Center for Sustainable Environmental Technologies

Iowa State University was part of a team that demonstrated the production of cooking gas from biomass in China.  The atmospheric pressure, bubbling fluidized bed gasifier commissioned in 2000 converted peanut hulls into cooking gas for up to 200 households in Leizhuang Village near Nanyang City in the province of Henan. 

The cooking gas replaced corncobs as the primary fuel source for the village.  Homeowners paid $300 RMB ($37.50 U.S.) for the installation of a gas flow meter and a two-burner stove in their kitchens.  The cost of gas was about $0.20 RMB ($0.025 U.S.) per cubic meter with the typical family consuming 1-2 m3 to prepare a meal. 

Chinese participants included the Henan Science and Technology Commission, Nanyang Local Agenda 21 Office, the Henan Academy of Sciences, and Guanghui Machine Manufacturing Company. ISU faculty included Dr. Robert C. Brown and Dr. Bing-Lin Young. 

To view the article, "Development of a Fluidized Bed Gasifier System for Cooking Gas in Rural China", click here.