Enhancing Biomass Energy Efficiency in Rural Households of Ethiopia
Dagninet Amare,
Asmamaw Endeblhatu,
Awole Muhabaw
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 2, April 2015
Pages:
27-33
Received:
16 March 2015
Accepted:
31 March 2015
Published:
9 April 2015
Abstract: The rural population of Ethiopia entirely depends on biomass for everyday energy needs except for light. The traditional system, particularly during cooking, incurs among others huge energy loss that could have been used otherwise. The system has been recognized as having significant effect on natural resource degradation, harmful health hazards and negative economic consequences. As a result, the government has been encouraging the use of energy saving technologies. Mirt and Gonze stoves are the two most dominantly promoted technologies. Promotion and efficiency evaluations were conducted. The result of the evaluation confirmed that households that use Mirt and Gonze stoves can save more than 33% and 20% of wood biomass that could have been used if traditional open stove was used, respectively. The time efficiency, length of time the stoves gave energy to bake additional Injera for Mirt and Gonze was increased by 63% and 50%, respectively. Thus, Mirt and stoves are efficient than the traditional open stoves. Due to durability, farmers preferred Mirt stove over Gonze. Utilization of Mirt stove can save 15% of wood biomass over Gonze. Promotion of Mirt stove in rural Ethiopia is vital to enhance biomass energy efficiency.
Abstract: The rural population of Ethiopia entirely depends on biomass for everyday energy needs except for light. The traditional system, particularly during cooking, incurs among others huge energy loss that could have been used otherwise. The system has been recognized as having significant effect on natural resource degradation, harmful health hazards an...
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Preparation of Charcoal Pellets from Eucalyptus Wood with Different Binders
Alejandro Amaya,
Mariana Corengia,
Andrés Cuña,
Jorge De Vivo,
Andrés Sarachik,
Nestor Tancredi
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 2, April 2015
Pages:
34-39
Received:
6 April 2015
Accepted:
22 April 2015
Published:
5 May 2015
Abstract: At present, there is great interest in using biomass as an alternative energetic source, as it is renewable and environmentally friendly. In the case of solid fuels, biomass has low energetic density, although it can be increased by charring and pelletizing. These methods also allow the improvement of physical properties, such as hydrophobicity and resistance to microbiological attack. In this work, the agglomeration of charcoal dust produced from sawmill waste with three different binders (wood tar, molasses and starch) was studied. The procedure included agglomeration and curing by heating in air atmosphere. The prepared charcoal pellets showed appropriate mechanical resistance, higher heating value than the original wood residues and higher energetic density than charcoal. Molasses and tar used as binders in the preparation of fuel pellets allow energy densification and an adequate durability of the products.
Abstract: At present, there is great interest in using biomass as an alternative energetic source, as it is renewable and environmentally friendly. In the case of solid fuels, biomass has low energetic density, although it can be increased by charring and pelletizing. These methods also allow the improvement of physical properties, such as hydrophobicity and...
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