Today, increasing air pollution and global mean temperature, due to overconsumption of non-renewable resources, is a fact. Climate change is affecting life worldwide, with major draughts and flooding as a result, with severe consequences, especially for the poorest.
In order to prevent further utilization of Earth’s resources, an action for a sustainable development needs to be taken. Changes can be made, preferably in symbiosis, by knowledge, behavioral change and technical innovations. Since almost three billion people in the world are using traditional biomass for cooking at an open fire, cook stoves can serve as a solution, improving standards of living, slow down deforestation and reducing emissions.
This thesis is a study made on two improved cook stoves manufactured in Swedish called FirePipe. A field study was performed in the village of Borebor Silasie, in central Ethiopia. Standardized tests were used as tools for benchmarking the performance of the stoves. The participating test group was asked to write down their fuel usage during 6 weeks, both with their traditional stove, the Three Stone Fire (TSF), and the FirePipe stove separate.
Tests were performed in order to evaluate if the FirePipe stoves could reduce the fuel consumption compared to the traditional stoves. Two complimentary tests, the Water Boiling Test (WBT) and the Standard Safety Test (SST), were performed in selected families with their cooperation, in order to determine the thermal characteristic and safety aspect of the stoves.
Conducted tests showed a better overall performance for the FirePipe stoves than the TSF. Especially, in decreasing fuel and time usage, which are two important aspects for adopting a cookstove. The combustion of FirePipe stoves was less sensitive for external disturbances, and the chef could therefore complete other things parallel to cooking.
Some areas of improvements have been detected and better firepower and thermal efficiency would be preferable. The pots, which the FirePipe stoves were designed for, do not correspond to the effect produced by the cookstove. FirePipe has the potential to contribute to sustainable energy use through more efficient cooking and reduced fuel usage.
Source: KTH
Author: Murray, Sara | Johnels, Erika