Petrol Burning Stoves

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Petroleum Burnersaka Liquid Fuel Stoves, Kero Burners and Classic Camp Stoves

These are the meat and potatoes of camping stoves. They are generally heavy duty, heavy, and are good for cooking and simmering large meals. Acceptable fuels tend to be easy to find and cheap. These stoves are time tested and have journeyed to remote parts of the world and kept many explorers alive in some of the harshest of environments imaginable. They are the only stoves that may work in the extremes of colds and are ideal in parts of the world where kerosene, diesel and avgas many be the only available fuels.

Because of there longevity, they are quit popular and many outdoors people are well acquainted with these wonderful tools. But despite being quite popular with the outdoors community, they're the frowned upon by true ultraliters because of their excessive weight, dangerous caustic fuels and maintenance/reliability concerns.

There are many commercial stoves on the market and due to the inherent dangers associated with liquid petroleum fuels, modifications and homemade versions are not recommended.

BasicsPressurizes StovesSelf-Pressurizing StovesGravity Fed StovesWick StovesCapillary Technology StovesFuelsFuel StorageMaintenance

Basics

Advantages include: easy to find

high heat output

easy to find and inexpensive fuels (often the only fuel option available in many remote places)

the only type of stoves that may work in extremely cold environments (Alaska, Antarctica, Himalayas, Northern Europe in their respective winters)

some can burn a variety of fuels

fuels have high heat to weight ratio

Disadvantages include: outrageous weight to include weight of fuel containers

bulk

caustic fuel

explosive fuel

smell

smoke

many don't simmer well unless you block the flame from your pot while wasting fuel

stove cost

jet noise (pressurized versions)

flare ups can be dangerous

some fuels blacken pots with soot

significant maintenance concerns

complicated to operate (a plus for some)

most require pumping

fuel storage concerns

skin exposure to fuels extreme cold can be dangerous

Pump PressurizedStoves

Since it's introduction in the late 1800's this has been the most popular camp stove design. Most of these systems work by pressurizing the fuel with a hand pump, metering its flow through tubes heated by your priming flame which in turn creates pressurized vapor that is forced through a jet into a mixer tube where gaseous fuel mixes with oxygen and then into some sort of flame reflector where it is ignited. SeeHow Stoves Workfor more information.

There are hundreds of petrol stove models available on the market today the the following represents just some of the general classes of these stoves.

11.5oz MSR WhisperLite Internationale stove and pump (bottle and accessories not included in weight)

The MSR WhisperLite Internationale is an example of a popular "lightweight" multi-fuel camp stove with a fancy flame dispersion pack. It has a larger diameter generator tube (vaporizer tube) that allows for less volatile fuels such as kerosene to be used with the stove and a set of jets that can be changed for use with different fuels. This design connects to a detachable fuel container.

15.1oz Brunton Optimus Nova Multi-Fuel stove and pump (bottle and accessories not included in weight)Designs such as the Optimus Nova and the MSR Dragonfly have a control valve close the the jet to allow of precise control of fuel flow to allow for simmering. Both the Dragonfly and Nova are used by the US military since they can burn JP-8 (military vehicle fuel) and are referred to as the Squad Stove.

12oz MSR XGK Expedition stove and pump (bottle and accessories not included in weight)

The venerable XGK Expedition isn't lightweight by any means, but is very popular due to its dependability and ability to burn different fuels. It has a simple bell shaped dispersion plate, large diameter generator tube and is better suited than other stoves to burn poor quality fuels or for melting large amounts of snow. It is the choice stove for subfreezing expeditions and has been to both poles and the highest places in this world.

12.6 oz MSR XGK EX (bottle and accessories not included in weight)

MSR has has a new version of the their XGK expedition stove shown above. It comes has a flexible fuel line that allows for easier packing, retractable legs and pot supports for improved stability both on the ground and for the pot.

