FAQ Bioethanol fireplaces

A bioethanol fireplace or bioethanol burner with a patented ceramic stone from Xaralyn is the safest way to enjoy an open fire.

The major difference compared to other similar bio-ethanol fireplaces or burners is that the ceramic stone in the Xaralyn burner slowly absorbs the liquid. As a result, it is not the pure liquid but the released harmless gas that is burned gradually. The result is a safe, clean, and easy-to-ignite atmospheric fireplace with a beautiful, constant flame pattern.

The patented and unique Xaralyn bioethanol fireplaces are equipped with a ceramic stone. This ceramic stone absorbs the bio-ethanol. As soon as the burner slider is open, the bioethanol starts to evaporate.

The higher the temperature of the bioethanol fireplace, the faster the bioethanol evaporates.​The gases released during evaporation can be ignited. This creates beautiful, calm flames without the bioethanol itself burning.​

The burning bioethanol fireplace naturally heats up considerably. This accelerates the evaporation process, releasing more gas. This increases the height of the flames. Depending on the type of burner, the maximum flame height is typically reached after about 25 minutes.

The height of the flames is largely determined by the temperature of the burner. Reducing the burner opening will have little to no effect. We strongly advise against partially closing the burner opening with the slider. Doing so may cause the slider to warp or get stuck.

The height of the flames will vary throughout the entire cycle. The flame height is practically non-adjustable.

A fully stocked bioethanol burner from Xaralyn will burn between 3-4 hours. Large burners can hold more bioethanol, the burning time is approximately similar.

A combustion of bioethanol mainly gives off an odor when the bioethanol has not been filtered properly or has been produced from (too many) different raw materials. The alcohol percentage is also very important: the lower the alcohol percentage, the more odor will be noticeable. Bioethanol with a lower percentage of alcohol contains a larger percentage of additives, which results in a less pure combustion.

No combustion is completely odorless. One person perceives more scent than the other. The combination of bioethanol and the evaporation from the absorbent ceramic stone in the burner ensures the purest possible combustion, which releases a barely noticeable odor.

If a bioethanol burner is extinguished with a ceramic stone, any odor may be somewhat stronger.

A bioethanol fireplace can be incredibly beautiful. Xaralyn puts safety first.

The most simple bioethanol burners are no more than a container in which ethanol is burned. This type of bioethanol burner is not only very dangerous but also consumes a lot of ethanol. Filling the burner with ceramic wool is claimed to offer sufficient safety. By using the burner, the volume of the ceramic wool shrinks and this leads to even more unsafe situations. Ceramic wool can still glow for a long time and cause a flash of flame when refilled.

Xaralyn has a completely different system. The entire burner is completely filled with an absorbent type of stone, we call this a bioethanol burner with ceramic stone or ceramic burner.

The ceramic stone in the burner ensures that the bio-ethanol is completely absorbed and distributed across the entire stone. This makes ignition in the combustion opening easy and ensures the flame is immediately clearly visible. The gradual evaporation of the bio-ethanol from the ceramic stone ensures gradual, economical combustion and a stable flame..

Because the ceramic stone seals the burner, no bioethanol can escape from the burner, even in a tilted position. Due to the built-in safety system, it is simply not possible to fill the bioethanol burner while it is still burning. The bioethanol fireplace or bioethanol burner can only be filled when it is closed and therefore extinguished.

By using the ceramic stone, it is possible to use bioethanol with an alcohol percentage of over 96%. This is the purest of its kind, resulting in clean combustion (without unpleasant odors or residues) and a beautiful yellow flame.

It is not the pure liquid that burns, but the harmless evaporation of the bio-ethanol from the ceramic stone. The gradual combustion makes the bio-ethanol fireplace completely safe and economical to use. A flue is not necessary since no flue gases are released.

The burner is enclosed by an extra outer shell for complete safety. Additionally, the ceramic wool in the outer shell ensures that any excess bio-ethanol is absorbed.

This unique fire extinguishing system was developed by Xaralyn, is patented worldwide, and holds the DIN 4731-1 safety mark.

A bioethanol burner consumes oxygen in addition to ethanol. Ventilation is always required when burning a bioethanol burner. In almost all cases, the ventilation that is already available for a healthy living environment in the house is sufficient with the following recommendations.

