Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11951/927

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 56

Household-Level Fluoride Reduction From Drinking Water Using Crushed Fired Clay – Proof of Concept
(International Formulae Group Journal, 2021) Wozei, E.; Nasasira, B.; Kugonza, B.
Residents of Bunyangabu District in Uganda have reportedly suffered from cases of dental fluorosis due to consumption of water with high levels of Fluoride from Ntabago Stream. A household-level sand filter incorporating crushed fired clay as an adsorbent was designed for a household to reduce the Fluoride concentration in their drinking water from the natural raw water levels (2-3 mgF/L) to permissible, healthy levels (0.5-1.0 mg/L). Pieces of fired clay bricks were crushed, and particles of 150 μm to 300 μm in size were selectively obtained by sieving. Stream water was filtered through replicate model layered filter columns of the prepared clay, sand (fine sand of 150 μm-2 mm; coarse sand of 2-5 mm), and gravel (6-15 mm). It was found out that fired clay layers of 2.5 and 5 cm thick reduce the concentration of Fluoride in water by up to 74%, to less than 1.0 mg/L. This was deduced by evaluating Fluoride concentration in both the clay and water before and after filtration, using the SPADNS Colorimetric method. Use of crushed fired clay for reduction in Fluoride concentration in drinking water is the focus of this paper. Additional work will optimise filter design to improve overall water quality.
Sawdust as a Filtering Media in Sludge Drying Beds
(International Formulae Group Journal, 2021) Muzoora, David; Ssazipius, Gava Job; Miiro, Maiteki James; Kpange, Sylvia; Babu, Mohammed
Conventional wastewater treatment is a common method of domestic wastewater treatment in Sub Saharan Africa. Lubigi wastewater treatment plant (LSTP) in Kampala – Uganda is a unique wastewater treatment system combining treatment of on-site faecal sludge and domestic wastewater. High solids content of on-site faecal sludge mean large volumes of the same, thus limited sludge drying space. This means need to optimize sludge drying bed use (improving the sludge drying efficiency) by reducing their drying times. This study investigated use of wood sawdust as a filtering layer in the faecal sludge drying process. Comparison of performance between sand, fine and coarse sawdust as a filtering media was conducted at LSTP. Sludge shrinkage depth (cm) and moisture content (%) were key parameters used to analyze and determine the most ideal media for sludge dewatering. The study was conducted during both wet and dry seasons to determine the impact of seasonal changes. Dry season results showed a drastic decrease in the sludge depth (shrinkage) for all the three media types after a period of 8 days followed by a gradual decrease in sludge depth up to 28 days. This implies that effective dewatering happens for the first 8 days, which goes on for the rest of the remaining days. Overall, the best performing media was fine sawdust, coarse sawdust and lastly sand. Independent two sample t-tests assuming equal variances show that there is a significant difference between the mean sludge depth of sand and fine sawdust t(df) = 56, P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the mean sludge shrinkage depth of fine sawdust and coarse sawdust. Similar results were obtained during the wet season. Comparisons of similar media types during the dry and wet seasons shows that the mean sludge shrinkage for the dry season were significantly lower than that of the wet season (P<0.05). This implies that seasonal changes significantly affect the sludge dewatering. In terms of moisture content (MC), the results for dry season showed that fresh fine and fresh coarse wood sawdust achieved MC of 28% and 31% respectively after 28 days. Sand produced faecal sludge with a higher MC of 49% after 28 days. Similar results of the performance of the three types of media was observed during the wet season. In conclusion, fine sawdust performs better than coarse sawdust and sand media in faecal sludge dewatering. Sludge dewatering is affected by seasonal changes.
Assessment of Physical Conditions and Proposed Best Management Practices of Domestic Storage Tanks Supplied by a Water Utility in a Rapidly Growing City
(International Formulae Group Journal, 2021) Wozei, E.; Makoko, E.W.
The physical conditions of domestic storage tanks for customers supplied by a water utility were assessed in Kampala, a rapidly growing City in Uganda. A longitudinal assessment of 372 storage tanks in 6 sampled administrative Wards with a minimum of 6 samples collected from each site in both wet (March-May) and dry (June-August) months of 2017 was carried out. A set of guiding questions were used to establish tank conditions with a YES or NO response and a range of low to critical risk rating. It was revealed that there was a statistically significant relationship (p=0.001) between tank physical conditions and quality of stored water. Two of six Wards in the City had high levels of water contamination related to domestic water storage tanks with poor sanitary conditions and contaminated water with E. coli. The study therefore revealed that the physical conditions and management of domestic water storage tanks have an effect on water quality. This is important information for a water utility as it means that it is not enough to supply safe water if the quality may deteriorate upon storage at the consumer premises. A routine inspection checklist and consumer guidelines for domestic storage tank management are proposed.
