Experimental Investigation of Electrically Powered Stove for Areke Distillation
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Date
2025-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Areke, a traditional Ethiopian distilled spirit, is primarily produced using biomass-fueled stoves, which are characterized by inefficiency, deforestation, and significant contributions to indoor air pollution which poses serious health risks. This research aims to design, man-ufacture, and experimentally investigate an electrically powered distillation stove for areke production to address inefficiencies, improve product quality, and reduce environmental and health impacts. A prototype electric stove was developed, incorporating a clay pot, coil-based heating element, bamboo shell-and-tube condenser, and a PID temperature con-trol system. Performance was evaluated through controlled tests, including Water Boiling Tests (WBT) and Controlled Cooking Tests (CCT), comparing the prototype to traditional methods in terms of thermal efficiency, energy consumption, distillation time, and product quality.
Through controlled testing and design modifications, the stove successfully produced high-quality areke. The custom-designed electric areke distillation stove achieved thermal effi-ciencies of 52.2% during cold start and 75.8% during hot start conditions, significantly outperforming traditional biomass stoves, which typically operate at 10-23% efficiency, and surpassing the Ethiopian standard requirement of 40%. With an average energy con-sumption of 7.9 kWh to produce 1.5 liters of areke, the prototype achieved a 49% reduction in estimated energy costs and a 69% decrease in energy consumption compared to tradi-tional methods. Precise temperature control with PID controller provided consistent regu-lation over the distillation rate and duration. Testing revealed that rate of distillation had a direct impact on the final product's alcohol content. A longer distillation time resulting in higher alcohol concentration in the final areke.
The prototype’s design, which integrates locally available materials and aligns with tradi-tional practices, proved compatible with existing distillation setups, enhancing its potential for widespread adoption. Additionally, the stove completely eliminated harmful emissions associated with biomass combustion, addressing key environmental and health concerns. The electrically powered distillation stove offers a sustainable and efficient alternative to traditional biomass stoves, addressing critical environmental and health issues.
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Keywords
Areke distillation, electric stove, thermal efficiency, biomass alternatives, in-door air pollution, sustainable technology, Ethiopia.