Vyasji Mishra is 16 years old. He is an extremely talented student with a penchant for science. He developed a keen interest towards science and its various applications from his very early childhood and also has developed a number of products having a strong scientific basis. Besides he actively participates in various science competitions. He has also developed a model of a drip irrigation system, which got the first prize in a science exhibition in 2000.
He has displayed this stove in various science exhibitions. It also got coverage in the newspapers in February 2002. He was awarded the first prize for this innovation by the education Minister - Indrajit Kumar Patel at a Science exhibition held in 2003. With the attitude of a researcher, Vyasji is able to appreciate that his stove needs to be improved. He points out that as it uses water, after some time the burner becomes cold and stops and he talks of the need to think of some way in which it will work continuously on water without stopping unless switched off.
Mishra lives with his parents, his elder brother and a sister in Devsar, Madhya Pradesh. Presently he is studying in 11th Standard in Devsar. His father has done his B.A. and works as a clerk in the Devsar Tehsil Office. His elder brother Pawanji Mishra is a first year BCA student. The household income of his family is Rs.60000 per annum and comes solely from the income of his father. He admits the exigencies of reality: “I am a student, and my father is a clerk. Since our financial condition is weak I don’t have most of the required equipment with me.”
Genesis
His elder brother Pawanji Mishra developed a model of a similar kind of stove for a science fair in 2001-2002, which was not successful. In 2002-2003, there was a science exhibition held in his school, Utkrishta Vidyalaya, Sidhi in which there was a section called ‘Sources of Energy’ and Vyasji wanted to take part. Both the brothers together created the stove by joining two kerosene stoves together and using three regulators - one for the kerosene, one for the water and a third for switching the burner on and off. While developing this stove the major problem he faced was the control of oil and water flow, but he was able to rectify this to some extent by using three regulators. This device took approximately six months to conceive and manufacture.
Vyasji’s family gave him moral support throughout the course. He acknowledges that it is because of the constant encouragement and financial as well as technical support provided by his elder brother Pawanji, that he was ultimately able to successfully complete the innovation. Apart from them he didn’t receive any monetary support.
This is a hybrid stove powered by kerosene and steam. The stove has been prepared by joining two conventional ones and has two tanks, one burner and three regulators. The two tanks are filled with kerosene and water respectively. Both the tanks are connected to the common burner. A pump is provided with each tank for creating air pressure therein. Pipes are secured to the burner for conveying kerosene and water to the burner assembly.
First the kerosene filled tank is primed and deployed to light the stove for some time and make the burner red hot. Then the regulator of the kerosene tank is closed. Immediately the regulator of the water cylinder is opened, the water gets heated to produce steam which can be utilized for its heating properties. When the flame becomes dim, the water tank is closed and the kerosene section is lighted again till the burner becomes hot and the process is repeated.
Using the stove, kerosene consumption was claimed to be saved substantially. Less smoke is produced and it is therefor friendlier to the environment. It would cost around Rs. 600 in the market. But one has to observe the following precautions: when the water regulator is opened, the kerosene regulator must be shut. When filling the tanks special care should be taken to see that there is no dirt. This innovation is of great benefit to especially the poor who are the major consumers of kerosene. It also gains significance in the light of the increasing fuel prices. There is also potential for future applications of this concept in glass and toy factories, laboratories and small-scale establishments. However, much more research remains to be done. Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun had reservations about this concept but IIT Guwahati tried to optimize the working of the stove and found that it could save only about 20 per cent kerosene with proper calibration. NIF in coordination with the GIANs has sanctioned an amount of Rs. 37, 250 from its Micro Venture Innovation Fund for prototype development for market research of the water- kerosene stove and three other innovations.
Advantages
There is no such stove in the market, which uses the same principle. The only similar concept is the steam operated stove of Rajiv Agarwal. But on comparison it was found that both work on different principles. In the stove developed by Rajiv Agarwal, steam and air are used as a catalyst to enhance the heating process and steam and air are passed through red-hot carbon (heater burner) to form both water -and producer gas.