Walking on Sunshine: Pairing Electric Vehicles With Solar Energy for Sustainable Informal Public Transport in Uganda
(Energy Research and Social Science, 2021-11) Ndibatya, Innocent; Booysen, M.J.; Abraham, C.J.; Rix, A.J.
Minibus taxi public transport is a seemingly chaotic phenomenon in the developing cities of the Global South with unique mobility and operational characteristics. Eventually this wide-spread effect of minibus taxis will have to transition to electric vehicles. This paper examines the impact of this inevitable evolution on a city-wide scale in Kampala, Uganda. We present a generic simulation environment to assess the grid impact and charging opportunities, given the unique paratransit mobility patterns. We used floating car data to assess the energy requirements of electric minibus taxis, which will have a knock-on effect on the region's already fragile electrical grid. We used spatio-temporal and solar photovoltaic analyses to assess the informal and formal stops that would be needed for the taxis to recharge from solar PV in the region's abundant sunshine. The results showed that the median energy demand across all simulated days of the effect of taxis was 220kWh=d. This ranged to a maximum of 491kWh=d, with a median charging potential (stationary time) across taxis of 8 h=d to 12 h=d. The median potential for charging from solar PV ranged from 0:24kWh=m2 to 0:52kWh=m2 per day, across the taxis. Our simulator and results will allow traffic planners and grid operators to assess and plan for looming electric vehicle roll-outs to the most-used mode of transport in Africa.
Ray of Hope for Sub-Saharan Africa’s Paratransit: Solar Charging of Urban Electric Minibus Taxis in South Africa
(Energy for Sustainable Development, 2021) Ndibatya, Innocent; Booysen, M.J.; Abraham, C.J.
Minibus taxi public transport is a seemingly chaotic phenomenon in the developing cities of the Global South with unique mobility and operational characteristics. Eventually this ubiquitous fleet of minibus taxis is expected to transition to electric vehicles, which will result in an additional energy burden on Africa's already fragile electrical grids. This paper examines the electrical energy demands of this possible evolution, and presents a generic simulation environment to assess the grid impact and charging opportunities. We used GPS tracking and spatiotemporal data to assess the energy requirements of nine electric minibus taxis as well as the informal and formal stops at which the taxis can recharge. Given the region's abundant sunshine, we modelled a grid-connected solar photovoltaic charging system to determine how effectively PV may be used to offset the additional burden on the electrical grid. The mean energy demand of the taxis was 213kWh/d, resulting in an average efficiency of 0.93kWh/km. The stopping time across taxis, a proxy for charging opportunity, ranged from 7.7 h/d to 10.6 h/d. The energy supplied per surface area of PV to offset the charging load of a taxi while stopping, ranged from 0.38 to 0.90kWh/m2 per day. Our simulator, which is publicly available, and the results will allow traffic planners and grid operators to assess and plan for looming electric vehicle roll-outs.
Minibus Taxis in Kampala’s Paratransit System: Operations, Economics and Efficiency
(Journal of Transport Geography, 2020) Ndibatya, Innocent; Booysen, M.J.
Most cities in sub-Saharan Africa rely for their public transport on paratransit in the form of fourteen- to twenty seater privately owned and mostly old minibus taxis. The system is often seen as disorganized, unregulated and inefficient. To assess the accuracy of this picture, we analyzed the operations and economics of Kampala's minibus taxi system and its efficiency from the passengers' and the drivers' perspectives, using ‘floating car data’. We found that the picture is largely accurate. Our findings suggest the need for moderate transformation: adequate enforcement of regulations, reorganization of ownership, renewal of fleets, and integration of ICT systems to facilitate scheduling, booking and fare collection. This will help to make the system safer, cleaner and more efficient for Kampala commuters and more stable, secure and profitable for the minibus taxi drivers and the mini industries that depend on them
Characterizing the Movement Patterns of Minibus Taxis in Kampala’s Paratransit System
(Journal of Transport Geography, 2021) Ndibatya, Innocent; Booysen, M.J.
