Thermal Performance Evaluation of an Improved Biomass Cookstove for Domestic Applications

Abstract

Biomass fuels are normally burnt inefficiently using the traditional cookstoves in rural areas. The uncontrolled harmful emissions released due to the combustion of biomass cause various respiratory problems to the users. Thus in order to overcome such problems related to the traditional cookstove, an improved biomass cookstove is proposed in the present study. An effort is made to design and fabricate an improved biomass cookstove to study various heat losses from it and performance parameters. Water boiling test (WBT) was conducted for understanding the overall performance of the improved stove. Results of WBT were compared with a commercially available biomass cookstove. The average thermal efficiency while boiling 7.5 L water was ~33%, whereas the average thermal efficiency in case of the commercial stove was ~23%. While boiling 7.5 L water in this improved stove, the performance was better than the commercial stove with respect to specific fuel consumption. The maximum level of CO was detected around 20 ppm during the start and it reduced to 5 ppm as combustion progressed. Both the values for CO2/CO and indoor air quality were within acceptable limit.