Transcript Background and Problem Definition M-6 Improved Cook Stoves for Haiti Using Thermoelectrics to Reduce Deforestation and Improve Quality of Life Rochester Institute of Technology Salinla.

Background and Problem Definition
M-6
Improved Cook Stoves for Haiti Using Thermoelectrics to Reduce
Deforestation and Improve Quality of Life
Rochester Institute of Technology
Salinla Chaijaroonrat, Chris Goulet, Matthew Labrie, Christopher Brol, Aaron Dibble, Ian Donahue, Kevin Molocznik, Neal McKimpson, Young Jo Fontaine, Shawn Hoskins, Dan Scannell, Dan Higgins, and Luke Poandl
Abstract
Purpose, Objective, Scope
According to the World Health Organization, more than 3 billion people depend on
biomass for cooking, which has led to the decimation of many ecosystems, requires an
enormous amount of human effort to gather, and creates considerable health problems
that continue to plague the world’s poorest populations[1]. These problems are no
more apparent than in Haiti, the poorest
country in the Western Hemisphere. To
minimize the harmful effects associated with
cooking, a Rochester Institute of Technology
(RIT) multidisciplinary team in partnership
with a Haitian NGO is designing, building,
and testing more efficient, cleaner, and
socially acceptable cook stoves. The
improved stoves will significantly reduce the
need for biomass and reduce the alarming
rate of deforestation and the time and
financial resources spent on fuel in Haiti.
The purpose of the stove project is to build on recent stove advancements to develop
an improved stove for Haiti and other developing nations with the goals of:
1) reducing fuel use by a factor of two or greater in order to turn the tide on
deforestation and diminish the time and limited financial resources spent on fuel;
2) improving the affordability of cooking for Haitian families and vendors;
3) creating microenterprises for assembling the advanced stoves to generate wealth
and develop local expertise for maintaining the stoves in order to improve chances
of sustained stove adoption;
4) implementing a design that is intuitive, transportable, and enhances conventional
cooking techniques for traditional foods;
5) providing an electrical power source to operate auxiliary loads such as radio,
lighting, charge cell phone batteries, and small UV water treatment technologies;
6) improving the air quality for women and children; and
7) minimizing the negative impact on the local and global environment by
incorporating a life cycle analysis in the design process.
Background and Problem Definition
• More than 75% of energy consumed in Haiti is for cooking with biomass[2].
• Haiti which was once covered with a lush forest now stands with less than 4% of
forested land.
• Haiti has a hurricane associated death rate more than 3 times that of any other
country in the Caribbean. These deaths are caused by mudslides and flooding which
are directly related to the deforestation problem [3-5].
• Over 1.5 million deaths per year worldwide are attributed to poor indoor air quality
from the use of traditional fuels, the second largest killer after diarrhea by
environmental factors of children in the
developing regions of the world [1,7].
• Current stove use in Haiti consists of
three stone fire or semi-open stoves
which results in poor combustion and
low efficiencies.
EPA’s
COMPONENTS OF A FORCED-AIR GASIFIER:
• Combustion Unit: fuel chamber containing fuel and combustion; outer cylinder
allows for air control
• Air Induction: stove has side-mounted forced air induction to better utilize
capabilities of the TEG unit
• Fan: provides forced air (estimate 1 kg fuel requires 6 m3 air)
THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR:
A thermoelectric generator (TEG), a solid-state device that converts thermal energy to
electrical power, will be used to provide power for the stove’s fan. By creating a
sufficient temperature difference across the TEG module, as much as 2.7W of power
can be produced.
STOVE
AUXILIARY
POWER
Data, Findings, Outputs/Outcomes
WHY GASIFICATION?
