Designing a low-cost electricity-generating cooking stove for high-volume implementation

• Main Author: Riley, Paul Howard
• Published: University of Nottingham 2014
• Subjects: 621.3; TX Home economics
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.625514

The PhD describes the social science and technical design of an innovative clean cooking stove that also generates electricity for use in developing countries. Key areas of learning adding to the research pool are: 1. Method for comparing costs of competing designs early in the research process before detailed design has been undertaken. 2. Use of state-of-the-art industrial design processes combined with social science investigations to direct research to meet end-user needs 3. Design of a low-cost, low thermal mass hot heat exchanger for use in thermo-acoustic engines 4. Design of a low-cost, low-mass Linear Alternator suitable for use in thermo-acoustic engines 5. Half-wave thermo-acoustic engine configuration with low-onset temperature suitable for operation with wood or dung as the fuel. 6. Use of an electrical analogue to predict unusual thermo-acoustic behaviour such as squegging and time-based pressure variations. The document is an extended abstract pulling together Riley’s 6 years of research and publications from the Score project, into one coherent theme as required by the University of Nottingham quality manual for staff engaged in research. The document describes the background of thermo-acoustics and how the project has enabled the science to progress from mainly rig-based engines to a manufacturable product. The research management process and techniques used to reduce project risk are highlighted, beginning with social science research into end-user requirements, system design, component design, testing and production cost predictions.