Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Design and Development of a Low Cost, Multifunction, Regionally Appropriate Solar Oven for Mass Production in Developing Countries in Latin America
EPA Grant Number: SU832465Title: Design and Development of a Low Cost, Multifunction, Regionally Appropriate Solar Oven for Mass Production in Developing Countries in Latin America
Investigators: Carrano, Andres , Thorn, Brian , Canavan, Daniel , Johnson, Emily , Stewart, Joel , Minuto, Paula , Ballard, S.
Institution: Rochester Institute of Technology
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: II
Project Period: January 1, 2005 through October 31, 2006
Project Amount: $74,647
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet - Phase 2 (2005) Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Challenge Area - Air Quality , Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Awards , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
To further develop and design an effective multifunctional solar oven that can be mass produced with moderate environmental impact and feasible for distribution to low-income sectors at low cost while using the capital, labor, and materials that are typically available in developing areas of Latin American nations. This phase II project builds on the accomplishment of the previous team and further optimizes the design and its performance.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
The mission for this project was to develop a solar oven, which improves from the previous 2005 RIT design with respect to performance, cost, and environmental impact. Three generations were designed along with their testing procedure which is able to make comparative differences between designs while testing indoors. At $26.18, the final design is capable of achieving pasteurization temperatures (149°F) within 10 minutes and reached a temperature of 245°F within two hours of testing outdoors, making this unit both an improved design and a feasible cooking option for those in developing nations.
Conclusions:
The RIT multidisciplinary Solar Oven team successfully achieved the objectives of designing a low cost oven for developing countries while using materials and processes that are less damaging that the commercial counterparts. The student design is approximately 30% better than the commercial unit and 10% better than the phase I model with respect to cost, performance, and environmental impact. On May 10th, 2006 while in Washington, D.C. at the EPA P3 Conference, the oven reached a temperature of 245°F within two hours of testing outdoors. Additionally, throughout this experience, partnerships with local churches and wood furniture manufacturers in Venezuela as well as with expert researchers were developed. All the team members and disciplines greatly contributed to the project. Furthermore, the team members will graduate this spring having been exposed to environmental issues and developed certain sensitivity towards them that, undeniably, most other students do not experience.
Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
Other project views: | All 1 publications | 1 publications in selected types | All 1 journal articles |
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Type | Citation | ||
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Thorn BK, Carrano AL, Plaz CR, Wood CR, Guedez E. User-driven design of low-cost, low environmental impact solar ovens for rural populations in developing countries. Journal of Engineering for Sustainable Development: Energy, Environment and Health 2006;1(1):1-12. |
SU832465 (Final) |
not available |
Supplemental Keywords:
Life cycle analysis, Developing Countries, Mass Production, Engineering Design,, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Sustainable Industry/Business, POLLUTION PREVENTION, Sustainable Environment, Energy, waste reduction, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Ecology and Ecosystems, Environmental Engineering, energy conservation, sustainable development, waste minimization, environmental sustainability, conservation, solar oven, design optimization, energy efficiency, energy technology, engineering, solar energy, alternative energy source, resource recovery, renewable resource, renewable energyRelevant Websites:
http://www.rit.edu/kgcoe/ise/EPAsolarovens/index.html Exit
Phase 1 Abstract
Phase 1 Final Report
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractP3 Phase I:
Design and Development of a Low Cost, Multifunction, Regionally Appropriate Solar Oven for Developing Countries in Latin America | Final ReportThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.