Sustainable Cooking Based on a 3 kW Air-Forced Multifuel Gasification Stove Using Alternative Fuels Obtained from Agricultural Wastes

Abstract

In this research work, a 3 kW stove based on biomass gasification, together with a fuel obtained from agriculture wastes as an alternative to the commonly used charcoal, have been developed looking for sustainable cooking in poor communities. Alternative fuel (BSW) are briquettes obtained by carbonization and densification of agricultural solid wastes. Two laboratory methods, water boil test (WBT) and controlled kitchen test (CCT) were used to analyze the performance of this approach by comparing the proposed improved stove (ICS-G) with the traditional one (TCS), when using both types of fuels: charcoal and BSW. Results indicate that consumption of charcoal decreases by 61% using the improved ICS-G stove instead of the traditional TCS. Similar fuel savings are obtained when using BSW fuels. BSW fuel allows for a carbon monoxide (CO) emission reduction of 41% and 67%, and fine particles (PM) in a 84% and 93%, during the high and low power phases of the tests, respectively. Use of BSW fuel and ICS-G stove instead of the TCS stove with charcoal, provides a cooking time reduction of 18%, savings of $353.5 per year per family in the purchase of fuel, and an emission reduction of 3.2 t CO2/year.family.

Air Quality and Climate Impacts of Biomass Use as an Energy Source: A Review

“…Much of this usage is likely to involve fuels being burnt in simple, often open stoves, although they can vary greatly in terms of design and construction material . Traditional cooking systems are based on burning coal or firewood on stoves with cooking pots placed on top, resulting in low thermal efficiencies and therefore excessive fuel consumption and high emissions . They are usually naturally ventilated, without scope for controlling air supply, leading to incomplete combustion in unvented indoor environments.…”

“…The use of biogas rather than solid fuels has been suggested as a possible route for rural communities. This could be based on microgasification technologies at the individual stove level, , on anaerobic digestion, or on community scale biogas production which has become relatively well established in China and India . Stoves with up to 55% efficiency are available for biogas combustion offering lower GHG emissions than traditional designs.…”

“…Stoves with up to 55% efficiency are available for biogas combustion offering lower GHG emissions than traditional designs. Gasification also offers a potential route to the reduction in open agricultural waste burning and would potentially reduce unnecessary sources of PM and CO 2 emissions if such fuels could be burned to provide useful energy . Biogas can also be produced from the anaerobic fermentation of organic matter from waste products such as agricultural manure, food waste as well as landfill gas …”

“…Both natural draft or forced draft designs have been developed. Perez et al investigated a 3 kW forced air multifuel gasification stove using a range of solid fuels including briquettes made from the densification of agricultural solid wastes . They found significant reductions (84–93% for high and low power operation) in fine particulates compared to traditional stove designs.…”

Estudio de sistemas renovables avanzados para el desarrollo energético sostenible

“…Por último, la sexta publicación "Sustainable Cooking Based on a 3 kW Air-Forced Multifuel Gasification Stove Using Alternative Fuels Obtained from Agricultural Wastes" (Hurtado Pérez et al, 2020) realiza una comparación termodinámica, económica y medioambiental entre las estufas para cocinar tradicionales (TCS, por sus siglas en inglés "Traditional Cooking Stoves") e ICS-G, así como de un combustible tradicional (carbón) y el propuesto en la publicación (briquetas). Utiliza dos métodos de testeo (Water Boiling Test y Controlled Cooking Test).…”