- The need for fuel efficient cooking and water boiling systems in third world countries is in extreme demand, especially in natural resource ravaged countries like Haiti. The limited availability of wood means that for many finding fuel will consume their time and energy, as well as their money. Through the use of agricultural waste from main export crops such as sugar cane, coffee, rice, and beans, charcoal can be produced and used as efficient high powered fuel for rocket stoves. Now more than ever, Haitian's are in need of alternatives to using wood as fuel for general cooking. The efficient alternative fuel source lies in the biomass produced post-harvest of many main cash crops local to Haiti. After a simple and inexpensive method to form briquettes from the burned biomass charcoal, Haitian's will be able to continue supplying themselves with material to heat and cook without deteriorating natural resources.
- Mitch Girard and Hoon Peerless will be working in conjunction to research, design, test, and report on the use of biomass waste charcoal briquettes for rocket stoves in Engineering 305 at Humboldt State University, during Spring Semester 2010. We will be seeking knowledge of biomass material type, binding agents, and charcoal press mechanisms. Outside resources will likely include, faculty of HSU, recent HSU engineering graduates, Aprovecho Research Center, and affiliates that are currently located in Haiti working on appropriate technology for local populations. The goal of the project is to supply biomass energy knowledge to the Haitian community to motivate the decrease in use of wood for stove fuel, help increase indoor air quality through improved ventilation cooking systems, and reduce the dependence on three rock stoves.