Urban travelers in Africa depend on minibus taxis for their daily social and business commuting. This paratransit system is loosely regulated, self-organizing, and evolves organically in response to demand. Our study used floating car data to analyze and describe the movement characteristics of nine minibus taxis in Kampala, Uganda. We made three intriguing findings. Firstly, in searching for, picking up and transporting passengers, minibus taxi trajectories followed a heavy-tailed power-law distribution similar to a “L´evy walk”. Secondly, their routes’ topology and shape gradually changed. Thirdly, the extraordinary winding (expressed in terms of tortuosity) of the paths suggested the extreme determination of the drivers’ search for passengers. Our findings could help city planners to build on the self-organizing characteristics of the minibus taxi system, and improve the mobility of travelers, by optimizing routes and the distribution of public amenities.
Amplifying Local Voices to Reduce Failure in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Sector
(Royal Academy of Engineering, 2021) Barrington, D.J; Sindall, R.C; Chinyama, A; Morse, T; Sule, M.N; Beale, J; Kativhu, T; Krishnan, S; Luwe, K; Malolo, R.D; Mcharo, O; Odili, A; Ravndal, K.T; Rose, J; Shaylor, E; Wozei, Eleanor
WASH endeavours regularly fail. Sometimes this means that entire programmes do not achieve their stated aims, sometimes these failures are setbacks which can be rectified with sufficient reflection and action. This research aimed to develop an evidence base of how and why field-based WASH professionals in four sub-Saharan African countries believe failures occur, their experiences when sharing and discussing them within their organisations, and how they believe a culture conducive to publicly sharing and learning from failures could be nurtured.
Socio-Institutional Drivers of Groundwater Contamination Hazards: The Case of On-Site Sanitation in the Bwaise Informal Settlement, Kampala, Uganda
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2021) Twinomucunguzi, Felix R. B.; Giorgia, Silvestri; Kinobe, Joel; Mugabi, Allan; Isoke, Jenifer; Nyenje, Philip M.; Foppen, Jan Willem; Kulabako, Robinah N.; Kansiime, Frank
Socio-institutional factors are poorly addressed in the risk assessment of groundwater contamination. This paper contributes to the development of a socio-institutional assessment framework based on a case study of contamination by on-site sanitation (OSS) in an informal settlement of Bwaise (Kampala, Uganda). We conducted a snapshot survey of the recent extent of groundwater contamination by OSS using microbial and hydro-chemical indicators. Through transition arenas and key informant interviews, we investigated the socio-institutional drivers of the contamination. Overall, 14 out of the 17 sampled groundwater sources tested positive for Escherichia coli during the wet season. Nitrate concentrations at four sources exceeded the World Health Organization guideline value (50 mg/L), attributed to OSS. Despite the high contamination, the community highly valued groundwater as an alternative to the intermittent municipal water supply. We deduced six drivers of groundwater contamination, including land-use management, user attributes, governance, infrastructure management, groundwater valuation, and the operating environment (“LUGIVE”). Qualitative indicators for each of the drivers were also construed, and their interlinkages presented in a causal loop diagram, representing a socio-institutional assessment framework. The framework can help policymakers and the community to analyze various socio-institutional control levers to reduce the risk of groundwater contamination by OSS in informal settlements.
Effect of Unstable Mix under Severe Traffic Loading on Performance of Asphalt Pavements in Tropical Climate
(Advances in Civil Engineering. Hindawi, 2020) Mugume, Rodgers B.
This paper is aimed at assessing the in-service performance of asphalt pavements in tropical climate under severe conditions. 'emain defect observed on the asphalt pavement was rutting of the asphaltic surfacing, with top-down cracking being experienced on a few sections and not widespread but rather intermittent. Field and laboratory investigations were conducted as well as a review of design and construction records.'edefects observed were confined to the wearing course layer of the surfacing with the other underlying layers performing well. Rutting was a result of heavily loaded trucks that moved at very slow speeds due to steep gradients, hence resulting in severely loaded sections. High temperatures due to the warm tropical environment exacerbated the situation and caused the asphalt to flow, hence resulting in rutting and deformation. Also, low air voids in the asphalt mix which were below the recommended design air voids specification aggravated the situation as well as the air voids after refusal density compaction being below the specified critical minimum of 3% after secondary compaction. Top-down cracking was due to binder age hardening and embrittlement resulting from overheating of bitumen during the construction process coupled with heavy truck axles and high tyre pressures. Defects observed, therefore, resulted from an unstable asphalt mix that was not suitable for severe loading conditions; hence, the asphalt concrete laid was out of specification. 'e Modified Marshall Mix Design method should be used for severe sites where slow speed or heavier traffic is expected.