Recommended minimum space:

• Bioethanol burner S: 55m3
• Bioethanol burner M: 70m3
• Bioethanol burner L: 80m3
• Bioethanol burner XL: 100m3
• Bioethanol burner XXL: 120m3

If you want to use a larger burner in a smaller room, you must provide extra ventilation.

Heat emission bioethanol burners:

• Bioethanol burner S: +/- 2kW
• Bioethanol burner M: +/- 2,5kW
• Bioethanol burner L: +/- 3kW
• Bioethanol burner XL: +/- 3,5kW
• Bioethanol burner XXL: +/- 4,4kW

Our bioethanol fireplaces or bioethanol burners give off heat, but are usually not suitable as main heating. Due to the limited heat release, we are talking about decorative fireplaces. We hereby give you an indication of the kW capacity you need to heat a room.

Space 60m3:

• Well insulated 3,6kW
• Insulated 4,8kW
• Poorly insulated 6kW

Space 80m3:

• Well insulated 4,8kW
• Insulated 6,4kW
• Poorly insulated 8kW

Space 100m3:

• Well insulated 6kW
• Insulated 8kW
• Poorly insulated 10kW

Space 120m3:

• Well insulated 7,2kW
• Insulated 9,6kW
• Poorly insulated 12kW

Space 140m3:

• Well insulated 8,4kW
• Insulated 11,2kW
• Poorly insulated 14kW

It is correct that the flames on the right side extinguish faster. This has to do with the filling hole, among other things: generally, more ethanol remains on this side, whereas on the other side, the ethanol evaporates more quickly.

In addition, air circulation or drafts in the living space can affect the flame pattern. This phenomenon is completely normal during the last 30 to 45 minutes of the burning time.

Similar to a wood-burning fireplace, the flames become smaller or go out over time. If you prefer a fuller flame, we recommend extinguishing the fireplace, allowing it to cool completely, and then refilling and relighting it.

When used correctly (see instructions for use) of the bio-ethanol fireplace or bio-ethanol burner in combination with Xarlyn bio-ethanol (95-96% pure alcohol), it can last for many years. The ceramic stone in the burner does not need to be replaced periodically.

It is important that you position the decoration set around the fire opening. The decoration must not come into contact with the flame to keep the combustion as clean as possible. See the user manual for detailed instructions.

The glass plates ensure a stable, calm flame and prevent paint damage to the burner or built-in unit.

The ceramic bricks have a width of 230 mm. Therefore we need to place more than one brick next to each other in each burner in order to fill it up. You can see this by looking into the burner opening. You will see a seam in between the bricks. This has no influence on the combustion, the fuel is spread throughout each brick through small channels.

This is probably caused by too much bioethanol in the burner. When a burner is overfilled, the bioethanol will flow from the inner reservoir into the outer reservoir.

The bioethanol burner is overfilled when the level of fuel reaches above 1 cm of the white ceramic core surface. Please check our manual for instructions on how to solve this problem.

When using the two glass shields make sure to attach the four connectors in the appropriate holes on top of the burner. Place the glass shields in these connectors, while making sure to not tighten the connectors to tightly to the glass (there needs to be a small margin between the connector and the glass shield as glass expands when it heats up).

When the glass plate is broken, you can easily order it online. Make sure you do not tighten the connectors to much and extinguish the flame if it constantly touches the glass plate (see manual for use).

The flash point of bioethanol is approximately 12 degrees. If the ambient temperature where your bioethanol fireplace is located is very low, lighting it is more difficult. An USB lighter only gives a spark, a gas lighter gives a flame. If you want to light a bioethanol fireplace with an ambient temperature below 15 degrees, this will be easier with a gas lighter.

The patented ceramic stone in the bioethanol burner absorbs the bioethanol completely and also closes off the burner. Therefore, it is impossible for the bioethanol to run or leak out of the burner, even when it is held upside down!

One of the advantages of a bioethanol burner is that it produces a pleasant warmth. This heat cannot be used as a primary source of heating, but it contributes to a cosy temperature in the room.

In the user’s manual you will find a complete description on the maximum volume and how to fill the bioethanol burner correctly. In short: The bioethanol burner can be filled by placing the funnel in the filling-opening (opening in the ceramic core). The ceramic core is completely saturated when the bioethanol is visible through the hole (maximum level of 1 cm underneath the surface of the ceramic core).

Yes that is possible. Xaralyn has these accessories in its range that have been specially developed for use in combination with a bio-ethanol burner.

