol of the hearth with which you can have a romantic evening
Wall-mounted - devices with a closed back wall (sometimes ends) and a transparent facade. They are most similar to the classic fireplace portals, but can be decorated in both historical and modern styles.
Such devices will not take up much space, since they are closely leaning against a wall or other vertical surface.
The portal of the wall fireplace can be decorated with brick or marble tiles, supplemented with a shelf, grate, ceramic logs, and it will become indistinguishable from the wood hearth
Freestanding - beautiful, spectacular, but quite dimensional devices that will be more appropriate in spacious rooms, although you can choose a rather compact rectangular model if you wish.
Such devices allow you to admire the fire from all sides, for which the case is most often made of transparent thermoplastic or glass, and can be moved using roller wheels built into the foot.
Hinged fireplaces are fixed with special mountings to the ceiling or wall, which gives the modern interior a special charm and originality
Recessed - appliances that can be installed in any niche of a suitable size, whether it is a wall, floor, column or recess in furniture.
Depending on the destination, you can choose a device with a vertical or horizontal burner.
Built-in biofireplaces look great in tandem with various appliances - a TV, stove or oven, but can also be a separate design touch, emphasizing the non-standard layout of the room
Street fireplaces can be distinguished as a separate subgroup. Such devices are most often mobile, so that you can rearrange them in any convenient place and clean the room during bad weather. But there are also stationary models built into the walls of houses, pedestals or pedestals.
Outdoor fireplaces are more suitable for commercial use in restaurants or entertainment centers, although they can also be installed on the territory of the house. Their "trick" - enhanced protection against moisture and unexpected fire extinguishing by wind or rain.
This can be a special burner design, supplemented with absorbent fibers, or a collapsible housing with the ability to open / close the lid or raise the walls.
In the shape of the body
Most often, a fireplace burner is enclosed in rectangular or square body. This allows you to more compactly position the device and give maximum similarity to a conventional firebox.
Custom shapes are especially in demand for interiors designed in urban and outrageous design, but for restrained styles, the traditional portal will be the best choice
But there are other options:
- Corner fireplace - a triangular shape will allow you to install the device in any free angle, which is very convenient for small rooms.
- Fire line - A fashionable novelty with several fuel blocks and a narrow burner, the length of which can reach 1.5 meters. It looks especially impressive on the bar, in the wall niche or on the floor podium.
- Ball - a spherical fireplace can be suspended or floor, but in any case it will not go unnoticed.
- Candle or torch - narrow devices with a rectangular or cylindrical body and a powerful column of flame are in demand in modern interiors and landscape design.
- Open fire - in some models, the flame is not enclosed under the dome of the case, but only enclosed with protective glass around the perimeter or only from the front side. It looks, of course, spectacular, but the fire hazard of the device is significantly increased.
Compact devices designed for tables or other surfaces in the "medium height" area attract attention due to the original decor. The burner used here is the most common, most often round, so the emphasis is on non-standard design. It can be a plate filled with small pebbles or a beautiful glass from which the flame breaks out.
What to look for when choosing?
Although most often, buyers are guided by the appearance of the device and its compliance with the interior design, do not lose sight of the technical characteristics of the device.
The longer the fireplace burner, the more area it can heat, and if you plan to use the device as an additional heat source, consider options with a power of 3 kW
Important parameters:
- Biofireplace power - varies from 1 to 7 kW. The higher this indicator, the greater the heat transfer from the device will be, as well as the brighter the flame and the higher the pillar of fire. But the consumption of expensive fuel increases proportionally.
- Fuel tank capacity - from 50 ml to 9 liters. Of course, a device with a capacious capacity functions longer without refueling, but since it is not recommended to leave unspent liquid in the device, it is worthwhile to estimate the real time of the fireplace operation before buying.
- Burner material - for safe operation of the device, this element should be made of high-quality stainless steel with a thickness of 3-5 mm or ceramic.
- Double circuit burner - provides additional thermal insulation and controls the fuel level. For example, if you pour a lot of fuel, its excess will "go" to the second circuit and will be consumed only after the combustion of the liquid in the first.
