FACULTY OF ENGINEERING ,TECHNOLOGY ,APPPLIED DESIGN

AND FINE ART, FETADFA

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

PROJECT PROPOSAL

COMPILED BY

BAMWEYANA ALPHAT

REG NO: 2020/A/KME/0067/G/F

COURSE: RESEARCH METHODS ASSIGNMENT

NAME OF THE LECTURER: MR ISAAC NDAWULA

PROJECT PROPOSAL SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL

ENGINEERING IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE
AWARD OF A DEGREE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Title: Design and analysis of a gasifier biomass stove.

Introduction

Background of the study

Globally, over 2.6 billion individuals lack access to clean cooking facilities, with approximately
one-third of the world's population relying on solid fuels for cooking and heating purposes.
Despite advancements in socioeconomic status, the prevalence of individuals exposed to smoke
from solid fuel combustion has remained relatively constant over the past three to four decades.
Inefficient combustion of biomass leads to elevated levels of household air pollution (HAP),
characterized by emissions of elemental carbon, organic carbon, particulate matter with a
diameter of ≤2.5 micrometers (PM2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), and polyaromatic hydrocarbons.
(Himanshu et al., 2022). Extended exposure to these pollutants can lead to the onset of cataracts,
acute respiratory infections, heart conditions, and complications during pregnancy (Basu, 2010).

Annually, over 2.5 million deaths are attributed to smoke from cooking-related activities. Forced
draft cookstoves present a promising solution due to their ability to enhance thermal efficiency
while reducing emissions of CO and PM2.5 (Himanshu et al., 2022). The introduction of
secondary air supply above the fuel bed in forced draft cookstoves has been shown to improve
air-volatile mixing. Various experimental studies have investigated forced draft cookstoves with
different configurations of primary and/or secondary air supplies(Himanshu et al., 2022). Higher
flow rates of secondary air may lead to flame quenching, potentially increasing fine particle
emissions. While air injection has been observed to reduce the total mass of particulate matter
and elevates concentration levels.

Indoor air pollution demands attention due to the substantial amount of time people spend within
enclosed spaces, where air remains stagnant. The World Health Organization (WHO)
underscores that in developing regions, the principal indoor air pollutant stems from the
combustion of unprocessed biomass fuels like wood, agricultural residues, and animal dung,
frequently employed for cooking purposes(Liyanage et al., 2021).

The gasification plant design encompasses both the gasifier reactor and its accompanying
auxiliary or support apparatus. This section specifically addresses the gasifier reactor's design.
Gasifiers are primarily categorized based on their mode of gas–solid interaction and the medium
used for gasification. Regarding the gas–solid interaction mode, gasifiers are broadly classified
into three main types: fixed or moving bed, fluidized bed, and entrained flow. Each gasifier type
has its suitable range of application, and none is universally suitable for all gasifier capacities.
Entrained flow stands out as the most effective and commonly employed gasifier type for large-
scale gasification projects involving coal, petroleum coke, and refinery residues. It demonstrates
optimal performance across various coal types, except for low-rank coal such as lignite and
biomass, which are hindered by their high moisture content. For coal fed in slurry form, the
economic threshold stands at 20% ash content, while for dry feed, it is 40% (Ratchakawee and
Pintana, 2022).

Typically, biomass feed contains moisture levels ranging from 5–35%, which are reduced to
below 5% during the drying phase. In the subsequent pyrolysis step, biomass is subjected to
temperatures between 200 and 700 °C in an environment with limited oxygen or air.
Scientifically termed "pyrolysis," this process involves heating biomass to moderate
temperatures in an oxygen-depleted environment to generate energy (Odesola, Ige and Yunus,
2019). This process causes the volatile components within the biomass to evaporate, resulting in
a mixture comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane among others
(Vishvanath R. Solapure et al., 2017).

