Performance of Ethanol Water Mixture as Fuel for Household Stove
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Date
2011-11
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
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.
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Energy Technology