Optimizing Air Passage Hole Distribution in Used Oil Stoves: Enhancing Thermal Efficiency and Reducing Emissions for Sustainable Cooking Solutions

Abstract

The increasing demand for alternative energy sources has heightened interest in utilizing waste oil as a fuel for cooking stoves, due to its potential to enhance energy sustainability and reduce environmental pollution. This study systematically investigates the impact of air hole distribution on the burner performance of stoves fueled by waste oil. The primary objective is to optimize burner design to improve thermal efficiency and minimize harmful emissions. Using the boiling water method, various air hole configurations were tested. The air hole distributions on the burner's top cover, upper side, and lower side were varied as follows: 4-7-7, 6-6-6, 8-5-5, and 10-4-4. The results demonstrated that the 6-6-6 configuration achieved the best performance, with the highest thermal efficiency of 55.52%, the fastest boiling time of 14.5 minutes, a maximum flame temperature of 1077°C, and a minimum temperature of 397°C. Exhaust emission tests similarly indicated that the 6-6-6 configuration yielded the most complete combustion, with the lowest CO concentration (1.72%), the lowest HC concentration (27.82 ppm), and the highest CO2 concentration (10.18%). These findings highlight that optimal air–fuel mixing significantly enhances thermal efficiency and combustion performance.

Keywords: Used oil, Cooking stoves, Air passage distribution, Performance, Exhaust emissions