See below:

• 1 manual
• 1 funnel
• 2 operating sticks to open and close the burner
• 2 glass shields
• 4 connectors (to hold the glass shields)
• 1 USB Lighter
• 1 lid or extinguisher

That is possible, although you should take into account the fact that the bio-ethanol burner cannot be left outside all the time. The ceramic stone in the bio-ethanol burner absorbs all liquids, including water, and does not release it. This means that in the worst case you can no longer use the burner temporarily. When you use the burner outside, we therefore advise you to store the burner indoors after use or to place it under a roof.

A reason for these abnormal flames is most likely the use of both the glass shields and placing decoration material (ceramic logs or pebbles) directly on the bioethanol burner. The excessive material around the fire-opening combined with an insufficient oxygen supply is known to disturb the vertical airflow. As a result, your fireplace will work similarly like a chimney and create high flames. It is hereby important to extinguish the fire, as described in the manual, and remove either the glass shields or the decoration. WARNING: The decoration material may never touch the flames.

There can be several causes for low flames: 

• A new bioethanol burner will burn slightly less during the first three to four times. After this, the ceramic stone is completely soaked with the bioethanol and an even evaporation from the stone will take place.
• 
  
• It is important to use Xaralyn bioethanol (95-96% pure alcohol). The ceramic combustion system has been designed and extensively tested in combination with this specially developed bioethanol. When you start using a different bioethanol, the effect will not be optimal and this will result in lower and impure flames. After using another bioethanol, you can refill the burner with Xaralyn bioethanol and light it again. Depending on the amount of bioethanol used for this, this will take a number of times before the previously used bioethanol has completely burned up and the burner burns at a normal level again.
• 
  
• Check whether your bioethanol burner is completely filled with bioethanol. If this is not the case, refill it as described in the user manual. If you do not use a filled burner for a while, the bioethanol will slowly evaporate. Therefore, keep the slide over the fire opening closed to prevent this as much as possible.

When the latch is not closed quickly enough, it is possible that the fumes of the bio ethanol escape through an opening and catch fire. Re-open the latch and close it again in one quick move. If the bioethanol burner still does not extinguish, there is probably fuel in the outer reservoir.

The heat from the flame can cause a haze or deposit on the glass. We recommend that you clean this deposit with ceramic hob cleaner. Doing this regularly will prevent the glass from becoming increasingly difficult to clean.

If the black varnish on the back of the insert is coming off, it is most likely caused by the flames touching the back of the insert. Please extinguish your fire immediately if this is the case and consult the manual. There can be three causes for the varnish to come off:

1. You are not making use of the glass shields or decoration material (e.g. ceramic logs or pebbles).
2. The flames are influenced draft/wind.
3. You are using a different fuel than the Xaralyn bioethanol, which makes the flames higher than normal.

Bioethanol is denatured alcohol. This process has rendered it unfit for consumption. 

Burning alcohol or ethanol indoors without a flue is completely harmless if there is sufficient ventilation. Usually opening a window grille, a door to another room or mechanical ventilation is sufficient.

Bioethanol that is burned changes according to chemistry into water and CO2. This is the same thing that people exhale. Fire uses oxygen. A room where a bioethanol fireplace is used must be sufficiently ventilated. If there is not enough ventilation, this can lead to complaints due to a lack of oxygen. A large bio ethanol fireplace in a small space is therefore not possible without additional measures. 

Burning bioethanol does not really produce a distinct odor. As far as an odor is noticed, it is completely harmless

A new patented Xaralyn bioethanol burner starts with an almost white ceramic stone. After several uses, the stone will discolor. This does not affect its properties.

To keep your bioethanol burner in optimal condition, follow these tips:

• Always use pure, fresh bioethanol (we recommend our own CL100)
• Never use scented bioethanol (as it contains added oil)
• Avoid drafts
• Do not place decorative materials over the burner opening

The ceramic bioethanol burner requires no maintenance. If the ceramic stone becomes dirty over time, we recommend continuing to follow the above tips. Over time, the stone will become cleaner naturally through proper burning.

In this situation, it may occur that the fireplace has not yet cooled down sufficiently when it is ignited. Do not be alarmed. Keep a safe distance when lighting the burner and use a long lighter. This is not harmful; however, we always recommend waiting until the burner has completely cooled down before refilling and lighting it again.