page_title: Smokeless fuel
section_title: Benefits
hierarchical_section_title: Smokeless fuel / Benefits
caption_attribution_description: English: Esbit brand Hexamine tablets
context_page_description: Smokeless fuel is a type of solid fuel which either does not emit visible smoke, or emits minimal amounts, during combustion. These types of fuel are becoming increasingly popular in areas which ban the use of coal and other fuels such as unseasoned or wet wood which produce much smoke. Open fires are still popular with many domestic consumers, especially for those living in older houses where open fireplaces have not been removed or replaced by stoves for example. All houses older than about 1970 are fitted with open fireplaces when coal was in widespread use for domestic heating. However, modern houses are rarely equipped with fireplaces and central heating with natural gas or electricity is the usual choice. As a result of many places banning smoke and pollution, some studies have shown that overall air quality has improved along with fewer annual deaths related to smoke. Many consider smokeless fuel to be the near future replacement of all other solid fuels which cause toxic smoke emissions. The term in general is used to refer to solid fuels, such as: anthracite, coke, charcoal and hexamine fuel tablets.
context_section_description: Smokeless fuels can have several benefits over other solid fuels such as bituminous coal or anthracite. They are usually  more expensive than coal, and often consist of briquettes of standard size (ca 3 inches long and wide by 1 inch thick) aiding transport, handling and fire-making. Coal however, may often be supplied in a large variety of sizes from fines to large lumps. Slack such as stone and shale or even coal dust can choke a fire and usually produces a great deal of smoke. The variable size of the coal results in inconsistent burning, the smaller particles burning faster than the larger. The advantages of a standard sized briquette of smokeless coal include regular burning for longer (less refueling needed) and burning at a higher temperature, so making an open fire more efficient. They can also improve air quality by reducing smoke formation They are generally of more consistent quality since are mass made by compression moulding of powdered coal and a binder such as starch.  They can be used in many different appliances such as enclosed stoves as well as open fires.
  Smokeless coal is more efficient than a conventional open coal fire because the high working temperature is radiated into the room as infra-red radiation, as can be judged by the bright red colouration from a mature fire. The hot gases produced are still lost up the chimney, so reducing efficiency just as in an open coal fire. The gases mainly consist of carbon dioxide and a little water vapour, which is lost to the environment while carbon dioxide is essential for plant life in photosynthesis. With no or little smoke, chimneys remain cleaner for longer and require brushing less frequently since fewer volatiles or smoke are produced, and so cannot be condensed in the cooler chimney. The main combustion reaction is 
  C(s) + O2(g) → CO2(g)
  In a restricted supply of air or oxygen, then toxic carbon monoxide can be formed:
  2C(s) + O2(g) → 2CO(g)
  Charcoal either in unprocessed sticks or as shaped briquettes is widely used for barbecues owing to its relatively low production of smoke and the intense heat generated needed for fast cooking of meat and fish. What little smoke is made can give the food a special flavour. Charcoal and raw wood are also commonly used for manufacture of various smoked products such as smoked salmon. Charcoal is widely used in African countries for domestic cooking purposes.
  Hexamine fuel tablets are entirely for the convenience of hikers and campers, and the fuel consist of white tablets made from trioxane, so it is a completely synthetic fuel and made from formaldehyde.
caption: Hexamine fuel tablets
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