Institutional Energy Programme
Introduction
In January 2011 STT launched, with the encouragement of the Regional Administrative Secretary (the most senior civil servant in the Dodoma Region), an additional programme; the Institutional Energy Programme (IEP).
The aim of the IEP is to provide:
- an institutional sized energy efficient stove to primary schools and orphanages in the Dodoma urban area
- where there is enough room, a trial plot where children can grow horticultural or field crops which are inoculated with mychorrhiza.
This work will be supported by training relevant staff and children in how to establish and maintain the plots.
As the Dodoma urban area incorporates 91 state primary schools and 14 orphanages STT has set itself a considerable task. The initial planning for the pilot school and pilot orphanage is now underway.
Structure of the institutional stove
The institutional stove, like the domestic rocket stove aims to be energy efficient by saving fuel. As can be seen below there are structural and component differences between the institutional and domestic stoves. Each stove incorporates one ring for cooking and can serve up to 1000 students.
The new institutional STT stove was developed using and then improving upon a local mason’s design.
Institutional stoves have been built at schools, hospitals and other government facilities in Dodoma Region for over five years. They are seen as a major improvement over traditional three stone fireplaces because they use up to 70 percent less fuel. The dominant design being used, however, had a major defect: cement bricks, the primary building material for the stoves, broke down relatively easy. This was due to one or more factors: the bricks oftentimes did not contain enough cement; they contained too much water and/or were not adequately mixed when being made. The bricks thus would break down over time under the heavy load of the pots being used, causing the stove to be less efficient while oftentimes producing more smoke. The STT stoves circumvented this problem by encasing the stoves in steel. STT also decided to use cost-saving locally burnt bricks when constructing the inside of the stove. These bricks have the advantage of insulating heat better than bricks made from cement. STT was able to find a supplier who builds the burnt bricks primarily using waste product from the production of rice.
Stove Construction
- The skeleton of the stove is a welded iron colander with a circular piece of iron welded to the bottom.
- A hole is cut out of the back from where an iron chimney base is attached. Later an aluminum chimney is attached.
- A one 16 inch by 10.5 piece of iron is cut out from the bottom front and a small metal door with hinges is attached. This is where the fuel is fed.
- Inside the small door is a small grill where the fuel will sit. Under this grill the ashes are collected.
- An iron ring is constructed on the top of the colander and then welded to base. The size of the ring depends on the size of the cooking pot the school/institution wants to use. This ring creates a tight seal to ensure minimal energy loss.
Note
- For a stove to have a long and useful life an accompanying kitchen needs to be built. This structure does not have to be complex just a simple hut with a metal roof will suffice. Without such a structure the stove will be subjected to the elements and will not last as long.
- The potential problem with metal work is that welding relies on electricity. Not much can be done when power outages happen.
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