Alcohol Stoves and Integrated Cooking Paul S Anderson

Alcohol Stoves and Integrated Cooking Paul S. Anderson, Ph. D psanders@ilstu. edu (A presentation at the PCIA 2007 Conference, 20 – 24 March 2007, Bangalore, India)

Integrated Cooking • Definition: When two or more different modes of cooking are used to complete one cooking task. • Modes of cooking include: – Flames for heat • (alcohol, LPG, kerosene, gases, biomass) – Solar energy for heat – Retained heat cooking (RHC) (“Haybox”) – Electricity for heat (uncommon because of high costs)

Notes on Integrated Cooking • Two or three modes must be present, therefore higher initial costs. • Savings must come in fuel or time. • Transition between modes is crucial and needs to be simple/easy/safe. • Best if minimum movement of the pot. • User awareness of integrated cooking is extremely low.

Mode 1: Flames for Heat • Flame control is a great advantage in integrated cooking. • Sometimes short-time, fast heat is needed. • Ability to ignite, extinguish, re-ignite, and control flame height gives control to user. • Therefore, the advantage goes to liquids and gaseous fuels, not to solid biomass fuels. • Alcohol is the only renewable liquid fuel of quality for cookstoves.

Alcohol as a Fuel • • Alcohol has virtually no bad emissions. No chimney or ventilation needed. Renewable and liquid. Ethanol or Methanol or mixed. Denatured (not for drinking); safe handling. A favorite fuel of backpackers. Fuel production costs per unit of energy are already competitive with processed fossil fuels like LPG and kerosene. • Widely available, but nationally controlled.

Types of Alcohol Stoves • Pressurized: Pump adds cost and maintenance; often includes stove structure/pot support. • Non-pressurized: – Dometic-style: Incl. stove structure – Fondue-style: No stove structure • Self-pressurized: Mainly very small, lightweight backpacker units with minimal stove structure. – Trangia: Brass – “Beverage-can” stove: Aluminum – The “Lily burner”: Steel (as in tin cans)

The “Lily Burner” The white Lily flower is a symbol of purity and is an appropriate name for a clean-burning alcohol stove. • A steel “tin-can” variation of the aluminum “beverage-can” alcohol burner. • Created in 2006. • Many variations in can sizes & number of flame holes.

Principles of Non-Pressurized Alcohol Burners • The burning flame causes the fuel canister to be warm for sufficient vaporization of the liquid alcohol. • The “top-to-bottom conduction” of heat is facilitated by aluminum, brass, and metalto-metal contact of stove parts. • The steel “tin-cans” of the Lily burner are poor conductors of heat, so vertical aluminum posts are added inside the cans.

Construction of a Lily Burner • Use two 3 -inch (7. 5 cm) food cans. • Fiberglass insulation keeps liquid from spilling out. • Bolt in top is for refilling. • Flame holes: variable number and size.

Stove Structures • Many designs of stove structures are compatible with the Lily burner. Prestige versions for affluent people are possible. • Mud or bricks plus steel rebar create a stove. • One burner under one pot is usually sufficient heat.

With tongs or holders, the user slides the needed number of burners under the application (shown is a griddle). The lower gap is important for ignition and intensity control using an ignition device.

Control of the Alcohol • Refilling is via pouring, pumping, or syringe for ejection. • The ignition device can be made from a spoon and ceramic fiber. • All construction is low cost, low tech, and long -lasting.

Mode 2: Solar Energy for Heat • The Hot. Pot (by SHE) is complete for solar cooking with reflector, glass bottom, inner black pot, & glass lid. • Or place the black pot and lid into a stove structure for an alcohol burner for morning, evening, or cloudy-day cooking.

Mode 3: Retained Heat Cooking • Remove or extinguish the alcohol burner, then wrap the entire stove structure and the Hot. Pot with insolating blankets. • Additional heat can be added (with care) at any time.

Alcohol as a “Thermal Booster” • Alcohol burners can be inserted into or under (with inlet hole) solar box-cookers. Allow adequate air during combustion, but otherwise the box can be kept closed. • Alcohol burners will self-extinguish when the fuel ends, so the fuel-load will determine the amount of extra heat. • The potential for alcohol stoves and integrated cooking is immense, with ZERO harmful emissions!!! • Participation by others is most welcome!!!

References • Find out more about “beverage can stoves” at: – http: //wikipedia. org/wiki/Beverage_can_stove – http: //zenstoves. net

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