Design Optimization of an Improved Mud Cookstove Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

The present study focuses on optimizing the design and performance of natural draft mud-based cookstove (MBC) using the CFD tool ANSYS Fluent. The study simulates the performance of the MBC over different levels of three key factors, i.e. grate height, pot gap, and secondary hole diameter, against the targeted response parameters, which include average flame temperature, thermal efficiency, and combustion efficiency. Two-dimensional (2D) simulations of a real-world prototype of MBC were performed using ANSYS Fluent, solving governing equations for mass, momentum, energy, and species transport throughout the computational domain and employing a pseudo-transient accelerated solver approach to achieve a steady state. Grid independence was established to ensure reliable simulation results. It was observed that an optimized response was obtained at the grate height of 30 mm, pot gap of 30 mm, and secondary hole diameter of 8 mm, wherein the average flame temperature of 887 K, thermal efficiency of 27.64%, and a modified combustion efficiency of 98.97% was observed. The achieved thermal efficiency complied with the BIS IS 13,152:2013 standard for natural draft cookstoves, classifying it as a Tier 2 cookstove according to the performance targets outlined in ISO/TR 19,867-3:2018. The combustion efficiency exceeded 0.97, indicating pure flaming combustion. A full-scale field prototype was fabricated and successfully validated through laboratory and field experiments.