Design and Fabrication of a Rocket Stove Thermoelectric Generator

Abstract

Lack of clean cooking energy and electricity in rural communities of most developing countries continues to remain a challenge. In Nigeria, it is estimated that more than 128,000 people died in 2019 from indoor air pollution caused by greenhouse gas emissions since over 175 million people in rural communities use open fires for cooking. In 2021, it was reported that almost 86 million Nigerians had no access to electricity.  In this study, a rocket stove thermoelectric generator was designed, constructed, and tested to generate electricity and energy for cooking. The calorific value of wood was used to determine the heat generated during combustion. The stove was designed based on the combined principle of the J-type and L-type stove with a vertical section for feeding biomass and an oven to maximize the generated heat and a Platten for cooking pots. An SP1848 thermoelectric module having a maximum voltage output of 4.8 V and a heat resistance capacity of up to 150 0C to design the thermoelectric generator. 15 modules were used in total, three pairs of 5 were connected in series and then joined to each other in parallel to maximize output power to 48W. The thermoelectric generator was incorporated into the stove to convert excess heat to electricity generated in the combustion chamber to electricity. At an average temperature of 1200C, the thermoelectric generator produces a power of up to 48W with the help of a voltage regulator, which could be used to power light bulbs, charge phones and other household gadgets or stored in the lithium batteries provided.