kenya biomass briquettes
DESCRIPTION
Kit Hooven Arlum Back Frank HuangTRANSCRIPT
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
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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
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8. Thouroghly charred biowaste
Making Our First Briquettes
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9. Crush the biowaste into a relatively fine powder and mix with a binding material
Making Our First Briquettes
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10. Use a simple hand press to create dense briquettes
Making Our First Briquettes
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11. Allow the Briquettes to dry in a sunny area
Making Our First Briquettes
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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!