Case / Challenge

When using a gas stove in cold conditions, the pressure of the gas canisters decreases making the stove run with less power, or in worst case not at all – even though the canister might have fuel left in it! Why? Liquefied gas doesn’t evaporate properly when the temperature drops. In a gas canister the majority of the gas mixture is liquified. When gas ejects out the valve, the liquid vaporizes. The transformation from liquid to gas costs energy (or heat) which is taken from the liquid itself and the surroundings. The speed of the vaporization is dependent on the temperature and the surface area of the liquid.

Improvement / solution – Primus Winter Gas

The main innovation behind the Primus Winter Gas cold weather performance is the Vapour Mesh™, a highly absorbent paper inside the canister that helps keeping the pressure high, making the stove run better. The vapor mesh increases the surface area helping the liquid fuel to evaporate into gas. So, by increasing the surface we speed up the process of liquid turning into gas. In the end, it’s the speed of this process that determines the pressure inside the canister. Compared to conventional gas canisters, the Primus Winter Gas delivers in conditions where it was previously hard to operate.

• Larger surface - increased pressure

What distinguishes the Winter Gas is not the gas mixture itself – it’s equivalent to our other gases. It’s all about the effect of the vapor mesh that increases as the fuel level decreases. Adding the vapor mesh widens the available surface area which leads to a higher pressure and more available fuel.

• Increased pressure – reduced boiling time

The vapor mesh paper helps speed up the transition from liquid fuel to gas. The burner receives more fuel which decreases the boiling time by making your stove run smoother in low temperatures.