Published 2011
E-spirit+ is a more luxurious version with less proportion of soot coating naphtha
One problem with the conventional E-spirit is that it contains fairly
large proportion naphtha. It makes that the spirit burner sooner or later have
to be cleaned from unburned fuel deposits. These coatings are a minor problem
when one dispenses red glycol in the E-sprite. In order to completely circumvent
the disadvantages that may arise, one must dispense a certain amount of
methylated spirits in the e-sprite. Then one avoids the risk of turbidity / phase
separation and naphtha coatings. What you pay is the price of the extra
methylated spirits, which must be purchased. Despite a higher cost is the price
still cheaper than to run with pure methylated spirits. One can make a big batch
as methylated spirits are cheaper in cans. If one choose to do E-spirit+ is the
proportion of E85 lower. Those mean that the gasoline (the reminder) will be
reduced and therefore contains the gasoline less naphtha.
If one chooses to use two five litre cans can one proceed as follows:
Do the actual preparation of E85 fuel, water and naphtha in one can - the
second can is filled with E-sprite. Then add some methylated spirits or some
other cheap alcohol... The batch is matched so that the amount of methylated
spirits/alcohol becomes right when the can is completely full.
You start by filling the can to the three litre-line with E85. Then add 5 vol%
naphtha and 25 vol% tap water. This is 150 ml naphtha and 750 ml of water.
Together is it 3900 ml but due to the shrinkage will it be about 3.7 litres.
Then wait a few hours before separation begins - via a PVC tube by utilizing
siphon principle. Time is not directly critical here, 3 to 5 hours is about right.
The amount of E-spirits in the other can, will be after separation about 3.3
litres. Then fill up with methylated spirits/alcohol up to the five litre mark.
One now have five litres of E-spirit+.
This liquor can now be used as fuel for indoor heaters.
An alcohol analyzer (hydrometer) shows 87%.
Dose with pleasure a half thousandth (0.05%) of red glycol in the amount of E-spirit+
(one millilitre per two thousand millilitres of e-sprit+).
E-spirit+ after the naphtha method
- Measuring up an arbitrary amount E85
- Add 5% naphtha (lamp oil) of the amount E85
- Add 25% water of the amount E85
- Separate the liquor portion after a few hours phase separation (the
reminder can be recycled as engine fuel)
- Add 50% methylated spirit (some cheap spirit/alcohol or C-liquor) of the
amount separated liquor.
A content list (by volume):
- 77% ethanol
- 1% mtbe
- 1% naphtha
- 4% gasoline
- 16% water
- 1% denaturation
Characteristics
E-spirit+ has a density of 830 kg/cbm and the calorific value is about 24 MJ/kg.
It is a substitute for methylated spirit and contains naphtha, which makes it
feel fat/slippery in comparison with methylated spirits, thereto contain it
water. It burns relatively safe and does not turn off by itself. Incinerates
E-spirit+ in dedicated liquor burner formed no water but if one incinerate it in
a bowl will the combustion become incomplete, with both water and soot as
residues. The flame is yellow and sooty but cause no more trouble with
the indoor environment than with tea lights. For methylated spirit is the calorific
value 28.5 MJ/kg and is slightly better than E-spirit+. For a certain amount
of methylated spirit requires 15% larger amount of E-spirit+ for not the
calorific value should diff. At a price comparison may one take 1.15 times
methylated spirits (which gives the amount of E-spirit+) and to get the
amount of E85, one takes the amount of E-spirit+ and multiplies with 0.6.
The amount of naphtha is 0.05 times the amount of E85. In 2011 were
E-spirit+ about 30% cheaper than methylated spirit in cans. If one recycles the
gasoline reminder as an engine fuel is the profit rather 35%.
As with regular E-spirit (which emits smoke when a burner peters out) will
also E-spirit+ produce smoke. The smoke is derived from unburned naphtha and as
the E-spirit+ contains less naphtha will it also smoke less than ordinary
E-spirit. The resulting smoke is comparable to a candle or a tea light in
intensity. The burner after-heat seems to be enough to vaporize all naphtha. My
two smoke alarms that are placed at the ceiling and in the same room as my
spirit burner, has not started to alert yet.
E-sprite+ is not a good cleaning then the naphtha creates stains and because
it contains water, it may stir up rust but then it contains naphtha, it may be
vice versa?
The amount of E-spirit+ can approximately be calculated from the available volume of E85:
Amount of E-spirit+ = 1.7 x E85
The amount of the residue is approximately 0.15 x amount of E85.