Alcohol Stoves and Integrated Cooking Paul S. Anderson, PhD (A presentation at the PCIA 2007 Conference, 20 – 24 March 2007, Bangalore, India)

Integrated Cooking Definition: When two or more different modes of cooking are used to complete one cooking task. Modes of cooking include: –Flames for heat (alcohol, LPG, kerosene, gases, biomass) –Solar energy for heat –Retained heat cooking (RHC) (Haybox) –Electricity for heat (uncommon because of high costs)

Notes on Integrated Cooking Two or three modes must be present, therefore higher initial costs. Savings must come in fuel or time. Transition between modes is crucial and needs to be simple/easy/safe. Best if minimum movement of the pot. User awareness of integrated cooking is extremely low.

Mode 1: Flames for Heat Flame control is a great advantage in integrated cooking. Sometimes short-time, fast heat is needed. Ability to ignite, extinguish, re-ignite, and control flame height gives control to user. Therefore, the advantage goes to liquids and gaseous fuels, not to solid biomass fuels. Alcohol is the only renewable liquid fuel of quality for cookstoves.

Alcohol as a Fuel Alcohol has virtually no bad emissions. No chimney or ventilation needed. Renewable and liquid. Ethanol or Methanol or mixed. Denatured (not for drinking); safe handling. A favorite fuel of backpackers. Fuel production costs per unit of energy are already competitive with processed fossil fuels like LPG and kerosene. Widely available, but nationally controlled.

Types of Alcohol Stoves Pressurized: Pump adds cost and maintenance; often includes stove structure/pot support. Non-pressurized: –Dometic-style: Incl. stove structure –Fondue-style: No stove structure Self-pressurized: Mainly very small, lightweight backpacker units with minimal stove structure. –Trangia: Brass –Beverage-can stove: Aluminum –The Lily burner: Steel (as in tin cans)

The Lily Burner The white Lily flower is a symbol of purity and is an appropriate name for a clean-burning alcohol stove. A steel tin-can variation of the aluminum beverage-can alcohol burner. Created in Many variations in can sizes & number of flame holes.

Principles of Non-Pressurized Alcohol Burners The burning flame causes the fuel canister to be warm for sufficient vaporization of the liquid alcohol. The top-to-bottom conduction of heat is facilitated by aluminum, brass, and metal- to-metal contact of stove parts. The steel tin-cans of the Lily burner are poor conductors of heat, so vertical aluminum posts are added inside the cans.

Construction of a Lily Burner Use two 3-inch (7.5 cm) food cans. Fiberglass insulation keeps liquid from spilling out. Bolt in top is for refilling. Flame holes: variable number and size.

Stove Structures Many designs of stove structures are compatible with the Lily burner. Prestige versions for affluent people are possible. Mud or bricks plus steel rebar create a stove. One burner under one pot is usually sufficient heat.

With tongs or holders, the user slides the needed number of burners under the application (shown is a griddle). The lower gap is important for ignition and intensity control using an ignition device.

Control of the Alcohol Refilling is via pouring, pumping, or syringe for ejection. The ignition device can be made from a spoon and ceramic fiber. All construction is low cost, low tech, and long-lasting.

Mode 2: Solar Energy for Heat The HotPot (by SHE) is complete for solar cooking with reflector, glass bottom, inner black pot, & glass lid. Or place the black pot and lid into a stove structure for an alcohol burner for morning, evening, or cloudy-day cooking.

Mode 3: Retained Heat Cooking Remove or extinguish the alcohol burner, then wrap the entire stove structure and the HotPot with insolating blankets. Additional heat can be added (with care) at any time.

Alcohol as a Thermal Booster Alcohol burners can be inserted into or under (with inlet hole) solar box-cookers. Allow adequate air during combustion, but otherwise the box can be kept closed. Alcohol burners will self-extinguish when the fuel ends, so the fuel-load will determine the amount of extra heat. The potential for alcohol stoves and integrated cooking is immense, with ZERO harmful emissions!!! Participation by others is most welcome!!!

References Find out more about beverage can stoves at: – –

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