Tourist gas burner or portable stove – an integral part of equipment summer residents, tourists and fishermen. The modern range of stores offers a wide range of models, differing in the type of design, technical and operational characteristics, as well as functionality. The information presented in the article will help determine the choice of the most suitable gas burner, taking into account the most important parameters.
Tourist gas burner: sources of open fire, their features
All portable sources of open fire, working on gas, can be divided into two categories:
- tiles;
- burner.
Each type of these structures has its own characteristics, but they are all in demand due to its practicality and advantageous advantages.
Gas burners and stoves are very economical. With low fuel consumption, they have a fairly high efficiency. Gas does not need pre-heating, which allowed manufacturers to simplify the construction of camping stoves and burners. Due to this, the weight of these devices has decreased, and the system of their operation has become as accessible as possible.
Interesting fact! The energy value of the mixture in the gas canister of a tourist burner is 11900 kcal / kg. This figure greatly exceeds the capabilities of kerosene and gasoline.
In order to use the burner, it is enough to perform several simple actions:
- attach the balloon to the structure;
- open the fuel supply valve;
- set it on fire
Manufacturers also pay special attention to the purity of the fuel used to fill gas cylinders for tourist burners. Due to the absence of impurities, these devices are not clogged, which simplifies their maintenance. Unlike other fuels, gas does not smoke during combustion and does not emit unpleasant odors. The final products of combustion are only water vapor and carbon oxides: carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide gas. Az.
Portable sources of open fire are not only characterized by advantages, but also some disadvantages. The key disadvantage is the instability of the operation of these devices at low temperatures. Many manufacturers have already found a solution to this problem, having improved not only the composition of gas mixtures, but also the configuration of gas spray nozzles, as well as the design of the burners themselves. Due to this, most models can provide uninterrupted operation even in such cases, when the temperature outside reaches -22 ° C.
Most people who prefer outdoor activities, arrange such a functional range. If the temperature drops below the mark of -22 ° C, the use of liquid fuel is indispensable. This is especially true when the expedition may be delayed.
Another disadvantage of gas burners for a hike is the difficulties that the presence of a fuel tank creates. Cylinders significantly increase the overall weight of the structure, while their capacity is not so high. The gas in these tanks is under great pressure. Therefore, manufacturers are forced to use durable and heavy metal for the production of cylinders. On long expeditions, excess weight will create serious difficulties.
In addition, users have to solve the problem of proper disposal of gas cylinders. From the point of view of ethics and ecology in field conditions, it is far from always the opportunity to do this competently.
As the balloon empties, the pressure inside it drops. If there is little fuel in the tank, the burner becomes unstable.
Helpful advice! To improve the operation of the device with a low fuel level, it is enough to turn the cylinder. However, this feature has only those structures that are equipped with a preheating tube and a fuel hose.
The cost of gas is quite high. We’ll have to spend a lot of money to serve a large group of people on a long hike. In this regard, kerosene and gasoline are cheaper. Gas cylinders cannot be transported in airplanes due to high internal pressure. This is fraught with certain difficulties, since there is no guarantee that after the flight it will turn out to buy cylinders of the appropriate standard in a timely manner.
All tourist gas stoves have the same structure. These devices consist of the following elements:
- body part;
- a pipeline equipped with a fuel consumption control system;
- rings (one or several);
- piezoelectric element providing automatic ignition of fuel.
Most models of tourist gas tiles are made of stainless steel. Often, manufacturers use metal coated with anti-corrosion coating. Low-cost modifications are completed with aluminum burners, and in better and more expensive versions, ceramic elements are installed. Plates with one or two burners made of ceramics have several advantages over low-end models:
- higher efficiency, as ceramics warms up quickly and retains heat for a certain period of time;
- high level of security;
- reduced fuel consumption;
- more stable operation at low temperatures.
Depending on the modification, a compact tourist gas stove for hiking can have two types of design. In some models, the fuel tank is mounted horizontally. To connect a disposable container with gas in such devices has a special compartment. The collet connector is used as the connecting element. Plates with horizontal installation of the fuel tank have a small weight and a fairly simple design. On the other hand, the purchase of replacement cylinders for them is expensive.
Other instrument options are of a universal power type. In the case of such devices, an internal fuel tank is installed. In addition, they provide a connector for connecting an external cylinder. Gas stoves with universal power are practical and convenient, although their dimensions are much larger than those of models with a horizontal type of gas tank installation.
Note! Built-in gearbox in models with universal power supply corresponds to class RDSG1-1,2.
Before you go to the store to buy a tourist plate, you must carefully weigh your choice, having considered the basic parameters of these devices.
Such an indicator as power deserves paramount attention. On average, cooking 1 liter of food requires about 1 kW of thermal energy. In a campaign, one person at a time takes about 0.5-0.7 liters of product. Based on these data, it is easy to calculate the required power level of the unit. For example, three tourists for the expedition will need a stove whose power is 1.5-2 kW. The weight of standard units is in the range of 0.8 to 2 kg. This indicator depends on several factors:
- material of which the tile is made;
- burner area;
- the size of the hull;
- design features, for example, the nature of the placement of the fuel tank, which can be built-in or removable.
Since during the trip you have to carry all the things yourself, the weight of the tourist tile is of great importance. Choosing a suitable model for expeditions, it is imperative to consider the fuel consumption. This indicator is usually prescribed in the technical passport, which is attached to the plate. It is expressed either by the time it takes to boil 1 liter of water, or by the amount of gas consumed in 1 hour. There is one pattern: the longer it takes to boil a liquid, the lower the fuel consumption.
The dimensions of the hob impose restrictions on the width of the dishes used, therefore, on the amount of food that can be cooked at a time. If a tile with a capacity of 5 liters is placed on the tile, then such a unit can feed about 5-7 people per cook.
Devices equipped with cast aluminum burners produce an open flame, so they need wind protection. In some models, such protection is included as standard, in other cases it will have to be bought separately.
Note! Tourist tiles equipped with ceramic gas burners do not need wind protection, since the flame is hidden inside the burner.
Compact gas burners, designed for outdoor activities and tourism, can be classified according to various characteristics, for example, by type of design, functionality, weight category, etc.
Taking into account structural features, the following types of gas burners are distinguished:
- head products;
- devices with hose;
- integrated cooking appliances.
Nabolonnye designs are installed directly on the tank with fuel. Unlike conventional burners, a piezo igniter does not require the use of matches or a lighter for making fire. They are more practical and convenient, although they are not without drawbacks.
Note! Many manufacturers offer universal models. In them, the mount allows you to connect the cylinders of the bayonet and threaded standards. Such option of torches is considered the most acceptable and convenient.
When choosing a gas burner, other criteria are taken into account:
- the number of people in the tourist group;
- marching ration (for cooking vegetable stews, cereals and noodles, a burner with a wide nozzle is required, if it is supposed to extinguish food, it is better to take a device with sensitive flame adjustment);
- weather;
- construction weight (burners made of aluminum and titanium alloys weigh less);
- flame power (when raised to a height, the air is diluted, therefore the efficiency of the burner decreases);
- dimensions;
- compatibility with different types of cylinders.
Of course, there is no burner that meets all the needs of most buyers. Nevertheless, having studied in detail the features and characteristics of the products on the market, you can choose the most suitable option for yourself. The main thing is to clearly define the tasks that the burner will have to solve during the trip, and to know the operating conditions.
