Centre for Energy Technology

An investigation of biochar-producing cooking stoves for use in developing countries

Josh Wilkey, Matthew Higgins, Gregory MacFarlane, Matthew Read, Tomas West Project supervisors: Dr Paul Medwell, Dr Cristian Birzer

Delivering innovative technologies for a clean energy future

Life Impact | The University of Adelaide

Centre for Energy Technology

TRADITIONAL COOKING STOVES

Three stone fire

Mud-stove

(http://tzpartners.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/img_5189.jpg)

2,600,000,000 people use biomass for daily cooking needs

1,600,000 deaths per year from traditional stove pollution

Slide 1 Life Impact | The University of Adelaide

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COOKING STOVES IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD

StoveTecs wood burning rocket stove

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OOlW1cKA6k/SoMFoM2M60I/AAAAAAAACiI/do02ySfjf78/s 400/rockettec.jpg)

Envirofits wood burning rocket stove

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cwTfJf3b8iM/TTZ51AVli2I/ AAAAAAAAArc/3uymljuKkAo/s1600/jivanjyoti.JPG)

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Life Impact | The University of Adelaide

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RUPANDEHI DISTRICT NEPALESE TERAI

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COOKING PRACTICES IN THE NEPALESE TERAI

Unsustainable harvesting of wood fuel now using buffalo dung Existing mud-stove structures very inefficient and polluting

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TOP-LIT UPDRAFT MICROGASIFIERS (TLUDs)

Champion TLUD
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TLUD operation
Life Impact | The University of Adelaide

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CLEAN COMBUSTION

Adapted from HERA GIZ Manual Micro-gasification Version 1.0 January 2011, p. 20

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ALTERNATIVE FUEL TYPES

Can use non-wood fuels such as agricultural residues and animal dung reduced pressure on limited wood resources

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BIOCHAR PRODUCTION
Can produce biochar

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What is biochar?
Charcoal that is produced to be buried in the soil. Made by heating organic materials in a low oxygen environment to release volatile gases pyrolysis.

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SOIL BENEFITS

Increased moisture retention Reduced nutrient leaching Increased microbial activity

Increased soil carbon

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ATMOSPHERIC BENEFITS

Carbon capture and storage Reduced emissions of GHG from soil Carbon negative energy

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ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO THE NEPALESE

Increased agricultural yields Reduced need to purchase fertiliser can use dung biochar Increased soil carbon potential to earn Carbon Credits

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FIELD TRIAL OF TLUD STOVES

Positive user feedback Wood pellet fuel used

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PRELIMINARY RESULTS
Successfully tested Champion TLUD design with wood pellets, nut shells and cow manure Built and tested TLUDs made from old cooking oil containers and paint tins

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Life Impact | The University of Adelaide

Centre for Energy Technology

PRELIMINARY RESULTS
Champion TLUD with dung 4 L boiled after 30 minutes 1 kg of fuel used 30% yield of biochar

Three Stone Fire with dung Only reached 96 degrees C 2 kg of fuel used

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ADSORPTION CAPACITY
10% Minimum CC#10

Adsorption of R134a - wt %

Maximum CC#14 TLUD stove cow dung biochar

1%

Range of commercial cooking fuel biochars

0%
100 140 180 220 260 300

Temperature - Celsius Source: Dr Hugh McLaughlin, Alterna Biocarbon Inc.

Slide 16 Life Impact | The University of Adelaide

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CURRENT WORK
Construction of dung press to increase fuel density Test different sized stoves and alter primary and secondary air flow rates

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CONCLUSION
Biochar producing cooking stoves ideal for use in the Nepalese Terai
Clean emissions even when using dung fuel

Fuel preparation is important to increase fuel density

Minimising costs by using oil containers and paint tins crucial

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

DR PAUL ANDERSON Biomass Energy Foundation

DR HUGH MCLAUGHLIN Alterna Biocarbon Inc

DR RON SMERNIK The University of Adelaide

DR MICHAEL RIESE The University of Adelaide

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PROJECT SUPPORTERS

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QUESTIONS?

For project video blogs visit www.makeitso.org.au/year-of-humanitarian-engineering/

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Making dung cakes

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Life Impact | The University of Adelaide