Transient CFD simulations of a biomass plancha-type cookstove using free software

摘要

The thermal performance of a biomass cookstove is obtained experimentally with the international testing protocol called the water boiling test (WBT). In this work, a numerical methodology was developed to complement the design and evaluation processes. Transient state simulations for the transport phenomena in an Enerchia biomass plancha-type cookstove were conducted using the open-source software OpenFOAM v1812+. A combustion LES solver (fireFOAM) was used, applying initial and boundary conditions close to the ones found in the experiments. Results for the temperature field, fluid flow, and emissions of combustion gases are reported; in particular, heating curves of the comal were obtained, with an order of magnitude similar to those reported in the literature. Thermal and combustion efficiencies are in the range of 16 to 19 and 79 to 88, respectively. This methodology reproduces the temporal and spatial fine scales of the flow and gives an approach to the involved processes. Additionally, it opens the possibility for entities responsible for the development of this kind of device to have access to low-cost design and improvement tools.