Biomass Cookstoves !!!

The Sanjha Chulha/ Earth Cook Stove:

 

They are commercial cook stoves and are designed to burn biomass briquette. These stoves are sturdy, safe to use, easy to handle and involve less operational cost. Each of these stoves is also having separate advantages and target areas. For mid meal/ hostel/ office cooking Nishant Steamer is the best technology. Surya Stove has been provided with the temperature control technology. Earth stoves are capable of providing sufficient heat for cooking of food for more then 50 people at a time. 

 

On total around 350 such stoves has been operational in India at different locations like restaurants/ college hostel/ dhaba/ mid-day meal kitchen/ corporate canteens/namkeen makers/ religious places etc.

 

Laxmi:

 

Keeping in mind the people of Western India, especially Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat state, the two pot mud stove with chimney, ‘Laxmi’ was developed. It is very easy to build and construct the stove using clay and some ready-made parts such as a pottery liner combustion chamber, connecting tunnels, chimney pipe, cowl and metal grate. Pot ranging from 18 to 26 cm in diameter can be used for cooking. Firewood, dung cake and crop residue can be used as a fuel in the stove. Maximum efficiency of 22 percent can be achieved with the burning rate of 1 kg/h. The model was developed in 1986 at Centre for Application of Science and Technology for Rural Development (CASTFORD), Indian Institute of Education, Pune. Now improved version of the ‘Laxmi’ is available in the Indian market 

 

Bhagyalaxmi: 

  

‘Bhagyalaxmi’ is a non-chimney mud stove, which can accommodate the two-pot at a time. It has a cast iron grate for improved combustion and ventilation. As like ‘Laxmi’ this can also be build using the clay and some of ready-made parts by semi-skilled worker. Pot diameter ranging from 18 to 25 cm can be used for cooking in this model. Efficiency up to 26 percent is possible with fuel burning rate of 1 kg/h. The model was developed in 1991 at CASTFORD, Pune. Many improved version of ‘Bhagyalaxmi’ is now available in the market. 

 

Grihlaxmi:

 

‘Grihlaxmi’ is a low cost, single-pot mud stove with metal grate and without chimney, suitable for small family cooking. The stove can be conveniently constructed by a semi-skilled worker using local clay material and iron moulds. The design can accommodate pots 18-22 cm in diameter or larger. Efficiency up to 28 percent is possible with the fuel burning rate of 1 kg/h. 

 

Parvati:

  

‘Parvati’ is a two-pot chulha with a chimney. The firemouth is deliberately kept large in this cook stove to provide more air to the burning fuel and so bottom grate has been eliminated. In this model, about 80% of the total heat is delivered at the first pothole and only 20% at the second pothole. As a result, only the first pothole can be used for cooking, while the second pothole serves only to keep the food warm. 

 

Vivek:

 

It is a portable metallic gasifier stove. It requires sawdust or similar loose, powdery biomass as fuel, such as sawdust, dry grass, groundnut shells, etc. Once charged full, it can operate continuously for 1.5 to 2 hours. The blue flam colour appears because of gasification.   

 

OORJA:

 

‘Oorja’ is a Hindi word, which means energy. Keeping in mind the problem associated with the use of traditional methods and equipments for cooking by the rural villages in India, British Petroleum India Energy Limited partnered with Bangalore based Indian Institute of Science to come up with low-cost, smokeless cooking stoves which run on pellets made from agricultural waste. ‘Oorja’ has a chamber for burning pellets and a mini-fan, powered by rechargeable batteries and controlled by a regulator, blows air to fan the flames. This technology increases combustion efficiency. This stove was initially pilot tested in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra state in year 2006. As of now 4,80,000 consumers are getting the benefit of low-cost, clean and safe ‘Oorja’ cook stove.   

 

Sampada:

  

This is a portable metallic stove, developed in 2006. The fuel like biomass pellets, dry woody twigs, wood shavings, biomass briquettes or wood chips can be used. Fuel chamber is initially loaded with the fuel and later on lighted from the top. One full charge of fuel keeps the stove in operation for about 1 hour. After the stove operation charcoal is left behind in the fuel holder, which is very valuable by product. 

 

Agni (TLUD model): 

 

This is a natural draft gasifier stove with standing type. Fuel like biomass pellets, briquettes, wood chips can be used. This model can be used for commercial purpose as well. For continuous feeding of the fuel and for the flame control arrangement has been made.  

 

Anila: 

 

The Anila stove was developed by U.N. Ravikumar, an environmentalist and engineer with the Director of the Centre for Appropriate Rural Technologies (CART) at India’s National Institute of Engineering. In Anila-type stoves, two concentric cylinders of different diameters are used. Biomass fuel is placed between the two cylinders and a fire is ignited in the center. Heat from the central fire pyrolyzes the concentric ring of fuel. The gasses escape to the center where they add to the cooking flame as the ring of biomass turns to char.   

This stove has been implemented in the Tamil Nadu in India, where up to 70% of agricultural residues are discarded or burned (the remaining 30% are used as fodder). So the stove can utilise this resource to produce an agricultural product for soil improvement.

 

SWOSTHEE:

 

It is a metallic single pan wood stove of portable type, designed at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Among the same category, it has the highest efficiency of 32%. It is capable of burning multiple fuels like biomass pellets, briquettes, wood chips and coconut shells. Emission level is quite low as compared to other models in the same category. Cooking vessel of diameter 200 to 400 mm can be used to cook the food.   

 

Philip`s Model: 

 

It is a fan stove, uses a much smaller fan with lower electrical power demand and incorporates a back-up rechargeable battery. Electricity is produced by the thermoelectric generator using the heat from the burning wood to generate electricity for the fan. The fan forces the air through the stove, leading to higher temperatures and a better fuel to air ratio. This results in cleaner burning and more efficient use of fuel. The Philips stove is top-loading and requires that the wood fuel need to be cut in smaller pieces before use. There is substantial reduction in emission and around 50% of fuel can be saved using this stove.