Supporters of long hikes who had to spend more than one day in the mountains can tell well about all the advantages of a primus stove. Only someone who had to carry in his backpack not only warm clothes, a sleeping bag, a tent and food, but also firewood, can understand the full value of this device for preparing hot food in such difficult conditions.
Description of the principle of action
Both household and tourist primus operate on the principle of a blowtorch. Liquid fuel located in the tank of the device, through the generated pressure is supplied to the burner tube. Here, gasoline or kerosene is heated and evaporated through the nozzle openings. In order for the process to proceed in normal mode, it is necessary to constantly maintain the pressure in the tank with the built-in piston pump .
Before ignition, it is necessary to warm the metal of the burner. You can do this by first splashing a little kerosene, or set fire to pieces of dry alcohol on top .
Mixing with air, fuel vapors burn in the burner, heating dishes with water or food placed on top. The average operating time of the device is about 50 minutes. This makes it possible to boil the kettle, to prepare a simple hot dish (for example, soup or porridge).
A bumblebee that buzzes but doesn't fly
A tourist primus is a device for heating water and cooking that runs on liquid fuel (kerosene or gasoline). There are modern models that use small gas canisters.
The first such device appeared 8 years before the end of the 19th century in Germany and quickly βwonβ the sympathy of the inhabitants. In the Union, the production of household burners began in the twenties of the 20th century. Each self-respecting family had a gasoline primus in its kitchen. Tourist people also quickly appreciated the advantage of this light in weight and unpretentious device.
Operating principle
How does a tourist primus work? The instruction is extremely simple:
- install the device on a horizontal surface;
- carefully pour fuel into the burner tank;
- rhythmically moving the lever of the built-in pump, pump up pressure;
- with the help of burning dry alcohol, slightly heat the plane of the burner itself;
- smoothly turn the valve.
Fuel falling from the tank into the feed tube of the burner evaporates when heated. Flammable vapors, leaving the nozzle, burn out when mixed with air. In order for the entire process to proceed in a normal and constant mode, preliminary heating of the working part of the primus is required. And just before ignition, air is pumped into the fuel tank, creating pressure that needs to be maintained.
If, during ignition, instead of a blue flame, black-and-gray smoke suddenly flies out of the nozzles, it means that the primus itself is not sufficiently heated. A few minutes of patience, and the βbreadwinnerβ will begin to make an even hum. Perhaps that is why one of the models was called βBumblebeeβ.
Who invented the tourist primus
Photos and information from the archives preserved the date and name of the inventor: 1892, Franz V. Lindquist, who later founded the company to produce these heating devices. Such burners began to be produced in the Union from the beginning of the 1920s, and they quickly gained the respect of housewives.
The first models were a simple copy of foreign primus. In the future, they were changed and improved.
Here are a few of the most popular models:
- The tourist primus, which was called βSwedeβ (according to the country of origin), was tested by climbers all over the world under the most severe temperatures and altitudes. Size 13 by 10 cm, weighs half a kilo, 1 liter of water boils in about 7 minutes, it works a little less than an hour at one filling in 120 ml.
- Ogonyok is a compact and reliable Soviet-made device without a pump, weighing about 800 g, and a capacity of 120 ml.
- Motor Sich (Ukraine) is a larger device, with a liter capacity and a weight of 1.5 kg, works from 3 to 6 hours.
- "Tourist" can be used both for cooking and for drying clothes and wet shoes.
- Modern multi-fuel burners "Himalayas" with interchangeable burner heads are capable of working from gasoline, kerosene, gas. With a small size and weight of 505 g, water on such a burner boils in just 4 minutes.
Safety precautions and tips "experienced"
Experienced tourists recommend having a piece of fiberglass with them on a trip. How to use it? After ignition and installation of a vessel with water on a tourist primus, the entire structure is closed on top with this fabric for better heat preservation. In addition, after use, the burner is disassembled and cleaned, the flask of the device is wrapped with fiberglass when carrying it in a backpack.
If the surface of the earth is not very even, the pot can be placed not on the stove itself, but on stones, and palm off the lighted burner from below.
And a few recommendations for safe use:
- It is better to carry fuel in eggplants by placing them in the side pockets of a backpack.
- Fuel can only be poured into a completely cooled device.
- In no case should Primus be overheated.
- It is strongly not recommended to use the device inside the tent.
Have a good trip and bon appetit, lovers of heights, fishing or hunting!