The new stove designed by amateur inventor Bui Trong Tuan in Phu Tho is considered an innovative solution that is both cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
The journalistic work “Smokeless Straw Stove” produced by the Science Department of Vietnam Television won 1 of 2 first prizes at the 2012 Science and Technology Journalism Awards, out of a total of 21 awards selected from 591 entries.
This 9-minute documentary film introduces the gasification stove, an eco-friendly and economical product created by amateur inventor Bui Trong Tuan from Viet Tri City, Phu Tho Province.
According to the film’s creator, this new type of stove uses agricultural waste as fuel, such as straw, stalks, sawdust, sugarcane residue, and corn husks. When burned, it produces no soot and generates flames as strong as those from gas or infrared stoves.
A homemaker operating the smokeless straw stove.
This product is particularly suitable for the cooking needs of households and small production facilities in rural areas where continuous cooking is required, especially given the high cost of using gas stoves (according to VTV2/VTV).
In terms of technology, the inventor explains that the gasification stove is produced based on aerodynamic principles, transferring heat by utilizing complete mixing between air and water vapor, which prevents the formation of tar and prolongs combustion time without producing ash and soot. With a closed-loop technique that compresses the flame, it increases thermal radiation and maximizes thermal efficiency for complete and high-yield combustion.
The gasification stove consists of several components: a fuel container, a gas generation chamber, direct combustion unit, a filtration system, pipes, and the stove itself. The fuel container is made of steel, with a specialized fire-resistant lining. The materials are fed into a gasification chamber with a volume of 0.3 cubic meters.
After applying heat through desorption and oxidation reactions, combustible gas is generated with the assistance of nitrogen and oxygen. The stove is capable of igniting the input fuel and producing gases such as CO (carbon dioxide), CH4 (methane), H (hydrogen), and CH3CH3 (ethane).
All of these exhaust gases are automatically collected into a separation system through several steps: a device that removes tar, smoke, ash, and water vapor, resulting in clean combustible gas that then travels through gas pipes to the stove surface and converts into infrared thermal radiation.
Infrared radiation inherently possesses an energy source that does not require air for extraction; it has strong penetrating power, significantly increasing temperature and enhancing energy conversion efficiency multiple times compared to direct fuel burning.
Using the stove is also very simple. The user places fuel into the gasification chamber and closes the lid. They then open the valves according to instructions and ignite it (similar to a gas stove). The cooking flame can be adjusted by controlling the fan speed or adjusting the stove’s valve.
In practice, using 2 kg of fuel allows for approximately 3 hours of burning; 10 kg of fuel can be ignited once, and after use, the fan is turned off, the valve is closed, and it can be used for the next 7 days. Typically, fuel is replenished every 2 to 3 days, and ash is removed every 5 to 7 days. A normal household only needs 2 to 3 kg of fuel to meet daily needs, saving over 70% compared to traditional stoves (according to the energy-saving network).
If 2 kg of fuel can burn for about 3 hours; 10 kg of fuel can be ignited once, and after use, the fan is turned off, the valve is closed, and it can be used for the next 7 days. Typically, fuel is replenished every 2 to 3 days, and ash is removed every 5 to 7 days.
The scientific and technological initiative of inventor Bui Trong Tuan has been registered for exclusive patent protection at the Intellectual Property Office, under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