Relationship Between Water Quality and Physical Conditions of Domestic Storage Tanks Supplied by a Water Utility in a Rapidly Growing City
(Water SA, 2021-01) Makoko, EW; Wozei, Eleanor; Birungi, L
Domestic water storage tanks are commonly used in urban centres of developing countries such as Uganda to enable reliable access to water. However, little work has been done on the conditions of domestic water storage tanks since it is assumed that water received meets the required standards and guidelines for drinking water. In 2015, over 80% of the water quality complaints raised by water utility customers in Kampala were about water from storage tanks. In this study we assessed water quality in, and conditions of, domestic storage tanks, for customers supplied by a water utility from March – August 2017 in Kampala, Uganda. Longitudinal assessment of 372 storage tanks in 6 sampled wards involved a minimum of 6 samples collected from each site in both wet and dry months of 2017. A set of guiding questions was used to establish tank conditions, with a 'yes' or 'no' response and a range of 'low' to 'critical' risk ratings. The study showed that there were three main types of storage tanks: plastic (88%), concrete (7%), and metal (5%). Of these tanks, 84% were elevated, 41% were less than 5 years old, 69% were not cleaned annually, and 88% were covered. There was a statistically significant relationship (p < 0.05) between tank physical conditions and quality of stored water. Wards with unplanned and industrial settlements had the highest number of tanks with contaminated water. The study therefore revealed that the physical conditions and management of domestic water storage tanks have an effect on water quality. This is important information for a water utility as it means that it is not enough to supply safe water if the quality may deteriorate upon storage at the consumer premises. A routine inspection checklist and consumer guidelines for domestic storage tank management are proposed.
Developing a yeast-based assay protocol to monitor total oestrogenic activity induced by 17β-oestradiol in activated sludge supernatants from batch experiments
(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 2006-04-11) Wozei, Eleanor; Hermanowicz, SW
A yeast-based assay protocol developed for detecting oestrogenic activity in activated sludge (AS) supernatant is described. The protocol used Saccharomyces cerevisiae construct RMY/ER-ERE with human oestrogen receptor (ERα) and lacZ reporter genes, and was developed by modifying existing assays for use with AS samples from batch experiments. The method was able to detect total oestrogenic activity (without prior extraction) in supernatants of AS spiked with 17β-oestra¬diol (E2) with a detection limit of 0.03 ngE2-equivalent/ℓ and an overall quantification limit of 100 ngE2-equivalent/ℓ. Mean E2-induced oestrogenic activity recoveries of >56% were obtained from the spiked samples.
Application of a yeast-based assay protocol developed to monitor total oestrogenic activity induced by 17β-oestradiol in activated sludge supernatants from batch experiments
(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 2006-04-11) Wozei, Eleanor; Hermanowicz, SW
Batch experiments were carried out with activated sludge from laboratory reactors and a full-scale treatment plant spiked with 17β-oestradiol (E2). An oestrogen-sensitive yeast-based assay protocol, described in detail in a related publication, was used to measure reduction of E2-induced total oestrogenic activity from the sludge supernatant over a 15 d period after which the sludge was re-spiked to check for possible enhancement of reduction by pre-exposed sludge during an additional 15 d period. The reduction was generally improved by increasing sludge solids concentrations and by continuous mixing. For a 100 ngE2/ℓ spike there was >40% reduction of oestrogenic activity within 15 d, which improved to >70% by pre-exposing the sludge. The oestrogenic activity produced by a dose of 100 μgE2/ℓ was readily removed by most sludges within 15 d. How¬ever, re-spiking the activated sludge with the same E2 concentration caused some sludges to lose reduction capacity.
