Methanol cookstove a potential alternative to LPG cookstove: Usability, safety and sustainability studies

Abstract

In the present study, the performance of methanol cookstove as a possible substitute for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cookstoves in terms of usability (fuel convenience, cooking performance, operability, maintenance and comfort) and safety (temperature of touchable parts and mechanical stability) are presented. To introduce methanol as an alternative cooking fuel, thermal and emission performances of methanol cookstoves are evaluated. It was found that methanol cookstove yielded a maximum thermal efficiency of 63.2 % at firepower of 1.5 kW and a lesser CO/CO2 ratio of 0.0047 as compared to the prescribed limit (0.02) of IS 11760:1986. The measurement of methanol vapour concentration with burn cycle of 4 h was revealed that the methanol vapour in the confined space was less than 5 ppm which is 97.5 % lesser than the prescribed exposure limit. Also, the methanol cookstove secures a similar score of LPG in terms of maintenance, comfort and mechanical stability. Further, the fuel sustainability analysis revealed that with a 10 % methanol penetration rate in India, 3.69 MMT of LPG import could be reduced by 2030. Safety instructions are also prepared for methanol cookstove which assists in formulating a policy and planned actions that encourages the use of methanol as a safer and cleaner alternative to the LPG.