New "soundwave" stove to cook food -- and cool it

A revolutionary wood-fired stove powered by soundwaves is being developed to both cook and cool food, and it is claimed that this could help millions in poor countries without access to electricity.

In an article for Reuters (11/05/2007), Ben Hirschler writes;

"A revolutionary wood-fired stove powered by soundwaves is being developed to both cook and cool food, in a move that could help millions in poor countries with scant electricity, British scientists said on Friday.

The all-in-one cooker, refrigerator and generator will use thermoacoustic technology -- a hi-tech and more efficient way of harnessing the energy in wood than an open fire.

The "super-stove" will channel heat into a special pipe to produce pockets of high and low gas pressure, generating sound in a similar way to a singing kettle. An alternator then converts the sound into electricity to power the appliance.

Thermoacoustic technology has been used in space probes and is also being pioneered to liquefy natural gas but this is the first low-level, domestic application."

Read the Reuters article in full here

Visit the SCORE website here