PLEASE NOTE - THIS IS A DRAFT AND STILL BEING WORKED ON
In many developing countries there are large amounts of waste sawdust from timber processing. The sawdust can not be reliably burned in normal stoves or open fires, but a stove design by the Kisangani Smith Group (KSG) of Tanzania allows it to be used as a fuel for cooking. In 2008 KSG won an Ashden Award for their work.
Stove design and manufacture
The stove is cylindrical, about 420 mm tall and 270 mm in diameter, with feet to raise it off the ground. The lid of the stove has a heat-spreader and pot support, and at one side an entry port at the base serves as the air inlet. This inlet also allows a small amount of wood to be introduced, which is useful for getting the stove started and sometimes for controlling the burn rate as well. The heat spreader, mounted on the lid of the stove, has a complex shape to direct heat over the whole of the pot base and prevents localised heating. The lid fits tightly over the cylindrical stove body, and a serrated flange on the underside of this lid sinks into the sawdust and prevents hot gases from escaping sideways. A pole guide, used for filling the stove (see below), is welded in the centre of the cylindrical cavity. The finished metal stove is normally painted before sale.
The parts for the stove are cut by hand from mild steel sheet. A set of 13 templates enables the parts to be quickly cut to a standard design using hand or bench shears. Most parts are hammered into shape, using simple formers, and joints are made from folding the metal and then hammering it securely. Rivets are used to attach the handles and feet.