Does my alcohol burner have a problem?

[z.js]

I have an alcohol burner running on methylated spirits(C₂H₆O) and Wikipedia says that ethanol burns with a blue flame. Why does my burner burn with a orange-yellow flame? and it burns the wick a little as well.

 

[PhysicoRaj]

and it burns the wick a little as well.

That's why you get the orange flame. Take pure spirit in a spoon and light it. You will get a blue flame.

 

[z.js]

and it burns the wick a little as well.

Is this normal?

 

[PhysicoRaj]

Is this normal?

Yes.

 

[LudusRex]

Thank you for bringing this to my attention. It is possible that your alcohol burner has a problem. The color of the flame produced by burning ethanol can vary depending on the amount of oxygen present in the environment. A blue flame indicates that there is enough oxygen for complete combustion, while an orange-yellow flame suggests that there is not enough oxygen and incomplete combustion is occurring.

There are a few possible reasons for this. One possibility is that the wick is not properly saturated with the methylated spirits, causing incomplete combustion and the orange-yellow flame. Another possibility is that the burner is not getting enough air flow, which can also lead to incomplete combustion and a yellow flame. Additionally, the burner may need to be cleaned or have its wick replaced if it is burning unevenly and causing damage to the wick.

I would recommend checking the wick and ensuring that it is properly saturated with the methylated spirits. You can also try adjusting the air flow to see if that improves the flame color. If the problem persists, it may be necessary to clean or replace the burner. It is important to address this issue as incomplete combustion can release harmful byproducts such as carbon monoxide. I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any further questions.