Bioethanol Storage
Author
Discussion

mbutty

Original Poster:

5 posts

188 months

Tuesday 22nd March 2011
quotequote all
The missus has just bought a Bioethanol fireplace for the living room. The only problem is it came with 65 litres of Bioethanol in 3litre plastic Jerry cans. Does anyone know how you are supposed to store flammable liquids like this? They are currently just in the garage and I am not hugely comfortable about it. Am I just being overly concerned?

Simpo Two

91,478 posts

289 months

Tuesday 22nd March 2011
quotequote all
Blimey, never heard of those!

Ethanol is only the pure version of what makes you drunk; it's not like petrol. I think if it was dangerous it would be covered with warning signs and death threats - and the company would not be allowed to sell it to you in plastic cans.

mbutty

Original Poster:

5 posts

188 months

Tuesday 22nd March 2011
quotequote all
Thanks, I hadn't thought of it like that!

Lost soul

8,712 posts

206 months

Tuesday 22nd March 2011
quotequote all
Is that the stuff that burns without a visible flame ?

ChrisnChris

1,424 posts

246 months

Tuesday 22nd March 2011
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
it's not like petrol. I think if it was dangerous it would be covered with warning signs and death threats - and the company would not be allowed to sell it to you in plastic cans.
Bioethanol is flamable & volatile...petrol is sold in plastic cans, they sell them at the petrol station, I fill them up with petrol for my lawmmower. Although I must confess, not so far this year, so things might have changed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioethanol#Bioalcohol...

Simpo Two

91,478 posts

289 months

Tuesday 22nd March 2011
quotequote all
ChrisnChris said:
Bioethanol is flamable & volatile...
So is brandy. Comparing ethanol with petrol just because both are flammable is not valid.

Another reason everyone should study science at school.

ChrisnChris

1,424 posts

246 months

Tuesday 22nd March 2011
quotequote all
ChrisnChris said:
Bioethanol is flamable & volatile...
Statement of fact

ChrisnChris said:
...petrol is sold in plastic cans
Statement of fact

Simpo Two said:
So is brandy. Comparing ethanol with petrol just because both are flammable is not valid.

Another reason everyone should study science at school.
I wasn't comparing them, just making an observation about the properties of ethanol & things sold in plastic cans. Petrol was the example you used when stating that if something was dangerous it wouldn't be sold in plastic cans.

Are you saying that the only things worthy of comparison, are things that are the same ? A comparison implies an aim of showing relative values or excellences by bringing out characteristic qualities whether similar or divergent.

Another reason everyone should study comprehension at school

rotatesmile

mbutty

Original Poster:

5 posts

188 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2011
quotequote all
Lost soul said:
Is that the stuff that burns without a visible flame ?
No - the flame is visable - looks normal but the flame doesn't smell or produce smoke. It also only gives off water vapour and Carbon Dioxide (rather than Minoxide) so you don't need to install a flue.

Simpo Two

91,478 posts

289 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2011
quotequote all
ChrisnChris said:
Are you saying that the only things worthy of comparison, are things that are the same ? A comparison implies an aim of showing relative values or excellences by bringing out characteristic qualities whether similar or divergent.
I might have been arguing in my spare time...

Simpo Two

91,478 posts

289 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2011
quotequote all
mbutty said:
No - the flame is visable - looks normal but the flame doesn't smell or produce smoke. It also only gives off water vapour and Carbon Dioxide (rather than Minoxide) so you don't need to install a flue.
Monoxide - as in one oxygen atom. 'Minoxide' sounds like the stuff you use to make hair grow back!

Carbon dioxide kills by asphyxiation - in other words it is not poisonous but displaces air so you don't get enough oxygen. Carbon monoxide is similar but at a celluar level; it stops your blood carrying oxygen and isn't (I think) reversible, at least not quickly.

Fear (and anger and religion) are usually the result of misunderstanding, say Confucius Simpo. Ah so. And it's not even lunchtime yet!


ChrisnChris

1,424 posts

246 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2011
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Simpo Two said:
I might have been arguing in my spare time...
Argument is an intellectual process. Contradiction is just
the automatic gainsaying of any statement the other person
makes... wink

Simpo Two

91,478 posts

289 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2011
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No it isn't.

ChrisnChris

1,424 posts

246 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2011
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Simpo Two said:
No it isn't.
Shall we waste some bandwidth biggrin

Simpo Two

91,478 posts

289 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2011
quotequote all
I think not. But has the OP blown himself up yet?