DETERMINATION OF THERMAL EFFICIENCY OF FOUR DIFFERENT WOOD SPECIES.

Abstract

This study aimed at assessing the thermal efficiency of four different woods. The thermal efficiency of wood was evaluated using the cooking test (CT) method. A measured quantity (kg) of water per boiled yam with one of the wood species. The procedure was repeated for the different wood species and an equal quantity of tap water were placed inside an aluminum pot and same gram of yam was used for the other three species. The moisture content of woods and thermal efficiencies were determined, and the results showed that, the thermal efficiency of prosopic Africana was found to be 4.70% the moisture content of 36%. The burn rate was 20.97 kg/min with fire power (W) of 19.70 W. The same parameters were obtained for the other three species (Azandiranchta indica, Bustropermumpadozum, Tamarindus Indica). The thermal efficiency 6.43% and moisture content was 53%. The burn rate 29.44 kg/min and fire power 14.74 W. while others, the thermal efficiency was 10.63% and moisture content 35%. the burn rate and fire power were 10.18 kg/min and 4.16 W. The thermal efficiency was 13.80% and moisture content 27%. The burn rate was 10.39 kg/min, fire power 3.55 W. The thermal efficiency for the four different species of wood was very low in general. Tamarindus Indica has the highest thermal efficiency of 13.80%, and then followed by Bustropermumpadozum 10.63%. Azandiranchta indica has a thermal efficiency of 6.43%, then prosopic Africana, with the least thermal efficiency of 4.70%. The thermal efficiency obtained in this study is less than the thermal efficiency obtained from the result of (Akpoortu et al.,2014), and this may be due to different method used in carrying-out experiment. They used a metal stove while ours was in an open place.