Optimization of waste collection and disposal in Kampala city
(Elsevier Ltd, 2015) Kinobe, Joel R.; Niwagaba, Charles B.; Gebresenbet, Girma; Bosona, T.; Vinnerås, Björn
Waste collection and transportation is an important municipal service that involves high expenditures if not handled efﬁciently. This has hindered waste management in many Sub-Saharan African countries. In this study, Geographic Information System (GIS) tools were used to optimize travel distances, trips and collection time, which leads to maximizing total waste collection, yielding large savings and keeping the environment clean. The study suggested the best waste collection routes, and determined a suitable vehicle ﬂeet and capacity to be used by Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), which is the body responsible for waste management in Kampala. The use of the GIS tools led to the reduction in the total number of trips and travel distances, which decreased fuel consumption and vehicle emissions. In addition, the model can be used by the various outsourced private operators, collecting and disposing of solid wastes. Since the current municipal landﬁll for Kampala city is almost full, the GIS tool was used to identify the optimum location of a new proposed landﬁll site, based on optimized travel distances. The results of this study can help KCCA to decrease costs of managing wastes and environmental as well as social impacts
Reverse logistics system and recycling potential at a landﬁll: A case study from Kampala City
(Elsevier Ltd, 2015) Kinobe, Joel R.; Niwagaba, Charles B.; Gebresenbet, Girma; Vinnerås, Björn
The rapid growing population and high urbanisation rates in Sub-Saharan Africa has caused enormous pressure on collection services of the generated waste in the urban areas. This has put a burden on land- ﬁlling, which is the major waste disposal method. Waste reduction, re-use and recycling opportunities exist but are not fully utilized. The common items that are re-used and re-cycled are plastics, paper, alu- minum, glass, steel, cardboard, and yard waste. This paper develops an overview of reverse logistics at Kiteezi landﬁll, the only ofﬁcially recognised waste disposal facility for Kampala City. The paper analyses, in details the collection, re-processing, re-distribution and ﬁnal markets of these products into a reversed supply chain network. Only 14% of the products at Kiteezi landﬁll are channeled into the reverse chain while 63% could be included in the distribution chain but are left out and disposed of while the remaining 23% is buried. This is because of the low processing power available, lack of market value, lack of knowl- edge and limited value addition activities to the products. This paper proposes possible strategies of efﬁ- cient and effective reverse logistics development, applicable to Kampala City and other similar cities.
Mapping out the solid waste generation and collection models: The case of Kampala City
(Taylor and Francis, 2015) Kinobe, Joel R.; Niwagaba, Charles B.; Gebresenbet, Girma; Komakech, Allan J.; Vinnerås, Björn
This is a technical paper presenting the mapping of the waste collection systems in Kampala city, using geographical information system (GIS) ArcGIS mapping software. It discusses the existing models of waste collection to the final disposal destinations. It was found that food and yard wastes constitute 92.7% of the waste generated in Kampala. Recyclables and other special wastes constitute only 7.3% of the total waste, mainly because of the increased level of reuse and recycling activities. The generation rate of solid wastes was on average, 582, 169, 105, and 90 tons/day from poor areas, upscale wealthier areas, business centers, and market areas respectively. This tonnage of waste was collected, transported, and disposed of at the city landfill. The study found that in total, residential areas of poor people generate more waste than other categories stated earlier, mainly because of their large populations. In total, there were 133 unofficial temporary storage sites acknowledged by Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) but not formally designated, 59 illegal dump sites, and 35 officially recognized temporary waste storage locations. This paper presents large-scale data that can help with understanding the collection models and their influence on solid waste management in Kampala city, which could be used for similar cities in developing countries.
Handle With Care: Navigating the Pluriformity of Power to Enable Actionable Knowledge for Transitions in Informal Settlements in the Global South
(Urban Transformations, 2019) Karlijn, Schipper; Silvestri, Giorgia; Wittmayer, Julia M.; Isoke, Jenifer B.; Kulabako, Robinah
This Perspective positions urban challenges in informal settlements in the Global South as a question of how to coproduce actionable knowledge for sustainability transitions, and how this relates to power issues. The aim is to inform those who are actively working on sustainability transitions in practice how to navigate the pluriform ways power matters in transitions. Also as a way to reflect on one’s doings and as a starting point to develop research and/or policy programs that enable alternative solutions. This Perspective is based on fieldwork in three informal settlements in Kampala and focusses specifically on sustainability issues related to gaining access to, maintenance and control of water services. We highlight the importance of challenging dominant frames of places and communities, coproducing dynamic maps of power relations and interdependencies related to a specific urban challenge and taking into account the contextualized understanding of power relations within a political system.
