Waste heat recovery from improved cookstove through thermoelectric generator

An improved, family-sized biomass cookstove was designed with a thermoelectric generator (TEG). The main objective of coupling the cookstove to the TEG was to produce electricity by utilising the waste heat emitted from the outer body and grate of the cookstove. A rectangular metal plate of 0.12 x 0.08 m(2) was used to hold five TEG modules in series. The plate was coupled with the outer body of the cookstove to collect waste heat from conduction losses. A L-shaped extension strip of length 0.11 m was extended from the metal strip to collect the waste heat from the grate. The power produced from the TEG was used to power a small fan (0.16 A, 12 Volt DC) which supplied primary and secondary air for fuel combustion. The cookstove was tested for power production with a multi-fuel option in the dual draft air supply mode. The average power output from the TEG tested in forced convention mode with Desi babul (Acacia nilotica) wood and Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) shell pellet was 2.3 and 2.6 W, respectively. It was observed that the produced power was enough to operate the fan in forced draft air supply mode.