Improved chulhas are scientifically designed, environmental friendly cookstoves with a thermal efficiency of about 20 per cent or more as compared to 5% to 10% efficiency of traditional chulhas.
TRADITIONAL WOOD STOVES
Three stones fire
Why Popularly adopted?
•Feeding and combustion control easy
•Any size pot can used
•No special skill required
•Control of insects
Drawbacks
•Low efficiency (8-10%)
•Smoke formation
•Use of fuel wood inefficiently
NEED FOR IMPROVED WOOD STOVES
To prevent smoke and soot production
For saving fuel wood
Women labour time
To reduce lung and eye diseases
IMPROVED STOVES
Less smoke production
Less quantity of fuel utilization
Efficient heat transfer
Less heat losses
Efficiency (20-35%)
STOVE COMPONENTS
FIRE BOX
•Enclosed space for combustion
•High energy release due to complete
combustion
AIR INLET
•Secondary air is introduced in the fire box
GRATE
•Made up of frame of metal bars
•Increased efficiency due to entry of
secondary air if grate and air inlet is used
BAFFLES
•Projection in the combustion chamber
placed at the exit of combustion chamber
DAMPERS
•Movable plate in the chimney
•Made up of steel plate
CHIMNEY
•Metal or asbestos pipe
•Helps in releasing the smoke and creates
draft for complete combustion
COWL
•Metal cap for avoiding the
entry of foreign material as
well as rain water
•Increases the draft
TUNNEL
•In multi-pot closed chulha
VESSEL
oFlat bottom or cylindrical shape
oLids
oClean and dried
CALCULATIONS
H
1 = w
1i(t
2-t
1) + w
2i(t
3-t
1)
H
2 = (w
1i -w
1f)L + (w
2i -w
2f)L
H
1+H
2
η= -----------
m
Fx CV
m
Fx CVx η
Power Rating = -----------------------
860
PROCEDURE
CONTROL COOKING TEST
•To assess the performance of the improved stove
•Standard cooking task
FUEL
oA homogeneous mix
oDivided into pre-weighed bundles
FOOD AND WATER
oSufficient
oHomogenous
COOKING POT (S)
oMost appropriate pots
oRecord the specifications
CALCULATIONS
a. Total weight of food cooked (W
f)
b. Weight of char remaining (D
cc)
c.Equivalent dry wood consumed (fd)
d. Specific fuel consumption (SC)
e. Total cooking time (Dt)