MODIFICATION OF BIOMASS MICRO GASIFIER COOK STOVE FOR

OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE AND POWER GENERATION

A Research proposal submitted to the Graduate School in partial

fulfillment for the requirements of the Masters Degree in ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Engineering of ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.

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AUGUST 2016
 ABSTRACT
Improved biomass cook stoves has been a topic of research for more than 40 years, but still 2.6
billion people cook over an open biomass fire. Indoor air pollution resulting from inefficient
burning of biomass in traditional cook stoves is a major health hazard affecting around 2.7
billion people globally according to World Health Organization (WHO). This is expected to
grow especially with the continual use of biomass for cooking hence need for efficient energy
conversion technologies. This research intents to modify biomass micro gasifiers cook stoves
purposely for optimization and power generation. Most stoves based on the principle of micro
gasification of biomass have the lowest reported emissions with improved heat transfer
efficiencies. However, these stoves are expensive due to material used, have adoption problem
due lighting and powering of fan especially for forced draft and characterization of key
parameters like flow rates and primary to secondary air fuel ratio is inadequate. Integration of
simulations into the design process is expected to fill these gaps and enable characterization of
key design parameters as well as generate low power for charging battery fans and other devices
like phones. A computational fluid dynamics model based on simulation model will be
developed to investigate different designs for optimization of the stove performance and identify
point of maximum temperature difference for optimum power generation.

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 THE STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Most of the stoves based on the principle of micro gasification have the lowest reported
emissions with improved heat transfer efficiencies. However, these stoves are expensive due
material used, have adoption problem due to lighting and powering of fan especially for forced
draft and characterization of key parameters like flow rates, temperature distribution and primary
to secondary air fuel ratio is inadequate for mass production.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

General Objective
To modify biomass micro gasifier cook stove for optimization and power generation.

Specific Objectives
1. To model biomass micro gasifier stove components
2. To evaluate different designs parameters for optimization of the stove performance.
3. To identify the point of maximum temperature difference for optimum power generation.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. How does the behavior of performance related parameters compare with other similar
models?
2. What is the effect of heat transfer, fluid dynamics and combustion related parameters on
the performance of the stove?
3. Which point on the combustion chamber of the prototype provides the maximum
temperature difference?