Main knowledge bank page | Recent additions | Recent changes | What links here | Categories | Category cloud
How-to guides | Organisation profiles | Project profiles
 

edit this page

Portable Improved Stoves


Table of Contents

[top] [end]Description of portable improved stoves

Portable stoves are characterized by one pot hole and are more widely used than fixed stoves. A ‘’’multi-fuel’’’ improved stove is usually characterized by a mobile grate which allows the use of a variety of available fuel (wood, charcoal, dung, agriculture residues). A ‘’’multi-cooker’’’ improved stove matches a range of user’s pot size.

Diagram showing the difference between a multi-fuel and a multi-cooker stove
Diagram showing the difference between a multi-fuel and a multi-cooker stove


The different parts of portable improved cook stove are:
  • the ash box is located under the grate;
  • the combustion chamber or fire box is the space where fuel is burnt and the cooker is heated;
  • the handles;
  • the cooker holder, pot hole or rim is the pot seat and generally the cooker holder has secure pot support;
  • the grate constitutes a perforated ceramic or metal plate on which the fuel is burnt allowing the provision of primary air and the separation of ash is done.

Diagram showing the difference between a multi-fuel and a multi-cooker stove Diagram showing the difference between a multi-fuel and a multi-cooker stove
Ceramic grate Metallic grate

[top] [end]Making a portable improved stove

Before launching a large-scale improved stove, testing must be the first step. The results of the test come from different stakeholders such as: developers, research scientists, implementers, public opinion makers, planners and users. After this important step, the handcraft sector and industrial sector play a major role in the dissemination of the tested prototype stove. In the developing world, artisan production is often more significant than industrial sector.

[top] [end]Materials used for making improved stoves

Various materials are used for making portable improved stoves, such as:
  • Iron wire with cross section between 4 and 8 for making handle, grate and pot support;
  • New sheet metal with thickness between 1 and 1.2 mm generally by industrial sector to make stove body;
  • scrap metal sheet from pieces of worn out car;
  • scrap metal from drums;
  • Ceramic liner: local clay, fired in kilns;
  • Sheet metal (thickness between 0.7 and 1 mm);
  • Nail for riveting;
  • Cement to joint metal body and ceramic liner;
  • Painter for aesthetic aspect.

Diagram showing the difference between a multi-fuel and a multi-cooker stove Diagram showing the difference between a multi-fuel and a multi-cooker stove Diagram showing the difference between a multi-fuel and a multi-cooker stove
Iron wire Scrap metal from drums Ceramic liner

Despite the quality of materials required to support mechanical, thermal or chemical stresses subjected to the stove, the choice of material is justified by:
  1. the economic factor: defined by the cost parameter which is the key to affordability for the users;
  2. the design factor: the level of equipment in the handcraft sector constitutes one reason why the malleability of the stove material is important.

[top] [end]The different steps in making a portable improved stove

The informal sector artisans are generally characterised by trained craftsmen/metalworkers and small workshops using simple tools such as hammers and chisels.

In this sector the different steps of making portable improved stoves are:
  • Drawing with templates made by the project;
  • cutting;
  • forming;
  • folding;
  • assembling metal component by riveting or tacking sometime brazing or welding;
  • painting.

Diagram showing the difference between a multi-fuel and a multi-cooker stove Diagram showing the difference between a multi-fuel and a multi-cooker stove Diagram showing the difference between a multi-fuel and a multi-cooker stove Diagram showing the difference between a multi-fuel and a multi-cooker stove
1. drawing 2. cutting 3. folding 4. riveting
Diagram showing the difference between a multi-fuel and a multi-cooker stove Diagram showing the difference between a multi-fuel and a multi-cooker stove Diagram showing the difference between a multi-fuel and a multi-cooker stove Diagram showing the difference between a multi-fuel and a multi-cooker stove
5. assembling 6. fitting of ceramic liner 7. painting 8. sales exhibitions

However in the industrial sector, represented by micro-enterprise and high-scale welding enterprises, the different steps of producing a stove are:

  • Drawing;
  • cutting;
  • forming;
  • bending;
  • assembling metal component by welding , riveting or brazing;
  • painting.

[top] [end]Related topics


[top] [end]Contributors

User: Mamadou Fall June 2007









Categories: Improved Stoves


edit this page

Page created: 26 June 2007; Last edited: 22 May 2008; Version: 1
Knowledge Bank text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.

Pagename: PortableImprovedStove @HEDON: CCFA