Rice Husk Stove
Introduction
A large portion of biomass produced in the rice growing regions is used as fuel for many purposes including cooking. The rice husk and chaff which are the products available from rice mills can also be utilised as fuel in case the rural people are provided with a proper stove. In this direction, the Division of Agricultural Engineering of CRRI has developed rice husk stove to meet the needs of rural households.
The principle and design
The rice husk stove works on the principle of gasification of the husk. The temperature of the husk is increased resulting in production of volatile gases, which are burnt to produce heat. The stove consists of a conical hopper, with a diameter of 37 cm at the top. The base of the hopper is cylindrical, and made from perforated sheet with 6 mm holes. The diameter of the perforated cylinder at the base is 25 cm. There is an inner cylinder of 9 cm diameter made of perforated sheet and is mounted at the center of the hopper of the stove. The bottom of the stove is provided with a gratet made from perforated sheet and is suspended to act as ash port for removal of burnt husk and ash. The stove is mounted on the stand. On the top of combustion chamber, a grill is provided to hold the pot for heating or cooking.
Working procedure
The rice husk stove works on the principle of gasification of the husk. The temperature of the husk is increased resulting in production of volatile gases, which are burnt to produce heat.
The husk is filled in the stove from the top in the hopper and the space between the cylinders is filled up with the husk. The quantity of husk to be filled is approximately 1 kg, but more can be added as required from the top in case the stove has to be operated for more than 40 minutes. The stove is fired from the top by inserting a lighted cotton waste (dipped in kerosene) inside the combustion chamber. After the husk gets heated, the combustible gases come out of perforations on the inner surface and the flame rises to the top. The stove continues to burn till the volatile matter is gasified and burns. This is indicated by observing the black color of husk coming out at the ash port. When the flame intensity gets reduced, the grate is to be tapped. The ash falls down and fresh material (husk) is charged and the stove continues burning.
Application
This unit is used to cook/heat using rice husk. Risk invloved in adopting the technology is minimum. Sustainability rating of this technology is very high; it uses the available rice husk in the rural places. The cost of the stove is Rs. 250/-. It is a low cost technology with possible high benefits. These units are custom-made and can be fabricated by small scale industry.
Machine Parameters |
|
| Unit cost of the stove | 250.00 |
| Useful life of the stove | 05 years |
| Cost of the stove/year (20% of fixed cost) | 50.00 |
| Cost of stove/day | 14 paise |
Operational Parameters |
|
| Burning of husk in 1hr for stove | 2 kg |
| Burning of husk as fuel for 4 hrs (day) in CRRI husk stove | 8 kg |
| Saving in fuel | 04 kg of husk |
| Cost of fuel (husk) | 0.5/kg |
Cost Benefit |
|
| Burning of husk in traditional method per day | 12 kg |
| Saving fuel/day | 2.00 |
| Net saving benefit/day | 1.86 |
| Pay back period of the stove | 135 days |
Advantages
- Boon to rural people for boiling of water, cooking of rice etc.
- Trouble free
- Produce less smoke.
- Gives a clean atmosphere.
- Saving of fuel worth to some extent.
For further information please contact
Central Rice Research Institute, ICAR
Cuttack (Orissa) 753006, India
Gram: RICE, CUTTACK,
Tel: 91-0671-2367768-83
Fax: 91-0671-2367663,
E-mail: crrictc@ori.nic.in
Website: crri.nic.in
