More about the Low Smoke Chulha October 2011

Chulha context Killer in the kitchen Respiratory illness affects the health of the huge number of low-income people living in rural, underserved areas of the world who still cook indoors with biomass fuels (e.g. wood, crop residue, charcoal or dung). 2.4 billion people, which is more than a third of the entire global population, use biomass as their primary source of energy for cooking and heating. If you include coal, the number rises to 3 billion. This is having a disastrous effect on people’s health.

The proposition A low cost, low smoke stove Together with multiple local stakeholders various versions of a stove (Chulha) were developed. With potential users, local stove entrepreneurs and a few NGOs parameters were defined, concepts refined and initial propositions tested to jointly come up with the final proposition. Two versions There are two different Chulha smokeless stoves; Sampoorna and Saral. The Sampoorna is an all-in-one unit intended for cooking/boiling and with an integrated steamer for preparing rice, lentils etc. The Saral is the more basic version without accessories. Both stove types are made of concrete and coated with local clay. Saral chulha Sampoorna chulha

Benefits of the Chulha Social benefits Less time spent cooking and collecting wood Reduction in indoor air pollution means healthier women and healthier families The slow cooking chulha fits the lifestyle and nutritional needs of this region well Buying a smart solution gives pride of ownership More living space up as less firewood stored Economic benefits Fit with all types of biomass fuel makes the chulha an economical cooking solution No recurring or running costs Modular construction gives chulha a longer life Less indoor pollution means healthier families and less spending on medical care Employment generation through local fabrication and creation of entrepreneurs Entrepreneurs earn significant supplementary income making and selling chulhas Environmental benefits Lower fuel wood consumption Less need to cut trees for firewood, therefore increased green cover Reduced carbon emissions and indoor air pollution levels Health benefits Healthier indoor air quality benefits young children and women who spend maximum amount of time in and around the kitchen Easy cleaning option reduces risk of injury

The proposition Key stakeholders NGO: The NGO is actively involved in propagating this healthy cooking solution among communities. They spread awareness about the stove and its advantages in villages. Stove-makers: The stove-maker is the person who sets up the required infrastructure to make and sell the stoves. Mold-makers: The mold-maker makes the actual molds that are used to cast the stove pieces. Suppliers: Suppliers provide the raw materials for the stove, as well as stove parts like the chimney and steam cooker. Stove-users: Stove users are the buyers of the Low Smoke Chulha. A satisfied stove-user is the best promoter of this cooking solution. Sponsor: Sponsors can assist in all or part of the stove dissemination process. From financing chulha molds or materials for the stove-makers, to arranging micro loans sponsors have a pivotal role in making deployment of the stove a reality.

The proposition Key stakeholders NGO Stove maker Stove user facilitatorentrepreneurend-user Mold supplier Material supplier Sponsor

Top Cast in cement concrete functions as the top surface for the stove, has two pot holes Chimney mounting bracket Cast in cement concrete acts as a wall bracket to support the chimney pipes. Fire chamber Cast in cement concrete functions as the main combustion chamber where fuel (biomass) is burnt. Chimney chamber Cast in cement concrete, is used to link the stove with chimney Chimney A cement / clay / terracotta pipe commercially available. Grate Cast iron grate functions as a bed for burning the fuel, drops the ash and provided air for burning from below. Chimney cap A sheet metal or cement or clay cap, prevents rain water entering the chimney and allows smoke exit. Chimney chamber cover Cast in cement concrete covers the chimney chamber. All the cement concrete parts are clad with earthen red paint * The Samporna chulha comes with a steam cooker which is fabricated with aluminum, has 3 SS containers and steam cooks food on the second pot hole. Chimney bracket cover Cast in cement concrete, works as cover for the bracket and facilitates chimney cleaning from within the house. Tunnel Cast in cement concrete functions as the duct for fire propagation. Support Cast in cement concrete functions as the tunnel support Back cover Cast in cement concrete functions as the back cover Clip Sheet metal strip to fix the chimney pipe to the wall. Label A place where the Stove name / message can be written Soot collector plates Cast in cement concrete/ clay, helps in arresting soot partials in the mid way and keeps chimney clean used to link the stove with chimney Front cover Cast in cement concrete covers the area below tunnel. Brick platform base Built with a layer of bricks. The stoves Parts explained

The stoves Modular construction Common parts Saral parts Sampoorna parts Sampoorna stove Saral stove

The stoves Modular construction

Stove details Features of Saral and Sampoorna Modular approach to address - lighter many parts, reduced thermal stress resulting in durability and long lasting stove parts Improved chimney cleaner with help of chimney wall bracket Soot collector in chimney chamber, arrest more than half of carbon particles from entering into chimney Three part chimney construction for easy cleaning within By pass tunnel helps in even distribution of flame for fist pot Ash pit below the grate helps in secondary draft and for removal of ash. Sampoorna has a steel cooker helps in cooking rice / lentils and vegetables without burning. By pass duct for efficient draftSoot collector for less soot deposit Detachable chimney connector for easy cleaning