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Deforestation of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest of East Africa is a major conflict between the fine balance between nature and human society.  In today's world, humanity is constantly altering the ecosystem to better suit its needs.  As a result, many times nature is sacrificed for human needs as seen in Uganda with the production of charcoal and deforestation.  

Through the implementation of a sustainable charcoal reactor fueled by green biogas, the local communities of Bwindi and Buhoma in Uganda will be able to continue producing and selling charcoal for monetary income while simultaneously reducing deforestation and preventing adverse health ailments caused by current charcoal production methods.

We want to design an oven and closed system process from locally available materials that is eco-friendly, life sustaining, and easily reproducible.

Charcoal: Carbonized Feedstock                                                            15 Gallon Rocket Oven Prototype

Final Design:

                Vertical Prototype Reactor

• Fueled by Propane

• Rocket Stove application for complete fuel combustion

• Chimney affect to pull exhaust

• Reaction completion by choking method

• Thermocouple data analysis

• Reactor temperature monitoring

• Temp vs. charcoal quality

• Temp vs. carbonization phases

Vertical Rocket Oven Design

Typical In-Field Data Sheet

Test Run 2/29/2012

15 gallon prototype

*Volatile Content: Desired range for cooking charcoal is roughly between .20-.30

Analysis was performed using BAAN Laboratory.

Recommended Future Design Improvements

    Lid sealed with bricks and partial air intake choked; Pyrolysis Gas Ignition;  End Product Charcoal

A brick oven design with a simpler construction method as well as an increased control over air-flow was developed in parallel to the rocket oven design as a possible alternative solution, or to be integrated in the primary design to improve the final product.

Brick Oven Design:    

• • Fueled by Propane

  • Air intake flow controlled through orientation of brick foundation (easy)

  • Chimney pulls smoke through exhaust channels through the ground

  • Reaction is completed by choking the system with dirt

  • Simple construction of system requiring only Hammer to construct

    • Complete air circulation inside reactor promotes even heat distribution for efficiency increase

This brick oven system showed very promising results considering the simplicity of fabrication as well as the increased air-flow control. Sucessful charcoal was produced using a full scale 55 gallon prototype brick oven design. 

(Shown above)

However, due to unforeseen circumstances further investigation of this design was unable to be conducted. Despite this dissapointment, the team feels that this design could greatly benefit the final product and increase the total efficency of the system.