Researchers at UFJF develop innovative technology that uses ethanol to replace cooking gas, combining indirect vaporization and electronic flame control in a promising prototype.
A new technology developed by researchers from Minas Gerais promises to transform the way food is prepared in the country. Engineers at UFJF have created a system that allows the use of ethanol as fuel for domestic and industrial stoves.
The project emerges as a sustainable alternative to the use of gaseous fuels, such as GLP, which is currently present in about 95% of Brazilian kitchens, according to energy sector data.
Unlike previous attempts, the solution eliminates the need for pressurized containers and incorporates an electronic control that continuously monitors flame stability and intensity.
How ethanol vaporization works
To enable efficient combustion of liquid fuel, specialists in Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering joined forces to design a platform dedicated to the input.
The system adopts indirect vaporization, in which the biofuel is heated by an intermediate mechanism before reaching the burner, avoiding direct contact with the heat source.
This structure ensures that the transition from liquid to gas occurs gradually, maintaining combustion regularity and raising safety standards.
The researchers state:
“The platform was designed to integrate feeding, vaporization, and combustion in a coordinated manner, ensuring energy efficiency without the need to keep the fuel under pressure.”
Patent and validation steps
The innovation was designed by researchers Marco Aurélio da Cunha Alves, Daniel de Almeida Fernandes and Pablo Henrique de Oliveira, who formalized the patent application for the invention with industrial property authorities.
Under the supervision of Critt, the technology, called the Indirect Vaporization System and Ethanol Vapor Stove, is currently in the pre‑prototype testing phase in the laboratory.
Because fuel alcohol is an flammable liquid, practical tests examine strict containment criteria, thermal variation, and electronic component response before moving to market.
Market Outlook for Energy
The initiative leverages the established national biofuel supply chain, derived from sugarcane and corn, to offer a clean energy matrix alternative for everyday use.
Despite bench‑top progress, developers emphasize that the equipment still requires technical refinements and has no release date for retail.
The success of the next testing phases will be crucial to attract private partnerships and enable technology transfer to household appliance manufacturers in the future.