DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A TWO BURNER CHARCOAL STOVE

(Final year project proposal)

BY

GEORGE AYOMIDE JOSEPH(18/30GD108)

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN
ILORIN, NIGERIA

ADVISOR
DR RABIU, BABA ABDULKARIM
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN, NIGERIA

February 2023
Introduction

A third of the world’s population lives in developing countries (Olalekan 2009). Major amounts of
these people lack access to modern energy utilities for economic and social development and some if not
most of their energy sources are unsustainable (Smith 1993). And the emergence of worsening hikes in
the prices of fuel in these developing countries has drawn attention to the need for obtaining viable
alternatives and/or complements to kerosene and cooking gas for domestic use (Olorunsola 1999).
Electricity is used for cooking in some homes but the electricity supply is erratic, unreliable and a
major percentage of the population in the developing countries are not on the electricity grid. Gas burns
quite efficiently but it is expensive due to aggravating fuel crisis and out of reach of the common man.
Another possible alternative energy source which is location-specific in terms of utilization is solar
energy (Olalekan 2009). The problems of energy storage for use during the period of little or no sunshine
also require technological systems that are in short supply in developing countries (Bolaji 2005). Almost
three billion people worldwide use biomass (wood, charcoal, crop residues, and animal dung), coal and
traditional technologies as their primary source of energy for cooking, heating, and other household needs
such as food preservation (Smith et al., 2004).
Most of these traditional fuels such as biomass are quite difficult to burn completely in simple
household-sized stoves. The use of these fuels emit hundreds of health damaging pollutants and have a
negative impact on the health of household members, especially women and children, when burned
indoors without use of a proper stove to help control the generation of smoke or a chimney to vent the
smoke outside (Smith 1993, Olalekan 2009). Traditional cook-stoves when used indoors cause
concentrations of important pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, benzene and formaldehyde. Such
exposures are linked to acute respiratory infections, chronic obstructive lung diseases, low birth weights,
lung cancer and eyes problems (Kaoma and Kasali 1994).
Coal stands out as an affordable, available and safe to store resources that is relatively
straightforward and easy to employ for domestic use, but the use of coal in inefficient stoves that waste
resources and produce substantial amounts of indoor air pollution would be unsustainable. However,
continual development in technology will reduce coal’s disadvantages and allow coal to be used with
much greater efficiency and greatly reduced environmental impact (Olalekan 2009).
After the tremendous rise in coal use in the early 2000s, which was primarily driven by the growth of
China’s economy, coal use worldwide peaked in 2012. Coal use then experienced a steady decline,
caused largely by increases in natural gas use (Otto C. Kopp). But due to the ever escalating fuel and
natural gas crisis the dependence on coal for domestic uses has greatly increased. One of charcoal’s most
common fuel uses is for cooking. It produces a heat that is hotter and burns cleaner than wood, making it
ideal for cooking and other domestic use.
Having this alternative source of energy gives the common man and people in struggling and
developing countries the ability to survive and thrive in the difficult times of fuel and natural gas
unavailability and/or unaffordability of these energy sources.
Aim and Objectives

The aim of this project is the design and development of a two burner charcoal stove capable of
doubling and maximizing the use of the charcoal stove and also to achieve a quicker ignition time of the
charcoal as compared to the the ignition time of a regular charcoal stove.

The objectives of this project is as follows:

1. To maximize the energy output of the amount of charcoal used by making use of two burners
2. To reduce the ignition time of the charcoal by introducing a blower mechanism to heat up the
charcoal faster.
3. To make the charcoal stove to be designed cost effective and accessible to people in both the
urban and rural areas.

Literature Review

Various works and researches have been carried out on charcoal stoves and they have been the subject of
extensive research and development in recent years, driven by the need to improve the efficiency and
sustainability of cooking technologies in both urban and low-resource areas. Here is a review of some of
the papers and projects in this field:

"Development and testing of a forced draft charcoal stove" by T.T. Khoi, et al. (2015):
This paper describes the design and testing of a forced draft charcoal stove that achieved a thermal
efficiency of 32.5%, a significant improvement over traditional charcoal stoves. The stove also
demonstrated reduced emissions of carbon monoxide and particulate matter, making it a promising
technology for clean cooking.

"A review of the current state of knowledge on charcoal stoves" by P.L. Johnson and G. Xiao (2013):
This review paper provides a detailed overview of the current state of knowledge on charcoal stoves,
covering topics such as stove design, performance testing, and the social and environmental impacts of
charcoal production and use. The researchers concluded that while charcoal stoves have the potential to
significantly improve cooking efficiency and reduce emissions, further research and development is
needed to overcome technical and cultural barriers to adoption.

The Berkeley-Darfur Stove Project

This project is an example of a successful effort to improve the design and adoption of charcoal stoves in
a low-resource setting. The project developed and distributed an improved stove design that reduced fuel
consumption and emissions, while also providing economic benefits to local producers and distributors.
The project's success was attributed to its participatory approach, which involved local communities and
stakeholders in the design and implementation process.
In conclusion, charcoal stoves are an important area of research and development in the field of clean
cooking technologies, with potential to improve efficiency, reduce emissions, and promote sustainable
development. However, further efforts are needed to overcome the charcoal stove barriers to adoption and
scale-up.
Methodology

Designing and developing a two-burner coal stove requires consideration of various factors, including the
materials used, the dimensions, the combustion time, and the efficiency of combustion. Here is a step-by-
step methodology for designing and developing a two-burner coal stove:

Research: Start by researching existing designs of coal stoves to understand their strengths and
weaknesses. This will provide a good basis for creating an effective and efficient design for a two-burner
coal stove.

Define the Specifications: Once you have a clear understanding of the existing designs, define the
specifications of the stove you want to design. This should include factors such as the size, materials,
weight, and material cost. You should also consider the intended use of the stove, such as for indoor or
outdoor cooking.

Sketch the Design: Making use of the specifications, sketch the basic design of the stove. This should
include the size, shape, and placement of the burners, as well as the overall design of the stove. The
sketch should also consider the airflow, which is critical to efficient combustion.

Refine the Design: This may include changing the size or shape of the burners, altering the placement of
the air vents, or changing the materials used until conclusion on a final design is reached.

Create Detailed Drawings: Create detailed drawings of each component of the stove. This should include
the dimensions of each part, the materials used, and any special features, such as handles or vents.

Build the Stove: Use the detailed drawings to build the stove. The use of high-quality materials is
important and make sure to follow all safety guidelines. The burners should be designed to maximize
airflow and optimize combustion and the blower should be able to reduce the ignition time of the coal.

Test the Stove: Once the stove is built, it is tested to ensure that it meets the required specifications. The
efficiency of the coal stove is tested as well as the ignition time.

Refine the Design: If any issues arise during testing, changes are made to the design and the stove is
rebuilt. It is tested again to ensure that the changes have improved its performance.

Finalize the Design: Once the stove meets the required specifications and performs well, finalize the
design. This should include creating detailed documentation of the design, including the materials used,
the dimensions, and the assembly instructions.

In summary, designing and developing a two-burner coal stove requires careful planning, research, and
testing. By following this methodology, a stove that is efficient, effective, and safe to use is created.