21.6oz Coleman Exponent Multi Fuel Stove

The Coleman Exponent Multi Fuel Stoveis an example of a multi-fuel stove with the burner unit mount directly over the integral fuel tank. This single unit design is desirable to many campers but has some inherent drawbacks. The down side of having the fuel tank under the stove is that it may overheat from the heat radiating off you your cookware and doesn't allow flexibility for various sized fuel canisters. Another drawback with the popular Coleman single unit stoves is that if overfilled, they may leak liquid fuel from the top of the stove and cause a huge fireball. Coleman stoves are probably the stove most likely to be thrown into a lake.

Optimus Campingkk Nr. 9

There were many stove designs such as theOptimus "Halmia" No:9that mount its burner horizontally with the fuel tank. Most of these stoves are no longer made or are far too heavy to general backpacking use. The older ones are very difficult to find and are horded by collectors.

2oz MSR Fuel Pump

Homemade versions of pressurized petrol stoves can be quite challenging to construct and it would be very difficult to make a safe, lightweight, durable stove that would be worth your while. Add the explosive nature of some of these fuels to stove designing, and you have a recipe for catastrophic failure. Modifications beyond windscreens, footprints and pot supports are discouraged and dangerous. If you still feel compelled to build one, check out the home-fabricatedHjemmelaget primus. Tinkerers may possibly benefit from starting with a prefabricated pump assembly (made for a stove or a tire pump) and build the stove from there. White gas and gasoline fuels are not recommended for first time homemade stoves since they are extremely explosive.

Optimus Nova Pump

Fuel pumps are an important part of most petrol stove systems. They are responsible for pressurizing fuel while preventing fuel leaks, both when connected and disconnected from the stove. There is some argument as to which stove company produces the best pump. MSR produces lightweight plastic systems, while their Swedish counterparts produce what are arguably more durable metal versions.

Pump WeightsMSR2.1 oz (60 gm)

MSR DragonFly2.1 oz (60 gm)

Coleman Exponent Dual Fuel Apex II3.5 oz (98 gm)

Primus Himalaya OmniFuel and MultiFuel3.6 oz (102 gm)

Optimus Nova4 oz (115 gm)

Lezyne HV Alloy Drive Mini Pump (bike)3.95 oz (112 gm)

Topeak Micro Rocket CB Pump (bike)1.94 (55 gm)

An alternate method for pressuring a stove is to use a bicycle pump. You can use an adapter which connects to a stove's pump, or place an adapter inline with the fuel hose/tube or add it directly to the tank or install one in the tank's filler cap. For some stoves, the stock pump can be replaced altogether with a mini bicycle tire pump and a bottle cap with an installed valve. The Amish have been know to use a tire pump to pressurize lanterns and stoves, which makes sense as they are more likely to have a tire pump at home than a backpacker on the side of a mountain.

Bicycle and motorcycle tire valves are often used on filler caps of many stoves. A small bicycle pump will allow you to pressurize a larger tank much quicker and easier than the built in pump on most pressurized stoves. This also makes DIY pressurized petrol stove fabrication that much easier to make. You could even pressurize a Gatorade with this method and run tubing to your stove.

Filler Cap with Schrader Valve

Related Links:bikeforums.net 382640-Backup-or-Alternative-Fuel-pressurization-Systemspiritburner.com 12155spiritburner.com 25313bwca.com 112714 Using pump to get rid of dents in bottle

Schrader valve

Schrader valves(aka American Valve - used in car tires)

TR-4 - straight metal stem (8 mm dia.)

TR-6 - straight metal stem (8 mm dia.)

TR-13 - straight rubber stem (11.5 mm dia.)

TR-15 - straight rubber stem (16 mm dia.)

TR-87 - short 90 metal stem (10 mm dia.)

TR-87C - tall 90 metal stem (10 mm dia.)

