TLUD Champion

Product Description

The TLUD Champion is a batch-loading, top-lit updraft stove originally designed in 2005 by Dr. Paul Anderson. Due to open source design and ease of local manufacturing, different versions of the TLUD champion are used in several countries. Four versions detailed by Dr. Anderson include a refugee stove which can be constructed using minimal tools and recycled materials found in refugee camps. The TLUD Champion can be scaled up based on demand and can operate with a variety of dry, solid biomass. In addition to cooking, the stove produces charcoal (biochar) as a byproduct and can create an economic opportunity for the user. TLUD Champion charcoal buyback programs have been successful in India.

Introduction video about the TLUD champion is available.

Market Suggested Retail Price

$160.00

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

SeaChar and Atmosfair.

Manufacturing/Building Method

An overview of manufacturing and building methods can be found in Dr. Anderson's construction plans.

Intellectural Property Type

Open Source

User Provision Model

Users could obtain a stainless steel version of the TLUD Champion from Servals (for 2018, discontinued) or SeaChar. Users can also self-construct the stove following the open source construction guide and fabricate the stove with minimal tools and local recycled materials.

Distributions to Date Status

As of 2014, over 16,000 TLUD Champions have been distributed through a gold standard carbon offset program by Atmosfair in India.

Design Specifications

Design specifications include a cone-shaped controller for regulation of primary air, a riser that provides draft and directs flame to the pot, protects against wind and provides space for complete combustion; double-walled fuel canisters, second fuel canister available to extend cooking time once the first fuel load is finished; removable concentrator lid, tripod stand with pot rests and telescopic riser that can slide down and couple with the concentrator lid. The height of the stove is 280 mm and width 200 mm. The fuel container weighs 1.6 kgs. TLUD stoves can accept a variety of dry, woody biomass as fuel. See the GIZ 2013 publication on Micro-gasification for a thorough analysis of appropriate fuels. Full design specifications can be found in this video.

Technical Support

Full instructions on how to construct the stove here and instructional video also available.

Replacement Components

Not specified. The inner fuel cylinder can be replaced as needed by the user.

Lifecycle

Unknown.

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

According to Servals:

Award-winner: recognized as a "carbon neutral" initiative, charcoal is taken out of the stove and used as a soil conditioner, carbon is removed from the atmosphere and deposited in the soil.
It saves from 50% to 75% of fuel.
It accepts dry biomass waste.
Its thermal efficiency is 39% (compared to the 9% efficiency of the three-stone stove)
Makes charcoal

Vetted Performance Status

From the GIZ 2013 publication on Micro-Gasification:

Burn time for one batch of fuel depending on the type of fuel: over 75 minutes on 1,000 g of wood pellets or 45 minutes on 600 g of wood chips. It boiled 5 l of water without a pot-lid from 11°C in 19 minutes with 384 g of wood pellets or in 20 minutes with 368 g of wood chips at the Aprovecho Research Institute in February 2010.

In an effort to standardize cookstove performance an International Workshop Agreement (IWA) was established in 2012. The IWA created tiers of cookstove performance in order to communicate technical information more easily to the government, donors, investors, and consumers when making decisions. However, many manufacturers have not tested stoves using the newly adopted IWA performance metrics. See the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves for more information. The full IWA document can be viewed here.

Safety

Not specified. Wooden handles are featured on both the fuel canister and concentrator lid to prevent user contact with heated materials. Standard precautions should be exercised when handling any heated cooking device.

Complementary Technical Systems

An optional external fan can be used to turn the Champion into a forced-air gasifier. Optional charcoal burning accessory can be added for simmering with the created char.

Academic Research and References

Ariho, D., et al (2010) Evaluation of the energy efficiencies of commonly available biomass fuels in Uganda in a “Champion-2008” Top Lit Updraft gasifier stove. Centre for Research in Energy and Energy Conservation, Faculty of Technology, Makerere University, P.O Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.

Birzer, C., et al (2013). An analysis of combustion from a top-lit up-draft (TLUD) cookstove. Journal of Humanitarian Engineering, 2013; 2(1):1-7.

Andreatta, D (2007). A report on some experiments with the Top-Lit Up Draft (TLUD) Stove. January 23.

Anderson, P (2016). Origins, History, and Future of TLUD Micro-gasification and Cookstove Advancement. Version 2.0.

Compliance with regulations