Philips develops a woodstove that saves lives and
preserves energy resources
Eindhoven, the Netherlands -
Philips Research today announced the end of successful
trials of a woodstove for cooking in communities currently
relying on less efficient means. The stove cuts the smoke
and toxic emissions which are claimed to cause 1.6 million
deaths a year. It also burns more efficiently to reduce the
load on the existing energy supply chain, without involving
dependence on non-renewable energy sources. The stove could
benefit up to 300 million families in the world’s poorest
regions.
When properly used the woodstove typically reduces fuel
consumption up to 80% compared with traditional, three stone
fires. Apart from faster and more convenient cooking, this
energy efficiency means the stove can save the cost of the
time needed to gather fuel, and should also slow
deforestation.
Efficient burning and high combustion temperatures also
reduce the amount of indoor air pollution. The Philips
woodstove reduces pollution due to smoke up to 90%, and
organic volatile emissions up to 99% of the level of
traditional cooking fires. “The World Health Organisation
has identified indoor air pollution as a major risk to the
health of women and children in the world’s poorest
countries,” explains Rick Harwig, Chief Executive Officer of
Philips Research. “It was this that first prompted us to
investigate sophisticated, sustainable technology that was
affordable and practicable for a great many of the world’s
less developed countries.”
The secret to many benefits of this stove is an
electronically controlled fan forcing air through the stove,
leading to higher temperatures and a better fuel to air
ratio. This results in cleaner burning and more efficient
use of fuel. A thermoelectric generator using the heat from
the burning wood generates electricity for the fan. Apart
from ensuring autonomy from electricity supplies, the
generator can also power external equipment like radios or
lighting. Philips Research also optimized the construction
of the stove for low thermal mass and good insulation. This
ensures that the stove takes less energy to heat up,
decreasing the time to get to cooking temperature, and makes
sure the stove loses less of its heat to the surroundings.
During 2005, field tests have been running in different
areas in India and the immediate acceptation level of the
woodstove by the people in the trial lead to the decision to
set up a commercial pilot in India later this year. At the
same time, Philips Research is looking for partners to bring
this technology to the market in (rural) areas that are
difficult to reach through our existing distribution
channels.
