ENERGY
Development of Woodstoves for Domestic Cooking

This project was initiated with the objective to design and fabricate a thermally efficient wood burning stove. The design constraints imposed included:


1. The improved woodstoves should require similar cooking practices as used in traditional stoves;

2. The woodstove should be smokeless;

3. It should be possible to vary the woodstove dimensions to take care of different sizes of vessels.


A new three pan stove was designed and fabricated during 1983 which incorporated the above requirements. In water boiling experiments this stove yielded Percentage Heat Utilisation (PHU) of 40% and specific fuel consumption (SFC) of 120 to 180 gms of wood per kg of food cooked.


This three pan stove has been christened as "Astra Ole". Its acceptability was ascertained by field test in Ungra area. The Government of Karnataka adopted this stove for propagation under the national project on Demonstration of Improved Chulas. It was felt that using the same heat transfer concepts large sized stoves for canteens, hotels, hostels and also a two pan stove for urban use was developed.


During the first phase of the project a domestic wood stove for cooking, with a high thermal efficiency, christened 'Astra Ole' was developed. Some of its important characteristics are somkelessness, savings in wood and cooking time and elimination of fire hazards. This stove is suitable for a family size of 5-8 members. The stove is constructed in situ using locally available material such as sand, brick, rice husk, and some pre-fabricated items.
Development of large woodstoves was initiated. The objective was to design and develop a 3 pan cooking stove for large scale applications which would accommodate vessels of different sizes and shapes. In addition to the cooking stove, a bath water heating stove has also been designed.
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