Performance of Lateritic Soils Stabilized With Both Crushed Rock Aggregates and Carbon Black as a Pavement Base Layer
(Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd, 2019) Tugume, Brian; Owani, Isaac; Jjuuko, Samuel; Kalumba, Denis
The increased crushed rock aggregate consumption resulting from road construction has greatly contributed to the depletion of national rocks in Uganda, hence environmental degradation. The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate the use of carbon black in reduction on the amount of crushed rock aggregates used in mechanical stabilization of unsuitable lateritic soils for road base construction. Preliminary tests on the lateritic soil were carried out to determine if the soil required stabilization. The test results classified the soil as Clayey Gravel with Sand of high plasticity based on the Unified. Soil Classification System (USCS) and it required stabilization for use on road base. The combined effect of carbon black and crushed rock aggregates was investigated based on the compaction characteristics, Atterberg Limits, Particle size distribution and California Bearing Ratio tests. Results obtained were analyzed graphically and a blend of 50% lateritic soil, 40% aggregates and 10% carbon black was found to be the most effective in producing a suitable base material. It gave a CBR of 69.4 at 95% relative compaction and a plasticity index of 7 which meet the requirements of CBR above 60% as per the General Specifications for Road and Bridges (2004) of the Ministry of Works, Housing and Communication in Uganda. In relation to previous research, by Jjuuko et al. (2014) which recommended 50% aggregates and 50% lateritic soil, there is a 10% reduction in crushed rock aggregate consumption.
A Case for Urban Liveability From Below: Exploring the Politics of Water and Land Access for Greater Liveability in Kampala, Uganda
(Local Environment. The International Journal of Justice and Sustainability. Routledge Taylor and Francis, 2019) Nastar, Maryam; Isoke, Jennifer; Kulabako, Robinah; Silvestri, Giorgia
Improving urban liveability and prosperity is commonly set as a priority in urban development plans and policy around the world. Several annual reports produced by international consulting firms, media, and global agencies rank the liveability of cities based on a set of indicators, to represent the quality of life in these cities. The higher is the ranking, the more liveable is the city. In this paper, we argue that such quantitative approaches to framing and addressing urban liveability challenges leave little room to reflect on people’s experiences of this liveability, which cannot be expressed through numbers. To illustrate our argument, we draw on empirical evidence of urban liveability challenges in access to water and land in Kampala, the capital city of Uganda, ranked recently as the most liveable East African city by various global agencies and media outlets. By showing that increasing the number of water connections does not guarantee improved access to water and sanitation in the long run, first, we demonstrate how urban liveability challenges are tightly linked with land-title issues in the city. Second, we highlight the political game-playing between the central government, the opposition, the traditional leadership, and the slum dwellers in governance processes of service delivery. Finally, by arguing that urban liveability can be enhanced by broadening political participation in city development planning, we discuss some of the strategies that can be used by communities to make collective claims towards improving their quality of life and the environment.
Design of an Improved Cooking Stove Using High Density Heated Rocks and Heat Retaining Techniques
(Journal of Renewable Energy-Hindawi, 2018) Bantu, Anthony A.; Nuwagaba, Gilbert; Kizza, Sarah; Turinayo, Yonah K.
In sub-Saharan Africa, dependence on wood fuel has caused significant depletion of vegetative resources. Whereas there exist hundreds of improved cooking stoves, many have not reached their maximum potential because their designs are predominantly focused on either fuel efficiency or reduced smoke. This research designed and fabricated an improved charcoal stove using high density rocks and heat retaining techniques.The aim was to retain heat and minimise heat losses in cooking devices with a sole purpose of reducing the amount of fuel used during cooking. The stove design herein incorporates the interaction of physical and thermal properties of granite rocks with heat loss theories to give a thermal efficient unit. The stove was estimated to cost US$ 36 which compared favourably with most of the improved charcoal stoves on international market (US$ 3–50 US$). This study revealed that, by introducing the new stove design and insulation, the granite rocks depicted high thermal storage properties with potential for reducing fuel use by over 78% with reference to the open fire stove.The designed granite rock stove therefore paves way for the use of high density rocks in improved cook stoves to achieve high performance energy efficient systems that can sustainably put to use vegetative resources.

Browse

Recent Submissions