Center for Energy Technology

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Browsing Center for Energy Technology by Author "Alemu, Demiss (PhD)"

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    Performance of Ethanol Water Mixture as Fuel for Household Stove
    (Addis Ababa University, 2011-11) Tekle, Atakelti; Alemu, Demiss (PhD)
    Ethiopia is one of the world’s least developed countries where population pressures and an over reliance on traditional biomass fuels have led to deforestation. The combustion of unsustainably harvested biomass releases large quantities of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and when burnt indoors has been strongly linked to acute respiratory infections and a major cause of death in developing countries. In order to protect the environment, it is urgently required to substitute the utilization of firewood for cooking purposes. Ethanolwater mixture oil, as one of the best solutions, is a promising alternative energy source offering a variety of economical and ecological advantages. A new pressurized cooking stove was developed according to the principles of the appropriate technology that can be operated on ethanol-water mixture. According to the chemical, physical and combustion properties of fuel oil, a new nozzle socket, a new burner head and a new tank as well as a hand pump device were designed and manufactured. The stove was evaluated by varying ethanol concentration by water boiling test and also was evaluated against wheel brand stove, a typical example of an adapted kerosene stove. The procedure followed for the test is in accordance with the standard test methods recommended by Volunteers in Technical Assistance (VITA). A pressurized-ethanol stove running on 40 % (w/w) ethanol concentration (40% ethanol and 60% water) has been developed. Based on one litre boil of water, it showed no significant difference in performance; its efficiency as high as 29.5% as compared to 33% with that of conventional kerosene stove was observed. However, the pressurized-ethanol stove had advantages over kerosene in that it produced smokeless burning and no irritating smells. Thus, the prototype stove was found to be potentially appropriate for use.