ProBEC

Crispin Pemberton‐Pigott October, 2008
Sustainable Energy Technology and Research Centre University of Johannesbrg 
Programme for Basic Energy Conservation GTZ/ProBEC a SADC Regional Project 

See the attached pdf: CERAMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR DOMESTIC STOVES 

Also take a look at Crispin's very good ceramic stove image galleries.

It is intended that this brief report describe in an accessible manner the results of some basic research into the performance of ceramic materials suitable for use to make modern, low‐cost improved charcoal stoves. The 
theatre of investigation is the area around Maputo, Moçambique. 

 The information and ideas are assembled from a large number of tests and reports. If studied carefully an understanding can be gained of the 
principle ingredients found in typical clays. It is hoped enough can also
 be learned about what the tests show so as to interest the ‘stover’ in a 
deeper study of this vast subject.  

Some reasons why clay stoves and stove components typically have such a 
short life are described and to a certain extent, what can be done about 
it.   

There is a great deal of material available on how to find, identify and 
process clays such as pottery books and the internet. It is not repeated 
here.  Unfortunately very little of the material available is geared to 
the design of low cost ceramics stoves which have problems not encountered
 in many industrial applications with far higher temperatures.  

Ceramics are complex mixtures of many minerals so it is not possible to 
give comprehensive explanations in such a brief text, however the novice 
reader should learn enough to be able to deal with a laboratory and 
understand some common terminology and the test results.  There have been
 many technological advances in recent years making accessible tests and 
analyses that were previously unaffordable to the ordinary potter.

Interesting story from Malawi on the use of institutional Rocket Stoves
Crispin Pemberton-Pigott, New Dawn Engineering, May 31, 2007

Nkolokti 120L Pots
Nkolokti 120L Pots

Maputo Ceramic Stove Update
Crispin Pemberton Pigott, New Dawn Engineering, Swaziland, June 6, 2007
MCSMCS

ProBEC/GTZ Intern Needed for Africa
Peter Scott, Aprovecho, November 5, 2006

Dear All

File attachments: 

STOws Cooker - Low Cost Concrete and Ceramic Stove
by Crispin Pemberton-Pigott (PROBEC)
25 Sept 2006

Design Brief:
The development of a stove for use in low income areas of rural Senegal.

GTZ Probec Protos Stove Tests Tanzania
Christa Roth, GTZ Probec, September 26, 2006

To give feedback on the Bosch-Siemens PROTOS plant oil stove when using Jatropha oil:

To give feedback on the Bosch-Siemens PROTOS plant oil stove when using Jatropha oil:
The long term test of the Jatropha oil being used in the BSH stove is currently under way in Tanzania in cooperation with GTZ-ProBEC. Preliminary tests are giving very positive results, even though with Jatropha oil being produced on small scale. Purity of the oil seems to play a crucial role, but we will be able to tell more early 2007.
The stove is designed for using straight plant oils, no need to convert them into Biodiesel. However, Biodiesel can also be used.

Improved Mali Stove
Crispin Pemberton-Pigott, New Dawn Engineering, July 21, 2006

Dear Friends

I have heard confirmation from FASEN in Dakar (Senegal) that the women cooking at the ProBEC head office are using 50% less charcoal with their 'improved Malgach' stove (pronounced mal-gash).

Mali_

We know this as the garden variety Mali stove - a very simple metal, inverted, truncated pyramid sitting on a square stand with one side missing attached to a flat, square base. There are millions of them all over Africa.

We added a door to close the open side in the stand, and another truncated, inverted pyramid to the top, creating a counter-flow air preheater. The air now only enters from below when it is being lit. There are two bricks in the base to contain heat from the grate and pass it to the incoming air.

The charcoal is loaded in the usual way and lit. A metal rod bent into a triangle is dropped in and a square sheet with a pot skirt is then dropped on top of everything, closing in the fire. The rod keeps the pot off the charcoal - preferably a 50mm gap.

The fact that the women are putting in 1/2 the charcoal normally used is not the end of the story. The stove is designed for 2 kg of charcoal so putting in 1 kg is leaves empty space. In reality the stove could be reduced in size by 30% in length, breadth and height reducing the material cost to approximately that of the original, larger, more wasteful stove. The gap between the two 'pyramids' is 13 to 16mm.

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