How Can a Stove Be Improved

Updated on February 27, 2023

How Can a Stove Be Improved

Abstract

The over-reliance on wood fuel in Sub-Saharan Africa has resulted in considerable depletion of the region’s vegetation. There are hundreds of improved cooking stoves, but many have not yet realized their full potential since they are primarily designed to maximize fuel economy or minimize smoke. An improved charcoal stove was created and manufactured utilizing high density rocks and heat retention methods in this study. The goal was to reduce the quantity of fuel needed during cooking by ensuring that cooking gadgets retained heat and minimized heat losses. Using a combination of granite’s physical and thermal qualities, as well as heat loss theories, this stove design achieves high thermal efficiency. In comparison to other upgraded charcoal stoves available on the worldwide market (ranging in price from $3 to $50 US), the stove was predicted to cost $36. According to this research, the granite rocks have strong thermal storage qualities and the ability to reduce fuel usage by over 78% compared to an open fire stove when using the new stove design and insulation. Granite rock stoves may now employ high density rocks in upgraded cook stoves, allowing for more powerful, more energy-efficient systems that can continue to utilize plant resources in a sustainable manner in the long term.

Energy availability for economic and social development is a major issue for many people in developing nations. It also has an unsustainable energy system. Grid-connected power is not available to a huge number of houses. Those who depend on electricity for cooking, on the other hand, have to contend with sporadic power. Despite the fact that liquid petroleum gas burns very efficiently, it is too costly for the average person to use. In addition, rising fossil oil costs and a fuel crisis have highlighted the need to develop viable alternatives to kerosene and gas for residential cooking. The use of solar, another possible alternative energy source, is very site-specific. In order to utilize solar power when there is little or no sunlight, energy storage is necessary, as are technical artefacts, both of which are in short supply in poor nations [3]. Hydroelectricity, solar energy, and biomass are among the most widely advocated renewable energy sources because of their wide availability and capacity to adapt to changing environmental conditions.

Nearly seven in ten (69 percent) of the people in Africa rely on biomass as a primary source of energy for cooking. As a result of the rising use of inefficient technologies, there are concerns about long-term deforestation and the loss of environmental services (such as watershed protection) and biodiversity. It is difficult to totally burn biomass in the most typical household-sized stoves. Women and children’s health may be significantly impacted by the usage of stoves with inappropriate combustion designs if they are often used. Carbon monoxide and volatiles (benzene and formaldehyde) emitted in the form of smoke are responsible for roughly 2 million extra deaths of women and children in underdeveloped nations each year. Lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and vision issues are all linked to these kinds of exposures. Charcoal stoves and their environmental efficiency will benefit from quicker technical advancement.

Carbon dioxide emissions from poorly designed charcoal burners would render charcoal unsustainable as a home fuel source, despite the fact that it is often regarded as a cheap, readily accessible, handy option. As a result, advancements in technology will reduce the environmental impact of charcoal while suppressing its negative effects.

That’s why we’re designing a more efficient and safe charcoal burner that can cut fuel usage and indoor pollutants. Even though a lot of work has been done to promote “better cook stoves” in underdeveloped nations, little attention has been placed on excellent combustion throughout their design and creation. This is due to the fact that there is a dearth of scientific data on stove design elements and construction materials. To counter this, indigenous craftsmen in Sub-Saharan Africa have developed and produced a multitude of stove types from locally accessible materials such dried grass, ant-hill dirt, mud, clay, and clay bricks. There have been no efforts to drill through granite because of its tremendous density.

In this study, local elements such as granite rock, stainless steel, and glass wool are used to build a charcoal stove prototype. Granite rock is employed in the manufacturing of thermal energy storage (TES) systems because of its design characteristics, thermodynamic performance, and thermophysical qualities. Thermal conductivity, specific heat, material density, and porosity are all factors in determining the suitability of a TES system for granite rock. When it comes to thermal storage, high values for thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, and density all go hand in hand to provide high efficiency. Large volumetric heat capacity and low porosity values imply high bulk density and uniaxial compressive strength, which are necessary for compact storage in the systems.

 

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