Improved Cook Stove

Dr. Krishna Raj Shrestha

1. Introduction

A cooking stove is a device in which fuel is burnt to cook food. It is usually located in kitchen. Besides cooking food, a stove is also used for heating the room, drying of certain items and agro-processing activities (AEPC, 2000).Improved cooking stove is a device that is designed to consume less fuel and save cooking time, convenient in cooking process and creates smokeless environment in the kitchen but the traditional ‘Chulo’ can’t do the mentioned function efficiently.

1.1 Design Features

The design of an Improved Cook Stove (ICS) involves the application of heat transfer, combustion and fluid flow principles in order to attain complete combustion of the fuel with a minimum amount of excess air, maximum transfer of heat from the flame and the flue gases to the cooking vessel, and a minimum loss of heat to the surroundings. The stove consists in principle of a combustion chamber, pot holder and baffle depending upon the type of stove and chimney.

Combustion Chamber:

In the household cooking stove, the combustion chamber is made of clay or brick mixed with chipped rice straw/agriresidue with a diameter of 20cm. and height of 14 to 19cm. respectively. A metal grate is placed at the bottom of the combustion chamber and about 10cm. height from the base. The aperture in grate for the passage of air is approximately 30 per cent of total grate area. Below the grate, there are two 6 sq. cm. second air holes on opposite sides for better mixing of air in the combust chamber. The fuelwood supply door is 12 x 15 sq. cm.

In the Institutional cooking stove , the cooking pot is sink into the combustion chamber and is made of brick and clay mixed with agri-residues with a diameter of 6 cm. and height of 26 cm. respectively. A metal grate is placed at the bottom of the combust chamber and about 20 cm. height from the base. The aperture in grate for the passage of air is approximately 40 per cent of total grate area. below the grate there are two 12 cm. diameter secondary air holes on opposite sides for better mixing of air in the combustion chamber. The fuelwood supply door is 20 cm. x 40 cm.

Fluid Dynamics and Bernoulli’s Equation

Review of Fundamentals [Thermo]

Dimensional Analysis Lecture III

Dimensional Analysis Lecture II

Dimensional Analysis Lecture I

Lecture from I.I.T Bombay

Fundamentals of Fluid Flow

Lecture by Prof. M Ramgopal, Dept of Mechanical Engineering, I.I.T Kharagpur

Wind Energy Lecture II

Lecture by Prof. S. Banerjee from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur

Wind Energy Lecture I

Prof. Dr. Krishna Raj Shrestha

Prof. Dr. Krishna Raj Shrestha

Prof. Dr. Krishna Raj Shrestha Biomass Energy Expert RECAST Tribhuvan University Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal Email : shresthakr@hotmail.com Mobile: 9841298694

Academic Qualification: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology- Delhi, New Delhi-110016, India, 1998. Thesis Title “Studies on Thermal Cracking of Pyrogases from Biomass”.

Academic Awards: Mahendra Vidhya Bhusan, Ministry of Education, His Majesty’s Government, Nepal. 1999.

Mohan Dhoj Basnet Academic Award, Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, Kathmandu, Nepal, 1999 for the development of Beehive briquetting technology in Nepal by the utilization of biomass residues.

Professional Experiences:

• Joined Research Centre for Applied Science and Technology (RECAST), Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu as an Asstt. Research Officer in March 1977. Got promotion to Lecturer in November 1979, to Associate Professor in Jan 2003 and then to Professor in February, 2009. Has been working for the past two decades in the field of renewable energy technologies with special focus on biomass energy systems particularly biomass stoves, biomass gasification, briquetting, biogas etc. Has gained expertise in the Management and Utilization of Solid Wastes through an integrated approach. Has been teaching in the Mechanical Engineering Department, I.O.E., Pulchowk Campus as a Visiting Professor for MSREE students since 2000. Has supervised a number of students of MSREE for their Master’s Thesis.
• Has published a number of papers in various national and international journals. Has participated in several national and international seminars, conferences, workshops and training programmes pertaining to energy and environmental issues. Has coordinated several national level projects funded by INGO’s and Government agencies and successfully conducted a number of training programmes on energy saving devices such as improved cook stoves (ICS), beehive briquettes and management of domestic wastes through Composting and Vermicomposting at different parts of the country.
• Is a member of a number of professional societies such as, Nepal Chemical Society, Nepal Pharmaceutical Association, Nepal University Teacher’s Association (NUTA) and Centre for Renewable Energy and Centre for Energy and Environment Nepal.

Area of Expertise:
Biomass Energy technologies particularly Improved Cook Stoves (ICS), Gasifier stoves, Institutional Cook Stoves, Rocket Stoves, biomass briquetting, liquid biofuels, biomass gasification for electricity generation, biogas. etc.