TR 413- 0.453" (11.50mm) rim hole diam. 1.25" (31.8mm) long

TR 415- 0.625" (15.87mm) rim hole diam. 1.25" (31.8mm) long

TR 418- 0.453" (11.50mm) rim hole diam. 2" (50.8mm) long

TR 425- 0.625" (15.87mm) rim hole diam. 2" (50.8mm)l ong

External threadMetric: 7.7 mm OD, thread root diameter is 6.9 mm 0.794 mm pitch.

Imperial: 0.305 in OD, thread root diameter 0.271 in 32 tpi (threads per inch)

Internal thread(to accept the threaded valve core)

Metric: 5.30 mm OD 0.706 mm pitch

Imperial: 0.209 in OD 36 tpi.

For refrigeration, a 1/4" male flare fitting is used, with the same internal thread as above.

Presta valve- Narrower valve for race bicycle rims

External diameter6 mm

Dunlop valve(Woods valve or English valve) - hybrid valve with wide base similar to Schrader valve and narrow top similar to Presta valve

Self-Pressurizing Stoves

9oz Borde Benzinbrenneraka "Borde Bomb," Borde Benzin-Kocher, Borde Bezinkocher, The Bordeaux Burner [], Borde-Kocher, Schweizer-Armee-Kocher, Schweizer Armee Kocher and Schweizer Kocher

The Borde Benzin Brenner was created in 1956 by the Swiss inventor Joseph Borde and was later transferred over to Norbert Baader who is still making them by hand. Only a couple hundred are made a year and can only be easily found in some European specialty shops, Japan and on Ebay (from anywhere between15to180USD).

It incorporates a small fuel tank to the side of the burner and a coiled generator tube that doubles back to the burner. The stove is preheated by warming with your hands for a minute or so, flipping it over to allow fuel to leak onto the burner star and lighting it to heat up the generator tubes. Once the stove gets up to operational temperature, the heated generator tube boils the fuel in it and transfers heat back to the fuel tank, which in turn heats the fuel in the tank, build up pressure and forces fuel to the generator tubes. The flame is then adjusted by twisting the burner star with a metal hook to open and close the fuel outlet. Since pressure continues to build up as the stove gets hotter and hotter, occasional adjustment of the burner is required.

More information can be found at:

Classic Camp StovesRakuten.co.jp - Demonstration (Japanese)Google TranslationInstruction Sheet (Japanese)Instruction Sheet (Japanese)Google TranslationRoman Auf der Maur - Borde (German)Google Translation (Japanese)Google TranslationGoogle Translation- Old style vs New Style

This stove also needs some sort ofPot Standfor yourPot.

With a little metal fabricating skill, is would be pretty easy to make a working stove modeled after Joseph Borde's design. Interested DIYers will want to check out:

Left16's Pakuricon SeriesGoogle TranslationGoogle Translation- Trimmed down version

Google Translation!! Google Translation

Hario Pitorch Glass Lamp

The Pitorch alcohol stoves (),Taico Dickson, Tay-Kit, Stesco and many other older stove designs use a similar coiled generator tube for their burner.

Hario Pitorch Glass Lamp

Alcohol stoves of this design generally have two small holes drilled in the base of the coils positioned to allow for jet/flame collision with the tops of the coils.

19ozOptimusSvea

The rugged 19oz Optimus Svea and 23oz Hunter stoves are self pressurizing and use a wick to draw fuel to the burner while the stove preheats. These stoves are quite heavy but are know for their reliability and longevity.

1.4oz Midi Pump

Optimus uses a simple thermal feedback design for their Svea and Hunter but this design doesn't produce as much pressure as conventional camp stoves with built in pumps. To make up for this, they offer an optional Midi Pump to increase fuel output and to pressurize the stove prior to startups on those cold days.

Gravity Fed Stoves

Desca Alcohol Burner

There are a few stoves that use gravity to move fuel to the their burners. Models include alcohol, kerosene and diesel singe and multiple burners. Most of the few gravity fed stoves available today are alcohol Marine Cookers and are too large for backpacking use, but there are still a few smaller ones out there.

