Performance Test of a Household Rocket Stoves Fired with Coconut Frond, Coconut Shell and Bamboo

Abstract

Fuel is something that is very important in everyday life. Almost every human being needs fuel to meet their needs and support their activities, for example cooking in household needs. Currently, fossil fuels or fuel oil (BBM) are still widely used to meet demand, however, it should be noted that fossil fuels or fuel oil (BBM) are non-renewable natural resources. The biomass rocket stove is one of the modern stove innovations that uses biomass energy as the main energy source. Rocket stoves are designed to increase fuel efficiency with thermal efficiency, a combination of the increased combustion efficiency and heat transfer associated with burning briquette fuel. The purpose of this research is to design and manufacture rocket stove fired with coconut and bamboo biomass for household needs as well as developing methods and equipment for performance testing of rocket stoves. In this study, several steps were carried out, including designing a rocket furnace, selecting biomass fuel and testing the performance of a rocket furnace. From the design of the biomass stove, it is noteworthy that the design with two holes makes the combustion air easily enters and makes combustion in the furnace more perfect and efficient. Water boiling test using three types of solid fuels with the cold start condition suggested that the highest thermal efficiency was coconut fronds with a value of 38% and the lowest thermal efficiency was found from coconut shell combustion, i.e. 22%. During hot start test, the highest thermal efficiency was obtained from coconut fronds firing with a value of 41%. Moreover, with simmer water boiling test method, firing the rocket stove with coconut fronds showed the highest thermal efficiency with a value of 37%. Keywords: Rocket Stoves, Coconut Fronds and Shells, Bamboo, Thermal Efficiency, .Water Boiling Tests.