Exhaust
Cooking
Pot
Secondary
Air Inlets
Fire
Burning
Charcoal
Gasifying
Charcoal
Fan
Primary
Air Inlets
The use of a forced-air biomass gasification stove has several advantages over other
stove designs enhancing the quality of life of the end-user:
PEOPLE:
• Cleaner combustion can reduce Lower Respiratory Infections (LRI)
• Design of stove with outer cylinder increases safety by reducing risk of burns
PLANET:
• Cleaner combustion improves air quality
• Reduces deforestation through improved efficiency and allow for the use of nonwood and/or waste-wood fuel sources
PROSPERITY:
• Possibility of job creation and stimulating local economic growth
• Reduces fuel costs
THERMAL
BRIDGE
TEG
BUCK-BOOST
CONVERTER
BATTERY
Discussion
FIRST GENERATION STOVE DEVELOPMENTS:
The development of an improved biomass/charcoal stove is an iterative process to
achieve optimal conditions for combustion and thermal efficiency.
1) An aluminum radiant barrier has been inserted into the combustion unit to reduce
heat losses.
2) An aluminum cylinder serves as a secondary skirt directing air around the cooking
pot to improve heat transfer to the pot, increasing overall efficiency.
MATERIAL RESEARCH/SELECTION:
Stove is manufactured using 18 GA steel. This is a material that is locally available
Haiti in the form of 55 gallon steel drums. It has been determined that this material
strong enough to handle anticipated loads. There is already a recycling process
place in Haiti for these drums for the production of Haitian metal art; this process
easily transferrable to a stove project.
in
is
in
is
P3 Phase II Project Description
FAN
• Temperature difference is created by use of “heat rod” (hot side) and a heat sink
(cold side)
• The heat sink also serves as a duct for airflow and mount for the fan
• Batteries provide initial power until stove has heated up
• The electrical system includes buck-boost converters, a battery charging circuit, and
a circuit for auxiliary power
• Switching circuit is used to prioritize loads between fan, batteries, and auxiliary
• Develop at least two additional generations of improved cook stoves based on
feedback from field testing of earlier stove generations and continued needs
assessment;
• Conduct extensive field testing and observations of the two generations of cook
stove prototypes to both qualitatively and quantitatively measure the potential
environmental, economic, and social impacts of adopting the improved stove and to
assess the local manufacturing options for further design improvements;
• Develop business plans for the creation of local microenterprises in Haiti and an
initiative for broadening the stove project on a national and potentially a regional
level; and
• Develop pilot projects in three communities in Northern Haiti.
TESTS AND PROCEDURES:
A set of testing procedures is used to evaluate and characterize
the newly developed stove and allow for comparison with existing
stoves. The experimental data is invaluable for iterative
improvements and optimization of stove performance.
1) Water Boiling Test (WBT) consists of 3 parts: cold-start test,
hot-start test, simmer test. The WBT results will quantify fuel
burn rate, thermal efficiency and the stove fuel/energy usage.
2) Controlled Cooking Test (CCT) will verify that the newly
developed stove meets the cooking needs and resembles
common cooking practices in Haiti.
The test facility provides an environment that is conducive to safe
testing of the prototype and other stove models. It provides a
uniform ambient testing environment for all stove subjects and
will be capable of characterizing CO and particulate emissions.
2nd generation
stove design,
build, and test
Field test 1st
generation of
stove in
Borgne
2010
References:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Field test 2nd
generation
stove
Sustainable
Innovation Course
Field test
business plan
Develop local
business model
2011
3rd generation
stove design,
build and test
Improve
business
model
2012
Community
pilot projects
in Northern
Haiti
Develop a
regional/global
plan to expand
use of stove
beyond Borgne
Rehfuess E. Fuel for Life: Household Energy and Health. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2006.
Global Data Monitoring Information System, World Bank, ddp-ext.worldbank.org
Lee, N. C. “Hurricanes, Hanna and Haiti”, Afro – American Red Star. Washington, D.C.: Sep 13-Sep 19, 2008; 117:A11.
Chicago Tribune. “Floods that killed more than 1,000 blamed on deforestation, poverty”, Chicago, Ill.: Sep 23, 2004;12.
Peduzzi, P. “Tropical cyclones: paying a high price for environmental destruction”, Environment & Poverty Times #3. United Nations Environmental Programme, Nairobi, Kenya: Jan 2005; 3.
Betts, K. “How Charcoal Fires Heat the World”, Environmental Science & Technology: May 1, 2003;160-161.
Pruss-Ustun, A. “Preventing Disease through Healthy Environments”, Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2006.