Senior Design
Rocket Stove and Thermoelectric Generator
Team Lead
2016-2017
Overview
As rocket stove team lead of my senior design project, I oversaw the project scope, delegation of work, and presentation of results. Furthermore, I coordinated the design and experimentation of an optimized rocket stove that maximized Venturi and gasification effects. Additionally, I helped ensure the successful integration of a system that safely converted heat energy to electrical power for charging a phone.
Rocket Stove
Goal:
Design and construct an optimized rocket stove utilizing gasification
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Gasification: superheated, compressed smoke injected with air resulting in a secondary combustion
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Provides a hotter, cleaner fuel burn
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Improves efficiency by reducing fuel consumption
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Similar principle to jet afterburners and biomass power plants
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Design
Gasification Tube
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Intake hot, rising air through vertical, steel tube
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Air injected through holes causing smoke to ignite
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Adjustable injection height and mass flow rate to optimize gasification
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Design
Constructed Rocket Stove
Gasification Result
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Results
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Increased efficiency by 10% (Measured fuel input with digital scale)
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Increased heat output by 50% (Measured exhaust temperature with thermocouples)
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Thermoelectric Generator Regulatory System
Goal:
Design and construct a method to safely harness exhaust heat from rocket stove and convert to electrical energy
Thermoelectric Generator (TEG)
Seebeck Effect: Voltage generated from a temperature differential
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Heat rejected through a cold water reservoir
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Heat applied through regulated exhaust heat (Avoid overheating electronics)
Constructed TEG
Regulatory System
TEG Heat Applied Regulator Design
The applied heat was regulated by a pipe with bi-metallic stips controlling rotating flap.
Results
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Obtained 2 Watt continuous charging on a phone
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Successfully regulated temperature from exhaust heat
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Potential for increase in electrical output by cycling water through reservoir