Paraffin heaters, Im thinking of installing one...

M

matnoo

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Joined
6 Jun 2006
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171
Location
Solihull, W.mids
www.faceparty.com
Im thinking of using one of these under the floorboards of the boat, making removable caps for heat flow and ventilation.

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Does anyone else use paraffin or know the actual burn temperature? Is it safe? I would of course have some ventilation and make the floor boards around it out of aluminium with a polycarbonate cover (Fire A rated). Am I right in saying that paraffin doesnt burn fiercely enough to produce carbon monoxide in low oxygen environments as gas and coal does? Plus it would be on very low so the vent I have would keep the environment with enough oxygen anyway.



Mat
 
Dont even think of this heating scheme. You will certainly come to grief if you use these greenhouse heaters ,
Consider why the Taylor Parrafin heater has a flue, and think along these lines.
There was a wicked parrafin boat heater but it did have a flue but no longer available.
Parrafin fumes are dangerous and also fill the boat with condensation.
Seriously do not consider using these heaters.
GrahamC
 
There are not many ways of saying NO.

The byproducts of pyrolysis (burning to you) of parafiin are :
1 nasty particulates (carbon usually, but also dependent on what colourants, perfumes, flow agents, etc,) have been added

2 water vapour, at roughly the same quantity of paraffin that you burn; so increased condensation all round

3 lots of not nice CO2 (carbon dioxide) and CO (carbon monoxide)

Paraffin burns even more poisonously in a "low oxygen" atmosphere. Dunno how you are going to achieve that anyway - breathe heavily at the stove ?

No, not recommended at all.
 
Your a Design Engineer !!!!!!
Note to self........Matnoo not designing my projects! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
If the heat produced is ample enough to raise the temperature of the boat to a level where the air can hold more moisture, then it wont cause more condensation. My boat is very small, im hoping that a small heater will heat it adequately, and keep it drier! Its seemed to work so far with two paraffin lamps turned up high.

Mat
 
Carbon dioxide isnt dangerous in small quantites! And carbon isnt particularly bad for about 7 hours for one night a month. Since reading your post ive done more research, apparently 1.8million africans use paraffin as a source of heat in tiny huts! I cant find anywhere that says paraffin produces Cmonoxide anywhere.

I think you may be right if you locked yourself in a teachest with a paraffin heater, but otherwise, I cant see it being a problem?

I wasnt suggesting id have a low oxygen environment, the opposite in fact.


Mat
 
[ QUOTE ]
Your a Design Engineer !!!!!!
Note to self........Matnoo not designing my projects! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Haha! Yes, you may have a point! I usually design exhibition stands though! Paraffin heaters are somthing that I dont get a lot of demand for! hehe

Mat
 
Have a look at this site please.

http://www.carbonmonoxidekills.com/quick_fact_sheet_co2.htm

It's a question of ventialtion. You need to extract the heat from the flame usually done via a longish flue which then radiates/convects heat into the cabin. The flue then dumps the combustion gases into the outside air.

But you MUST NOT breathe the air which has been heated by the flame itself.

Even a minor exposure to CO can produce permanently diminished brain function.

verb sap ?

Please dont inhale the fumes. Or moor your boat next to mine /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I think you\'ll find that your ..

..."6.8m Transatlantic bermudian rigged sloop" has exactly the same heavy vapour/gas retention qualities as a typical "tea chest" and (I hope) NOT the same "open at the bottom" construction as an African hut. Otherwise it wouldn't get very far across the Atlantic, would it?

Anyway, boys & girls, take a look at this guy's website. I think he likes wind-ups. however, perhaps this is two weeks and two days early.

Steve Cronin
 
Why not go to a scrap yard and get an ersbacher (out of a truck)....much safer & dry air. Cost is more but better in the long run.
 
Re: I think you\'ll find that your ..

Well i used that make in my greenhouse but with 2 heating pipes about a foot and a half tall and you would not want to sit in there for long
troll or nutter

i am in solihull today
shall i get im ?
can i steve? cani?
 
The fact that you have asked shows that you might be prepared to take advice, so hear this from a chemist and sailor with long experience of using paraffin for cooking and heating, (in equipment designed for the purpose!)
DROP YOUR CRAZY IDEA!!!
If you are determined to pursue it regardless, make your will, write your last letter to your loved ones, and never leave your boat anywhere near mine. Bye!
 
Not sure that i spelt it correctly but it is a unit about the size of a 2ltr pop bottle that runs on diesel or petrol and powered by 12 or 24 volts and blows hot air, a lot of trucks, motor homes etc use them. I still want one! If you do look at them go for diesel and check the voltage. I am sure others will give you more advice.
 
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