The necessity for cleaner and safer energy sources has led to the exploration of alternatives to
traditional fossil fuels. This project centers on the creation, enhancement, and assembly of a
forced-air, top-lit, updraft biomass gasifier stove. It comprises two main segments: the
mechanical and electronic divisions, incorporating a microcontroller unit. The electronic
component facilitates seamless switching between AC mains and battery power for fan
operation. Palm kernel shells are utilized as the biomass fuel in this design. Through effective
coupling of various module sections, the stove is constructed. Following construction, the stove's
performance is compared against kerosene and liquefied gas stoves through a water boiling test.
Results indicate that the biomass stove outperforms the kerosene stove in speed and competes
favorably with the gas stove(Ratchakawee and Pintana, 2022).

In recent years, modeling and simulation approaches to physical phenomena have become
increasingly valuable for assessing the most efficient operational parameters. These techniques
are essential for optimizing cookstove performance, leading to savings in time, costs, and energy
consumption (Liyanage et al., 2021).

David et al. conducted computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to analyze a production
cookstove, developing a model to depict the steady, time-averaged drying and pyrolysis
processes of wooden stick fuel. Validation of the simulation results was carried out against
experimental data. Ravi et al. utilized CFD simulations to describe the flow dynamics, heat
transfer, pyrolysis, and combustion mechanisms within a sawdust stove configuration.
(Senthilkumar and Prabhu, 2024) These simulations outcomes were then utilized to formulate a
model for cookstove performance and qualitative predictions. Subsequently, this model was
applied to optimize the sawdust stove design. Kalla et al. developed a CFD model for a natural
draft residential wood log stove, aiming to characterize the chemical and physical phenomena
occurring within. The model effectively captured the chemical processes of wood log
combustion, velocity profiles, temperature distributions, and concentrations of chemical species
within the cookstove(Liyanage et al., 2021).

Hence, most cookstoves undergo an iterative development process, which consumes time as
prototypes are crafted, assessed, and subsequently adjusted to align with globally recognized
cookstove testing standards (Bantu et al., 2018).

Problem statement

The use of solid fuels in the stove lead to emission of harmful gases such as Sulphur oxides
(SO), carbon oxides (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx) among others, caused by incomplete
combustion which has increased health risks where over 3.2 million people died in 2020 as well
as 6.7 million people who die due to air pollution world wide thus calling for the design of the
design and analysis of a gasifier biomass stove that can establish complete combustion of the
fuels as well as reducing on air pollution.

Objectives

Main objective

To design and analyze a gasifier biomass stove.

Specific objectives
To determine the design parameters of the gasifier biomass stove.

To design a gasifier biomass stove layout.

To design and analyze some of the parts of a gasifier biomass stove such as the combustion
chamber.

Research questions

What are the design parameters of the gasifier biomass stove?

What are the components of a gasifier biomass stove (its lay out)?

How are parts of the gasifier biomass stove going to be designed and analysed?

Significances

There will be reduced cutting down of trees for charcoal as the designed stove will be using
biomass waste rather than charcoal.

There will be reduced time during cooking due to the complete combustion of biomass waste
rather than using of an ordinary charcoal stove which experiences incomplete combustion most
times.

There will be reduction in the air pollution that causes health hazards to people due to the use of
an updraft gasifier biomass type that emits low tar content.

Scope (delimitations and limitations)

Delimitations

The project is focused on the domestic application such as cooking on small scale.

The project is only limited to agricultural waste and assumes a cleaning system of synthesis gas.

The project focuses on an updraft gasifier.

Limitations

The project does not consider requirements of maintenance and repair.

The project has a limited biomass feedstock flexibility as it allows the use of only agricultural
waste.

The combustion chamber may not produce the cleanest amount of synthesis gas due to the
increased tar content.

Methodology

This project starts with specifying the design parameters or needs which involve the
identification of the available types of biomass wastes produced locally, how people cook and
the user needs.

