Solid fuel stove is a term which refers to any type of stove that burns a solid fuel to generate heat. This can technically means stoves which burn coal, wood or pellets since these fuel sources are solid in composition. However, the term is more specifically used to refer to stoves which burn solid fuel pellets such as hexamine or trioxane.
Solid fuel stoves can be very simple, only consisting of a metal plate to hold the fuel above the ground when camping, legs to keep it from ground contact, and a support for a cooking pot. Tiny, lightweight camp cooking appliances are a great invention to help campers who plan to be on the trail for several days. These Erich Schumm Brennstoff (Fuel) in Tables (ESBIT) stoves as they are commonly called allow backpackers to keep their loads light. A single table of solid fuel weighs only about ¾ ounce when taken out of its wrapper and the stove’s weight is negligible compared to other campsite cooking devices. The metal plate keeps the fuel from soaking into the soil and acts as a heat reflector as well as retaining the residue once the fuel has finished burning.
The same idea can be used on a larger scale for by using solid fuel in a rocket stove. This is a barrel-shaped container seen frequently in videos of underdeveloped countries where wood is a scarce commodity. The barrel-like sections are made of steel and may have double walls to provide insulation and increase efficiency. By providing at least partial biomass gasification, the BTUs can be increased and the efficiency is greater still. These stoves burn quite cleanly and the fuel burns almost completely. Wood and dried weeds can be added to the solid fuel to provide the biomass. This way of cooking and heating in underdeveloped nations emits less hydrocarbons into the air than burning the small amount of precious wood which can still be found.
In the United Kingdom, solid fuel stoves are becoming ever more popular as heat sources for heating homes, providing hot water and even cooking. The freedom from fossil fuels is a major advantage and as more people become eco-conscious, the popularity will increase even more. Not only does it provide reliable heat, it ensures that even when the electricity goes off, the family can be warm and cook hot food.
Hexamine, one of the two common sources of solid fuel for stoves can be purchased in different sizes and shapes from many different manufacturers. It is smokeless, odorless and, as long as a proper means of allow gases to escape either because the stove is outdoors or because there is a stove pipe exiting the roof, it is safe to burn as fuel. The flame tends to burn bright yellow.
Trioxane, the second of the two common solid fuels is used by the U.S. military. It is available in bars and has a very long shelf life. The bars of fuel are inexpensive and can often be found in military surplus stores. It provides about half the heat generated by the same amount of hexamine but the cost is so much less, it is remains practical. The flame of this solid fuel is light blue.