Laboratory and Field Performance of Two In-House Developed Metal Biomass Cookstoves

Abstract

Present work reports thermal and emission performance of in-house developed natural and forced draft metal biomass cookstoves. Laboratory as well as field tests are performed on the cookstoves. Experiments are performed on natural draft metal cookstove in laboratory at different air supply hole openings. Decrease in average input power and average thermal efficiency is observed between 3.74-3.43 kW and 31.14-29.45% respectively. Variation in average emission factor for carbon monoxide (CO) is found to be between 3.5-9.9 g/MJd. Emissions of Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) are found to be varying between 1 ppm to 13.5 ppm without any specific trend. Experiments are performed on forced draft metal cookstove in laboratory on two fan speeds. The average input power and average thermal efficiency vary between 3.4-3.0 kW and 36.9-42.5% respectively. Variation in average emission factor for CO is found to be between 1.8-4.5 g/MJd and that of average NOx emissions between 16.8-2.5 ppm.During field tests, amount of fuel consumption and emissions of CO for both the cookstoves is compared with traditional cookstoves used by two families. In case of Family A, there is a saving in fuel consumption by 19% and 40% with natural draft and forced draft metal cookstoves respectively. The corresponding values for Family B are 5 % and 24% respectively. In case of Family A, there is decrease in CO emissions by 89% and 86% with natural draft and forced draft metal cookstoves respectively. The corresponding values for Family B are 76% and 82% respectively.