Arlum, Frank, Kathryn

Alternative Fuel Efficient Stoves

Only 14% of Kenya has access to grid electricity.

The facts

The facts

Most families use kerosene lamps or candles for light, batteries for electronics, and biomass fuel for cooking and heating.

The facts

Exposure to smoke causes chronic eye and lung diseases, killing approximately 1.6 million people a year.

As Kenya’s population rapidly increases, their demand for energy grows as well.

The facts

As Kenya’s population rapidly increases, their demand for energy grows as well.

The facts

Many years of harvesting wood for fuel has devastated the environment in Kenya.

The facts

Many years of harvesting wood for fuel has devastated the environment in Kenya.

The facts

As trees become more scarce, the prices of wood and charcoal increase.

The facts

As trees become more scarce, the prices of wood and charcoal increase.

The facts

The illegal charcoal trade in Kenya provides many poor families with a steady source of income, exacerbating deforestation.

The facts

But there’s hope!

This is Josphat, the founder of the Ndabibi Environmental Conservation Centre in Kenya. He educates the community about organic agriculture, water conservation and collection, alternative fuels, and various other sustainable practices.

Meet Josphat!Meet Josphat!

generating biogas from cow manure

cooking with biogas

paper briquettes

Solar Power cooker

Alternative Fuels Employed by Josphat

expensive

exacerbates deforestation

burns for a long time

burns clean

Charcoal from wood

inexpensive

makes use of waste material

doesn’t last as long as charcoal

much more smokey than charcoal

Paper Briquettes

inexpensive

makes use of waste material

burns longer than lump charcoal

burns clean

Biochar Briquettes

We are interested in Biochar Briquettes.

Biochar: The Basics

“A Key factor in efficient use of energy is the type of cooking stove” - Renewable energy for a sustainable future by GVEP International

A three stone fireplace is most commonly used in East Africa to cook

Traditional Jinkos

“It can be built with a low level of fabrication skills and it can be fired with almost any kind of agricultural wastes. It burns very efficient and clean.”

Single Barrel Holey Roket Stove

Objectives

to produce fuel made from agricultural wastes rather than trees

Objectives

to produce fuel made from agricultural wastes rather than trees to stimulate local economy by introducing biowaste briquettes to locals

Objectives

to produce fuel made from agricultural wastes rather than trees to stimulate local economy by introducing biowaste briquettes to locals

Objectives

to produce fuel made from agricultural wastes rather than trees to stimulate local economy by introducing biowaste briquettes to locals to introduce a basic design of a stove that is efficient, produces as little smoke as possible, and is made out of easily accessible materials

Objectives

to produce fuel made from agricultural wastes rather than trees to stimulate local economy by introducing biowaste briquettes to locals to introduce a basic design of a stove that is efficient, produces as little smoke as possible, and

is made out of easily accessible materials and able to be further developed by users

1. Collect biowaste such as corn husks, pine cones, etc

Making Our First Briquettes

1

2. Raise kiln off of the ground with sticks or stones so that air can flow through the kiln allowing the fire to burn more evenly. Also create a wic with grasses on the bottom of the kiln

Making Our First Briquettes

2

3. Before filling the kiln, place a large stick in the middle and pack the contents around it

Making Our First Briquettes

3

4. This creates a hole which will allow the fire to burn more evenly

Making Our First Briquettes

4

5. Light the wic from the bottom of the kiln

Making Our First Briquettes

5

6. Allow a healthy flame to burn for 10-15 minutes

Making Our First Briquettes

6

7. Lower the kiln from the sticks to the ground and place the lid on the top in order to create an anaerobic environment

Making Our First Briquettes

7

8. Thouroghly charred biowaste

Making Our First Briquettes

8

9. Crush the biowaste into a relatively fine powder and mix with a binding material

Making Our First Briquettes

9

10. Use a simple hand press to create dense briquettes

Making Our First Briquettes

10

11. Allow the Briquettes to dry in a sunny area

Making Our First Briquettes

11

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7.9.8.

Rasie kiln off of ground with sticks

put a stick in the center of the kiln, this will create a chimney

pack biowaste in between materials that are easily combustible, such as sawdust, dry leaves or sticks

light kiln from the bottom

allow a healthy flame to burn for ten to tweny minutes

allow a healthy flame to burn for ten to tweny minutes

lower kiln from sticks

collect charred biowaste from kiln

crush material and add a binding agent

10.

use a briquette press to form briquettes

Instructions for Making Biochar

1. How do our biowaste briquettes compare to the fuel you are currently using?

“They took a little while to get going, and needed some kindling to get going. But once they got going, they burnt really clean and were efficient. Plus, charcoal gives off harmful fumes to your nose and food, and they cost money. This is a way better alternative even if the combustion isn’t as powerful as it could be.”

We dropped off our briquettes with Nicolas Esposito of Emerald Street Urban Farm and asked him what he thought...

2. How long did they last?

“They lasted for about 30 minutes. After that we needed to add more fuel to keep the fire going. But they got really hot and heated up our fire in a really good way.”

3. Did they produce a lot of smoke?

No, the smoke was minimal and it didn’t smell bad either, which is a huge plus over charcoal, especially when cooking meat over the open flame.

Objectives

to produce fuel made from agricultural wastes rather than trees to stimulate local economy by introducing biowaste briquettes to locals to introduce a basic design of a stove that is efficient, produces as little smoke as possible, and

is made out of easily accessible materials and able to be further developed by users

✓

Biomass Briquettes: a small industry with high potential

Josphat

Neighbours

Briquettes

Education

Capital

Corn Husks

Organic W astes

Josphat

Neighbours

Capital

Corn Husks

Organic Wastes

Briquettes

Education

Nda-

Nairobi

Briquettes

Education

Capital

Capital

Investments

Biomass Briquettes: a small industry with high potential

Ndabibi

Nairobi

Education

Briquettes

CapitalCapital

Investments

Biomass Briquettes: a small industry with high potential

Branded Briquettes

Objectives

to produce fuel made from agricultural wastes rather than trees to stimulate local economy by introducing biowaste briquettes to locals to introduce a basic design of a stove that is efficient, produces as little smoke as possible, and

is made out of easily accessible materials and able to be further developed by users

✓✓

Holey Rocket Stove model

Holey Rocket Stove model

11 in

11.5 in

5 in

4 in

6 in

4 in

4 in

TOP FRONTSIDE

The height of the stove makes it difficult for heat to reach the top

Issues with Heating

14.5 in

6.5 in

10 in

11.5 in

3 in

4 in

Second Model

FRONTSIDE

we made height lower, sculpted a 45 degree angle to provide more windflow and shaped the top of the stove like a funnel

Our Improvements

Our Improvements

Objectives

to produce fuel made from agricultural wastes rather than trees to stimulate local economy by introducing biowaste briquettes to locals to introduce a basic design of a stove that is efficient, produces as little smoke as possible, and

is made out of easily accessible materials and able to be further developed by users

✓✓✓✓

Thank you!