Gravity feeding means that you don't need to worry about pressurizing but since fuel must be collected at a low point in the fuel chamber, there is the inherent problem of debris clogging these stoves. Some designs use wicks to prevent sediment blockage in the generator tubes, while other designs are wickless.

Fuel tanks can be permanently mounted higher than the burner, attached to a swivel or hose to allow for packing, or set up with a removable fuel tank that sits on the stove like a water jug in a work place water cooler (aka water bubbler).

DIYers will want to check out the gravity fed South AfricanFSP Stove.

Some models include (for research purposes):

Turm (38 and Sport)

Vulcano

Montgomery Wards no. 3

Falks Wickless (Veritas)

Veritas-Atmos paraffin cookerDesca Kocher

Meva nr. 165

Butterfly Series

Torch

Norma E14 Spiritus KocherMoha

Bat Spirituskocher

Radius Alcohol Stove

Quikcook Alcohol Stove

Barthel Norma

Manning Bowman & Co

Primus (Caesar, No. 325 and No:301 Alcohol Burner)

Images of several gravity fed stoves can be found at:

Scherning - KocherPetromax Forum - KocherClassic Camp Stoves - Collectors Galleries

Wick Stoves

An older simpler version incorporates one or more wicks. This design is still used in large kerosene heaters and in some stoves made in Asia.

Chinese Yangzhou Hurricane NS22 kerosene stove

Commercial petrol wick camp stoves are hard to come by these days unless you live in or are traveling through Asia or the subcontinent of India. Don't expect to find an ultralightweight version in this design, unless you build it yourself.

Homemade versions of wick stoves that use kerosene or oil can be pretty simple to build, but messy to operate and/or store.

Related Links:Zen Paraffin and Wax Burning StovesBurning Kerosene in Pea Soup CanAmazing Mini Kerosene Stove

Capillary Technology Stoves

Instead of using pressurize building pumps, gravity, generator tubes or wicks to transport fuel to your stove, capillary attraction from specially engineered ceramics can be used to deliver atomized fuel jets directly into the flame.

MSR Capillary Stove with integral pot

MSR's Capillary Force Technology Stove System using theVapore-Jet Capillary Force Vaporizeris scheduled for release in 2007 at the earliest, but looks like it still needs a little testing for both the commercial andUS militaryuse. Instead of using pressurized fuel or wicks, it incorporates a ceramic cartridge that uses capillary attraction of draw up and vaporize fuel.

US Military MIWH

The US military is working on a "lightweight" and compact system called theModular Individual Water Heater (MIWH)that incorporates the capillary system fueled by JP-8 (kerosene-like fuel used by most US military ground vehicles). This will be the new "Pocket Stove" to replace the old World War II gasoline burner.

Experimental US Military Pocket Stove

The final product used by the military may end up far sturdier than required for ultralight hikers, but the prototype designs can be easily improved on and tailored for minimalist use.

For more information see:

defenselink.mil - Capillary Force Vaporizer Fuels Pocket Stovemilitary.com - VAPORIZED: Capillary Force Revolutionizes Burner TechnologyMay-June 2005 The WarriorPDFSSC-Natick Press Release

Fuel Types

Commercial petrol stoves are designed to work with certain fuels and manufactures will often recommend or even mandate a specific kind or brand of fuel. But because of the many similarities in petroleum fuels, many petrol stoves can burn a variety of fuels. Operating your stove with a fuel different than the manufacture's stated primary fuel may necessitate modifying airflow and/or changing jets in order to optimize use of various fuels by adjusting the air/fuel ratio. Many multifuel stoves come with different sized jets to allow for use of different fuels. Larger vaporizer (generator) tubes may also be desirable for heavier and less volatile fuels, requiring drastic modification of existing stoves, or replacement with a stove specifically designed to burn kerosene and/or diesel.

