Everything about Beverage-can Stove totally explained
A
beverage-can stove (or
pop-can stove) is a homemade, ultra-light
portable stove. The simple design is made entirely from
cans (typically
soft drink or
beer cans) and burns alcohol, typically
denatured. Countless variations on the basic design exist.
Pepsi-brand aluminium cans are often used because they've a bottom shape that lends itself to securing the stove's inner wall, and because of this the stoves are sometimes called
Pepsi-can stoves. The stove weighs 0.4 oz (10 g) and will boil two cups of water in five minutes with two
tablespoons of
fuel . Total weight, including a windscreen/stand can be less than one ounce (30 g). Due to the low weight compared to some commercial stoves,
backpackers can reduce some pack weight with this stove, which makes this design popular among
ultralight backpackers. This advantage may be lost or reduced on hiking trips that feature longer gaps between resupply stops, however, because the stove is less efficient and requires more fuel than alternatives such as
Esbit tabs, especially when cooking for more than one person.
History and design
The basic design dates back more than one hundred years. It consists of a double wall gas generator, a perforated burner ring, and an inner pre-heat chamber. A similar design was patented in 1904 by New York
coppersmith J. Heinrichs.
Trangia has been selling a commercial version of the design since the 1950s, Safesport marketed a stainless steel stove in the 1990s. Interestingly the Trangia stove burner is made from brass, even though all the other associated parts that come with it are
aluminium. A plastic bag is provided for the burner so that when packed away the two dissimilar metals don't develop
corrosion.
In the unpressurized open-top design the double wall acts as a gas generator, transferring heat from the flame to the fuel. This effect enhances combustion, producing more heat than other passive designs. The inner wall also creates a convenient preheat chamber for starting the stove. Once the fuel has warmed up, its vapor will travel up the hollow wall, pass through the perforations, and form a ring of flame. Vapor also rises from the center of the stove, but will pass through the ring of flame for efficient combustion, as long as a pot is over the stove. Other pressurized designs aim for efficient combustion through closing off the fuel chamber after filling or filling through the gas jet holes.
Aluminium can construction
The stove is made from two
aluminium can bottoms. An inner wall is cut and rolled from can material. A ring of holes is pierced into the top with a pin. Parts are glued with
high-temperature epoxy or sealed with thermal foil tape. Total height is less than two inches (50 mm), though dimensions can be increased to hold more fuel or decreased to take up even less space.
The choice of aluminium has several advantages: light weight, low cost, and good
thermal conductivity to aid vaporization of fuel. Alternative construction materials have been used, including stoves made of tin cans such as cat food tins, tuna cans, and juice cans—the basic design is very similar. Windscreens/stands can be fabricated from
tin cans, cut to size and with ventilation holes added.
Operation and performance
Each stove is designed for one or two people. When used to cook larger meals (greater than 2
cups (0.5
l), it's less efficient than a more powerful stove that delivers more heat to a pot. This is because a longer cooking time is required, during which more heat is lost to the surroundings. A more powerful, pressurized version is shown below.
To use the stove, a small amount of fuel is poured into the stove and ignited. The pot is then placed above the stove, on a windscreen or stand. The flame is small at first, only burning from the inner chamber. Once the fuel has warmed up, requiring about one minute, its vapor will pass through the perforations and form a ring of flame. Enough
heat from the flame is passed to the fuel to maintain full
combustion until fuel runs out.
The stove shouldn't be re-lit unless it's fully cooled, otherwise flare-ups or explosive combustion (in the case of a pressurized design) may occur.
Ratings
- Heat output: ~4800 BTU/hour (1400 W)
- Time to boil 2 cups (500 ml): ~5 minutes (<2 tablespoons (30 ml) of fuel)
- Time to boil 4 cups (1 l): ~12 minutes (<3 tablespoons (45 ml) of fuel)
- Burn time: ~9 minutes with 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of fuel
- Burn time (full): ~30 minutes with 5-6 tablespoons (75-90 ml) of fuel
Comparison to other stoves
The stove can outperform some commercial models in cold or high-altitude environments, where
propane and
butane canisters can fail. Ronald Mueser, in
Long-Distance Hiking, surveyed hikers on the
Appalachian Trail and found that this stove was the only design with a zero percent failure rate.
Fuel usage (by weight) is about fifty percent greater than a butane/propane stove. Can stoves weigh less than an ounce, compared to three ounces for the lightest gas stoves. Many commercial stoves also require special fuel canisters, adding to overall stove weight. No such canisters are necessary in a can stove; denatured alcohol can be carried in virtually any lightweight container, such as a plastic soda bottle. The weight advantage of the beverage-can stove is diminished by the greater fuel consumption (especially on longer hikes), but may still be offset by their reliability and simplicity.
Other attributes of the beverage-can stove are its nearly silent operation and suitability as an emergency backup.
Denatured alcohol is a relatively environmentally friendly fuel that doesn't leave
soot, though it's
toxic to drink. (Pure
ethanol is rarely used as stove fuel, since it's usually subject to liquor tax.) Denatured alcohol is commonly available at camping outfitters and hardware stores. These stoves operate well on 90%
isopropyl alcohol, marginally on 70% and not at all with 50%.
Unsealed alcohol stoves are inherently dangerous, since spilling is possible and the fuel burns with a nearly invisible flame. Trangia offers an anti-flashback fuel bottle with auto shut-off pourer.
Variations
Standard : The classic ultra light weight backpacking stove. Designed for one person, lighter than commercial models of the same design.
; Inverted two piece : Smaller and lighter than the standard version, difficult to fill.
Side burner : Doubles as its own pot stand (holes are in the side). A tight fitting pot can increase fuel pressure.
; Pressurized : A more powerful version, but heavier and more difficult to make. The stove is sealed with a thumbnut after filling with fuel; this allows the stove to control the rate of heat output. An additional base is used to hold fuel for preheating.
Back-Pressured : Back-pressured stoves simplify the pressurized design by eliminating the thumbscrew and the base needed for preheating while still controlling the rate of energy output.
; Insulated : A variation of the standard without an inner wall. Filled with regular fiberglass insulation.
Other : There are numerous designs in use.
Warnings
Galvanized metal shouldn't be used for any part of a stove as the zinc will release toxic fumes when heated. While this isn't a concern with the cans used in construction a small number of sites show pot stands that appear to be made from galvanized screen. Breathing these fumes can cause
Metal fume fever, also known as "Monday fever" while long term exposure may cause more serious conditions such as asthma. Also note that, as with any source of flame, it shouldn't be used in confined areas such as tents due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Further Information
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