Development of a woodshaving stove

Abstract

1.35 metre diameter prototype woodshaving stove which employs natural draught for combustion control has been developed at the Pilot Plant Complex of the Food Research Institute (FRI) to service a 1.2 metre diameter multipurpose roasting vessel. The stove uses waste products such as woodshavings, combination of woodshavings with sawdust, rice husk, dried leaves, etc. as its fuel and can serve both domestic and industrial purposes. Its fuel consumption is 23 kg of woodshavings per hour when full loading method of operation is used and 18 kg of woodshavings per hour for gradual loading method operation. The stove`s size is dictated by the diameter of the serviced vessel and its output can be varied and controlled to give the needed heat energy. Even though the heat energy generated by the the prototype stove is not distributed uniformly at the vessel base, it is capable of providing heat energy to roast 90 kg of cowpea, 110 kg of groundnut and 100 kg of maize per hour respectively. The cost of materials for the construction of the stove amounts to ¢ 25,000.00 and fuel cost of operating with gradual loading of the stove is ¢ 50.00 per hour