As a bioethanol retailer, a common question we are asked is “what is the difference between bio-ethanol gel and bioethanol liquid fuel?”. In this article we will explore the differences between both, the uses for each and if they can be used interchangeably in your fire.
How can I identify Liquid and gel fuels?
Liquid bioethanol fuel
What is it: Bio ethanol liquid fuel is a thin, clear fluid made of 96+% pure ethanol. Liquid ethanol burns with a strong, clean blue and yellow flame and does not produce any soot or ash.
Liquid Biofuel is usually packaged in 1L bottles due to shipping restrictions.
Uses: Liquid bio ethanol can be used in bioethanol fires and burners, as well as alcohol camping stoves and spirit burners such as Trangia and Origo.
Bio Ethanol Gel
What is it: Ethanol gels are much thicker than bio ethanol liquid fuel. Generally, gel does not burn as powerfully and has smaller flames. Unlike liquid fuel, gels can leave some residue behind when burnt.
It often comes in metal pots or tins but can also be packaged in bags and bottles.
Uses: Bio ethanol gel is used as a fuel for gel fires and gel camping stoves. It can also be used as a BBQ lighter and is popular as a restaurant chafing fuel for warming food during service.
Can bio ethanol liquid fuel and gel fuel be used in both liquid and gel ethanol fires?
The short answer is no, we would not recommend it.
You always need to check with the manufacturer of your burner or the manual it was supplied with and see which fuels it has been designed to burn.
The flames from liquid bio-ethanol are more powerful than those from gel fuel and so using liquid in a gel burner can be unsafe and result in a thermal runaway effect. This will significantly impact fuel consumption and could result in some dangerously large flames.
Depending on the design of your burner, using the wrong fuel may also cause problems that prevent your fire from working at all. For example, gel fuel will not burn correctly if used in a burner with a ceramic block core meant to hold bio-ethanol liquid. It is simply too thick to soak into the core.
What type of Fuel is EkoFuel?
At EkoFuel we ONLY sell bio ethanol liquid fuel. EkoFuel bio ethanol is 97+% pure ethanol with approx 1% denaturants. This high purity fuel is clean burning and odourless. Produced from sustainable sources and this eco-friendly fuel has a low carbon footprint.
If you would like to try some EkoFuel and check if it is suitable for your burner, we would recommend purchasing our 2L product before purchasing a larger quantity.
