Framework of the Study

The design, construction and performance of power generating local charcoal-

cooking stove using thermoelectric power generators are the conceptual response of the

researcher to the one of the objectives of the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, otherwise

known as RA 9513. The said Act encourages the exploration and development of

renewable energy sources which can lessen the consumption of fossil fuels and to achieve

energy self- reliance. To help promote in governments’ advocacy of the preservation of

natural resources, and provide additional source for economic stability through RA 9513,

the researchers came up with the idea to conduct research on charcoal-cooking stove

using thermoelectric power generator because of its low cost materials and reduction of

electric consumption and usage of fossil fuels. Moreover, the continuous price hike of

electricity has made them think on a better alternative source of electricity

(http://www.cenergy.ph/downloads/RA_9513.pdf)

Biomass is energy derived from vegetative matter — plants, considered with

biogas as biofuels or bioenergy. Globally, bioenergy for electricity generation has

reached an installed capacity of 35GW. The US alone has 500 biomass-powered power

plants with an installed capacity of 7GW (IEA, 2010) (Source: Climate change, disasters

and electricity generation. By Dr. Frauke Urban and Dr. Tom Mitchell Strengthening

Climate Resilience Discussion Paper 8).

It is such a widely utilized source of energy, probably due to its low cost and

indigenous nature, that it accounts for almost 15% of the world's total energy supply and

as much as 35% in developing countries, mostly for cooking and heating.( Biomass

accounts for over 10% of global primary energy supply and is the world’s fourth largest
source of energy (following oil, coal, and natural gas). Source: Renewables 2013, Global

Status Report)

Biomass accounts for over 10% of global primary energy supply and is the

world’s fourth largest source of energy (following oil, coal, and natural gas). Source:

Renewables 2013, Global Status Report

It can be converted into electric power through several methods. The most

common is direct combustion of biomass material, such as agricultural waste or woody

materials. Other options include gasification, pyrolysis, and anaerobic digestion.

In fact today; electricity is an essential part of our daily lives. It is use for almost

everything we do, whether it's turning on the lights in houses, running electric vehicles,

and cooking in stoves. Based on the results of the 2011 Household Energy Consumption

Survey (HECS), electricity remains as the most common source of energy used by

households in the Philippines. About 87 percent of 21.0 million households used

electricity from March to August 2011. The other sources used by a significant

proportion of households include fuelwood, charcoal, LPG and kerosene with at least

one-third of the total households using any of these types of fuel in 2011

(https://psa.gov.ph/content/electricity-most-common-source-energy-used-households).

The material used have different function to be able to produce an

electricity. First, the thermoelectric power generator (TEG) is a device that convert heat

(temperature differences) into electricity. It is used in utilizing one or more

thermoelectric models as the primary component/s, followed by a cooling system that can

be either passive or active. Such as an open air heat sink, fan cooled heat sink, or fluid

cooled.
 When heat is applied to the hot side of a TEG, electricity is produced. Almost any

heat source can be used to generate electricity, such as solar heat and geothermal heat. In

addition the efficiency of any device or machine that generates heat as a by-product can

be drastically improved by recovering the energy lost as heat.

Thermoelectric generators can provide supplemental electricity for home owners

who use wood/biofuel furnaces or stoves.

For cooking, fuelwood was most commonly used by more than half of households

in the country (54% of the total households in 2011 and 55% in 2004). Next to fuelwood

were LPG (41% of households in 2011), charcoal (35%) and biomass residues (20%)

In 2011, fuelwood was also most commonly used for heating water for bathing

(20% of the total households). About one in ten of households used charcoal (11%) for

heating water. Six percent used biomass residues for the same purpose

(https://psa.gov.ph/content/electricity-most-common-source-energy-used-households).

The researchers are motivated to conduct research study in their specialization,

with the aim to design and to construct a local charcoal-cooking stove using

thermoelectric power generator in response to the need of more resourceful and energy

saving product.