But the fuel consumption, which is often of interest to buyers, is a very arbitrary value, because a lot depends on the power of the device, the size of its tank and the given flame force. For an hour, a medium-sized fireplace can consume from 350 ml to 1 liter of a combustible mixture, which is why many manufacturers indicate either a “plug” in flow rate or the minimum required to start.
What is biofuel?
For the operation of eco-fires, special combustible compounds obtained from the processing of biological waste or made on the basis of plant materials are intended. It gives a beautiful “living” flame without sparking, smells, soot and smoke.
The most common type of fuel is denatured ethanol. In addition, it is enriched with special additives that color the fire in a warm orange color.
And for those who want to enjoy the full illusion of a bonfire with the characteristic crackling of firewood, there are special biogels that include sea salt.
Ecofuel is sold in the form of a liquid or gel-like gel in jars, bottles or cans with a capacity of 1 to 5 liters, and the compositions can be flavored or neutral
Industrial eco-fuel should contain at least 95% bioethanol, 3-4% water and 1-2% various additives (for example, methyl ethyl ketone or Bitrex) that prevent the mixture from splitting into water and alcohol and give a beautiful flame color.
To select the right fuel for your fireplace, focus on the heating performance of the fuel (on average, about 6.5 kW / h of heat is generated during the combustion of 1 liter) and the presence of a quality certificate.
Although ordinary alcohol can be used as a fuel for a fireplace, its bluish flame cannot be compared with the warm fire characteristic of burning wood, which gives bioethanol
But if you want, you can make a mixture for refueling with your own hands.
To do this, you will need:
- Purified 96 percent ethyl alcohol with a colorless flame - 1 liter.
- Gasoline with a high octane rating, for example, “Kalosha” (a simple car will not work - a characteristic odor will be emitted during combustion) - 50 ml.
- Aromatic additives from essential oils (optional) - 5-7 drops.
Then you need to mix the liquids in the indicated proportions, shake until a homogeneous mass is obtained and pour into the burner or fuel block.
The disadvantage of this method is that the combustible composition is suitable for use only immediately after preparation, making a supply for long-term storage will not work - the mixture will delaminate.
Read more about the types of fuel for a biofireplace read in this material.
Rules for the safe use of a biofireplace
Although manufacturers have tried to make the device as safe as possible for home use, there is still a certain list of rules that it is important to observe the owners of eco-fireplaces.
The simplest thing is not to leave the working hearth unattended and not to install it near flammable objects, for example, near curtains, under hangers with clothes, wooden or plastic shelves and flammable accessories.
Do not forget that in spite of your decorative accent and the presence of a protective screen, the biofireplace remains an open flame device, which means a potentially dangerous device
In addition to the obvious rules, there are specific nuances, for example:
- Install the device only on a reliable and as even surface as possible to prevent accidental tipping over (by the way, expensive devices have a special evenness sensor that can help determine the surface curvature no worse than the building level).
- Pour biofuel only into a cooled, non-working device and never replenish supplies during the combustion process.
- If the fuel mixture spills during refueling, immediately wipe this place dry to avoid self-ignition.
- Use only heat-resistant accessories, such as stones, metal, glass or ceramic imitations, for decoration.
- Control the fuel level in the tank and try to fill the liquid exactly for one use, otherwise the remaining ethanol will poison the air in your home with its vapor.
- To light a fire, use a special metal lighter for fireplaces with a long handle.
And the last thing - do not forget about ventilation. Although the biofireplace does not require an extract and does not evaporate harmful substances, carbon dioxide is released during the burning of any flame.
Be sure to ventilate the room after using the appliance and replenish the burned oxygen supply.
To navigate the upcoming choice, we suggest you look at a few reviews about the design of bio-fireplaces and evaluate how they look in the interior. And for craftsmen who are used to working with their own hands - a small bonus on the method of manufacturing a homemade device.
In this video you can clearly see the principle of action of a simple bio-fireplace:
What to look for when choosing a device:
How to make a burner for a biofireplace yourself:
Fireplaces have long become the embodiment of home comfort and relaxation, and with the advent of biofuel appliances, each of us can decorate our homes with a beautiful home.
And if there is a desire to save on an expensive purchase, make the case and burner quite feasible and do it yourself. But if you want your fireplace to work in accordance with all safety rules, contact the professionals who will help with the selection of the model and its installation.
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