Improving Biomass Cook Stoves

The ARC staff specializes in improving stove performance. Over 100 stove projects around the world are disseminating stoves designed with help from ARC. Dr. Winiarski, Technical Director, invented the Rocket stove in 1982. Emissions and fuel use in a most stoves can be dramatically improved in about four weeks. We can help to design and manufacture the stove, making sure that the stove pleases cooks and meets the expectations of funders. ARC can assist with project set up and maturation, as well.

If your organization is thinking about a stove project, ARC can help with the initial planning and provide expertise as the project moves forward. Our staff will work side by side with you making sure that the project is strengthened at every step.

ARC was funded by the US Department of Energy (2013-2015) to create Tier 4 stoves and we have learned a lot about moving all types of stoves up the performance ladder. The work resulted in a book, and work with Intellectual Ventures continued the effort and resulted in the Jet-Flame. ASAT Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of ARC, received funding from the US Environmental Protection Agency (2017-2020) to create a heating/cooking/power generation stove. Through that effort it created a 20 W air cooled TEG system for a 10 kW stove, and used an electrostatic precipitator to take second place for PM2.5 emissions in the 2018 Wood Stove Design Challenge.

Aprovecho invented the emissions hood system to quantify stove performance. The iteration and modeling process is followed until performance goals (lowest fuel use, emissions, market viability, improved safety) are achieved. The in-field process begins with detailed questionnaires to understand consumer requirements. ARC stove experts are available for site visits to assist with user suitability, manufacturing, distribution, and retail sales.

ARC uses the Water Boiling Test or the Controlled Cooking Test to evaluate successive stove iterations. The lab staff or local cooks operate the stoves using techniques following the regional practice. It saves time and money to evolve a stove in the field using the CCT where local cooks do the cooking and help to invent their own cooking solutions. Stoves can also be optimized in the Oregon lab by using local pots, cooking practices, wood, etc. The stove is then evaluated in field tests.