A three-dimensional CFD study evaluates 13 annular-fin configurations in a flat-bottom biomass cookstove, balancing pot heat transfer against pressure drop. A single fin near the hot-gas inlet achieved the highest modeled thermal performance factor of 1.138 and 14.1% greater heat transfer.
Key findings
- Outlet-temperature error was 2.21%, but interior discrepancies were 16-28%. Moderate fin height was optimal, three tiers gave TPF 1.118, and one inlet-near fin gave TPF 1.138, 14.1% greater heat transfer, and a 0.68% pressure-drop penalty. Position was most influential in the tested set.
Why this matters globally
If experimentally confirmed, a low-cost welded fin could retrofit biomass stoves to save fuel and time. Smoke, combustion quality, and exposure must be measured alongside efficiency.
Thai researcher contribution
The Nakhon Phanom University team translated an industrial annular-fin concept into a community-energy cookstove problem and calibrated the model against measured temperatures.
Limitations to consider
The steady-state model uses a uniform inlet linked to substantial interior error. One-factor-at-a-time misses interactions, and water-boiling/cooking tests, fuel variability, soot, durability, safety, and emissions are absent. Modeled heat-transfer gain is not field thermal efficiency.