Thermo–Equilibrium Modelling and Experimental Investigation of An Improved Biomass Cookstove.

Abstract

India is one of the fastest developing country whose major population lives in a rural area which is the most important factor to define any nation's economic growth. Still, there are some areas which use a conventional method like Traditional cookstove (TCS) for cooking and heating purpose which is not preferable due to its lower thermal efficiency and harmful effects on the environment and human health. To overcome these problems an improved biomass cookstove is required. In the present study, the experiments were carried out on a 3 kWth newly designed Modified Improved CookStove (MICS) based on rocket stove principle with different feedstock such as wood, briquettes, lignite. MICS performance was investigated by three popular methods such as water boiling test (WBT), particular matter test (PMT), and emission test (ET). Parameters such as thermal efficiency, exergy efficiency, specific fuel consumption, power output rating, burning rate, firepower, and analysis such as mass balance, energy balance, heat transfer analysis, and uncertainty analysis are investigated. Also, some parameters were compared with Traditional and Improved cookstove (ICS). The thermal efficiency and exergy efficiency of MICS were observed 39.21% and 9.90%, respectively which is quite more as compared to TCS. The PM concentration is nominal in MICS compared to TCS and the combustion temperature range was between 473-541 ℃. The concentrations of CO and CO2 were found higher in flue gases with lignite feedstock and the same were minimum with wood. The Mass and energy balance closure was found in the range of 0.95-0.98. Total heat transfer was calculated and found between 2361.36 W to 2940.25 W. Based on the experimental testing and analysis, it is concluded that the newly designed cookstoves (MICS) are better in terms of efficiency, lesser emissions, and PM concentration as compared to the other cookstoves. A zero-dimensional thermo-equilibrium model was also prepared in this study on Aspen plus software. This model was prepared to predict the gas compositions of the producer gas of an Improved CookStove (ICS) based on the gasification principle. During simulation, different types of model palettes such as RGibbs, Ryield, Material stream and, Heat stream were used. The simulation results are validated with literature and found satisfactory agreement between the two (till gasification stage). The concentration of N2 was observed maximum (around 50%) whereas same for CH4 was observed negligent comparatively other constitutes.