What Fuel?

[Omnimill]

What's the best fuel for Spirit burners? I have Methylated Spirits, Isopropyl Alcohol, Paraffin and Acetone in the workshop, which is best or should I use something else? It's for stirling/flame eater engines.

Thanks,

Vic.

 

[oldparts]

I have been using denatured alcohol with great success. It burns cleaner than some of the others.

 

[Tin Falcon]

http://littlemachineshop.com/ gives this info/advise

Fuel for Stirling Engines

Our Stirling hot air engines are designed to burn alcohol.

WARNING: DO NOT USE GASOLINE, WHITE GAS, COLEMAN FUEL, OR ANY OTHER GASOLINE-TYPE FUELS IN THESE ENGINES. Talk about losing face!

You can use any of these fuels:

* Pure methanol (such as HEET brand gas-line antifreeze or its generic equivalent)--available in automotive supply stores
* Ethanol/methanol mixture ("denatured alcohol")--available in paint and hardware stores
* Pure ethanol (200 proof grain alcohol)--available in liquor stores and pharmacy supply houses (it's very expensive and could be put to much better use!)

Note: You can use Isopropanol (ISO-HEET or rubbing alcohol) but we do not recommend it because it burns with a very sooty flame.

 

[Omnimill]

Thanks for that. I had to google it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylated_spirits to get the UK name for it. Methylated spirit seems to be the stuff then!

Thanks again,

Vic.