Energy and exergy analysis of a natural-draft improved biomass cookstove with varying quantities of different biomass feedstocks

ABSTRACT

This communication presents a performance analysis of an improved cookstove model with various types of woody biomass such as sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globus), bakana neem (Persian lilac) and shahtoot (melbari), in varying quantities from 1 to 5 kg. The cookstove model was designed, fabricated and analyzed based on energy, exergy and power output and following the standard testing protocol, i.e. the water boiling test (WBT). The results exhibit different trends with different types and quantities of wood and are found to be consistent and comparable with each other. The results also exhibit that the cookstove model performed better than the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) permissible limit and hence provides new scientific insights into the design and evaluation of improved biomass cookstoves. The variation of energy and exergy efficiencies against the operating time was found to be in the range of 25.83–30.53% for sheesham wood, and 3.83–5.01% for eucalyptus wood. The present models are found to be superior with respect to the important performance parameters when compared with the already existing models following the same standard test protocols.

KEYWORDS:

• Improved biomass cookstove
• exergy analysis
• thermal efficiency
• carbon financing (CDM)
• water boiling test

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the overall technical and financial support from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Govt. of India.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.