-> I would like to know where a person might find a generator in the 3-1
-> range
-> 110v AC that can run on alcohol. Being in a highly sunny area, the
-> idea of a sun-driven still for night time power or cloudy days is
-> VERY appealing as a backup. But you apparantly just cant take a
-> PowerPony or other little generator
-> that runs on gasoline and pour in 160 proof ethanol; ethanol burns
-> too hot for
-> the engine , so I am told. Advice?
There are a couple of differences in a alcohol-burning engine vs. a
gasoline engine.
1. The fuel system needs to pass roughly twice the volume.  Gallons
   per hour will be about twice the gasoline figure.
2. The fuel system must be made of corrosion-resistant materials.
   Alcohol is very aggressive to most metals except stainless
   steel.
3. The compression ratio needs to be much higher to get the
   efficiency up.  Look to 13:1 or so.  For this reason, a
   flathead (valve-in-block) engine is not recommended.  Hard
   to get any serious compression in a flathead.
One thing I can't address is the long-term storage of alcohol.
I don't think it will turn to varnish, as gasoline tends to do,
but it may deteriorate into some other compound.  And I'm not
sure 160-proof alcohol would work well.  That's 20% water in
there...
Wish I could have been more help, it sounds like an interesting
project!
-c-
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