BIOMASS GAS GENERATOR STOVES

Abstract

The work refers to the field of thermochemical processes of the biomass conversion into energy, in particular to the creation of gas-generator stoves operating on biomass for cooking. In view of the high energy efficiency and environmental friendliness gas-burning stoves significantly exceed the traditional direct combustion biomass kilns. The theoretical analysis of the processes of gasification and combustion of fuel flowing in the stove is considered. The stove is considered as a reversed microgasifier with an open top. Gasification is carried out in a vertical microgasifier of a dense layer of fuel with fuel ignition from above and air supply from below. The thermal processes taking place in the microgasifier can be divided into three stages: partial gasification of biofuel, complete gasification of the biochar obtained, direct combustion of the biochar. The pilot samples of a number of stoves with a reactor volume of 5.5 to 9.7 liters were made and pilot tests were carried out for the various types of biofuel (pellets from softwood, trimmed pine saw-timbers, wood chips from hardwood, briquettes from straw, sunflower husks, buckwheat husks). As a result of the tests it was found that the efficiency of the stoves is about 30% which is approximately 3 times more than that of traditional direct combustion furnaces, and the average thermal power of the gas-generator stoves was 0.71–1.78 kW which corresponds to the thermal power of household stoves operating on natural gas. The fuel consumption and the specific burning rate of the fuel are determined by the air supply. For approximate calculations, you can take a fuel consumption of 1 kg / hour. The specific intensity of combustion for the tested fuels varied in the range 27.5–60.6 kg / (m2 · h). The use of the thermal insulation of the hull makes it possible not only to reduce significantly heat losses to the environment but also to avoid burns if the person touches the stove accidentally. The stoves have the following advantages: ecological compatibility; the economy; mobility. Prospective consumers of stoves are the residents of non-gasified areas, summer residents, tourists.