International NamesFor information on international names and idiosyncrasies of petrol fuels check outMike Buckler'sandMSR'slist of international fuel names.

Petrol RefiningThe heart to petroleum refining is the fractional distillation process. Raw petroleum is heated up, and separated into different distillation ranges via a pipestill.

FractionCarbon ChainsBoiling Point RangeCMajor Uses

Gaseous hydrocarbonsC1- C40-20Gas fuels for cooking and heating. Methane is used for producing hydrogen for manufacture of ammonia

NaphthaC5- C720-100Solvents for varnishes, dry cleaning and cracking stock for methane

GasolineC5- C1240-175Fuels for internal combustion engines

KeroseneC12- C18175-300Jet engine fuel and diesel fuel #1

Diesel Fuel or Gas-OilC18- C24300-400Diesel fuel #2 and cracking stock for gasoline

Lubricating OilC20- C30Non volatile fractionLubricants and cracking stock

Paraffin WaxC25- C30solidsCandles, packaging, polishing, petroleum jelly, and water proofing

Residue BitumenGreater than C30solidsAsphalt and road surfaces, waterproofing

These distillates are further refined to produce fuels, solvents, and other products that meet specific criteria. These criteria vary depending on manufacturer, destination country, retailer, and targeted use, making it difficult to accurately define attributes such as composition, toxicity, heat output, and performance between various fuels.

FuelsThe following considers a handful of usable fuel categories for petrol camp stoves and is neither all inclusive nor technically complete. The following is given as a brief guideline for backpacking stove use, and nothing more.

NOTE- All petrol fuels are toxic and all are dangerous. Those not listed are possibly even more so dangerous and toxic. Even when well designed petrol stoves and accessories are used in a "safe" manner, they are not risk free. Using fuels in a manner outside of manufacture's recommendations and/or contradictory to common sense can prove deadly.

Naphtha (aka. Coleman Fuel, MSR Fuel, White Gas [North America, Australia, and New Zealand], Shellite, Fuelite, Zippo fuel, Ronsonol fuel, heptane, Blazo, cigarette lighter fluid, some charcoal lighter fluid)Naphtha is a term relating to a range of hydrocarbons used as solvents or feedstock for petroleum products. For purposes of categorizing fuels for stoves, "naphtha" is used to include all naphtha and gasoline-like fuels that have been refined to be as aromatic and additive free as practical for stove use. This is a much "cleaner" stove fuel than other petroleum products (except possibly the liquefied gases) so it is less likely to clog stoves. It is also considered by many to be the best fuel for high altitude and extremely cold treks. It evaporates quickly, is quite volatile, burns very hot, and leaves little residue compared to kerosene. Naphtha requires a lot of oxygen to burn and therefore may be a little easier to extinguish than other petroleum fuels. Naphtha is much more explosive than kerosene but is a bit less explosive than gasoline. This fuel category might be slightly less toxic than gasoline but is still very caustic, and releases an unpleasant odor that lingers.

Naphtha is a mix of 5 to 9 carbonalkaneswith a boiling range of 104 to 401F (40 to 205C). The term "naphtha" has several accepted and obsolete definitions and can even be inclusive of gasoline and kerosene.

Coleman Fuel (Calumet Lantern Fuel )Coleman fuel contains about 50% naphtha, 50% aliphatic petroleum distillates, 2% xylene, 2% toluene, 0.5% benzene, green dye and rust inhibitors (to help prevent rusting of internal parts and facilitate long shelf life). The carbon number range is C5to C9with a boiling point range of 100-350 F. Coleman Fuel contains up to 25% n-hexane and up to 15% cyclohexane by weight and it is fully hydrotreated to remove aromatics, (reported to contain less than 0.001% benzene).

Fuelite (Shellite)Contains >60% Paraffins and naphthenes, N-hexane 13%,