A suitable gasifier type will then be chosen, where updraft, down draft among others will be
selected according to their design requirements as well as the available biomass.

As the design of the gasifier is chosen successfully, the burner as well as combustion chamber
are designed to ensure efficient transfer of heat and synthesis gas combustion.

Different materials are then selected depending on the allowable properties to be achieved such
as resistant to corrosion, the thermal conductivity among others.

In order to maximize the rate of cooking, different mechanisms are considered and designed for
such as the heat loss through radiation and convection (insulation is done).

The project analysis starts with thermodynamic analysis that help to predict the proper working
of the biomass stove through analyzing the combustion reactions and the process of gasification.
The fluid dynamics analysis is also carried.

Emissions from the gasifier stove are then estimated through carrying out emissions analysis and
in order to determine the integrity and durability of the stove, structural analysis is considered.

The tests as well as assumptions are then carried out to optimize the performance of the gasifier
biomass stove experimentally.

Conclusion

The design and analysis of the gasifier biomass stove has culminated in a pioneering cooking
solution, increased efficiency, safety and sustainability by carefully calibrating the gasifiers
intricacies, dynamics of combustion, the created stove mitigates environmental impacts and also
has the potential to revolutionize the lives of millions hence ushering in a new era of sustainable
cooking practices.

Project work plan

SN ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION TIMELINE

1. Project proposal 2 weeks
2. Literature review 3 weeks
3. Methodology 1 month
4. Project simulation 1 week
5. Prototyping 2 weeks
6. Project testing 1 week
7. Report writing 2 weeks

Project budget

s/n Amount
1. Combustion chamber
2. Fan (air supply system) Shs.90,000
3. Outer sheet of metal Shs.300,000
4. Hopper Shs.100,000
5. Ceramics
6. Transport Shs.100,000
7. Printing and binding Shs.45,000
8. Biomass pallets (waste) Shs.10,000 per kg
9. Labour Shs.600,000
10. Supports and hinges Shs.80,000
11. Welding process 400000

References
Bantu, A.A. et al. (2018) ‘Design of an Improved Cooking Stove Using High Density Heated
Rocks and Heat Retaining Techniques’, Journal of Renewable Energy, 2018, pp. 1–9. Available
at: https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/9620103.

Basu, P. (2010) ‘Design of Biomass Gasifiers’, in Biomass Gasification Design Handbook.

Elsevier, pp. 167–228. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-374988-8.00006-4.

Himanshu et al. (2022) ‘Performance assessment of an improved gasifier stove using biomass
pellets: An experimental and numerical investigation’, Sustainable Energy Technologies and
Assessments, 53, p. 102432. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2022.102432.

Liyanage, D. et al. (2021) ‘Design of a Biomass Micro Gasifier Cookstove by CFD Modelling’,
Engineer: Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka, 54(4), p. 15. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.4038/engineer.v54i4.7467.

Odesola, I.F., Ige, E.O. and Yunus, I.O. (2019) ‘Design and Performance Evaluation of Energy
Efficient Biomass Gasifier Cook Stove Using Multi Fuels’, Journal of Energy Research and
Reviews, pp. 1–7. Available at: https://doi.org/10.9734/jenrr/2019/v3i430103.

Ratchakawee, C. and Pintana, P. (2022) ‘A review of thermal efficiency and optimal design for
biomass gasifier-stove’, in. 3RD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ENERGY AND
POWER, ICEP2021, Chiang Mai, Thailand, p. 020029. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0116523.

Senthilkumar, V. and Prabhu, C. (2024) ‘Optimization of design and development of a biomass

gasifier – a review’, Biofuels, pp. 1–19. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1080/17597269.2024.2324569.

Vishvanath R. Solapure et al. (2017) ‘Design and Performance Analysis of Biomass Cook
Stove’, International Journal of Engineering Research and, V6(07), p. IJERTV6IS070191.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.17577/IJERTV6IS070191.