Experimental study of thermo-environmental properties of single and double-chambered bioethanol burners

Abstract

Bioethanol burners are becoming increasingly popular across Europe, often valued primarily for their aesthetic appeal; however, their potential role in household energy systems and their influence on the indoor environment have been largely overlooked. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of burner design, burner opening area regulation, fuel quality, and initial fuel dose on key operational and environmental performance metrics, including heat output, pollutant emission rates, and impact on indoor environment, for single- and double-chambered bioethanol burners. The results showed that single-chambered burners achieved 11–31 % higher average heat output and 8–27 % higher maximum heat output despite having a lower burner opening area. Regarding emissions, single-chambered burners exhibited lower CO emission factors (5–51 % reduction) but higher NOx emission factors (13–23 % increase) compared to double-chambered burners. Indoors, a similar trend was observed, with single-chambered burners contributing to lower CO levels but higher NOx concentrations. These findings provide new insights into how burner geometry directly affects combustion efficiency and pollutant formation mechanisms, including thermal NOx and incomplete combustion processes. This study is one of the few to combine controlled hood testing with real-room experiments, offering a comprehensive assessment of the indoor air quality implications of ethanol burner operation. The results of this study highlight the necessity for further research and development to mitigate potential health risks while maximising the efficiency of bioethanol burners as a viable household heating solution.