Design and Fabrication of a Solar-Powered Electric Stove for Rural and Urban Communities of Ghana
Date
2019-04
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Ashesi University
Abstract
This report presents the optimisation of a ceramic-matrix composite (anthill sand and
cement), reinforced with treated coir fibres for applications in the construction of a low costsolar
powered cooking stove to solve the current trends in the depletion of forest spaces in
Ghana due to excessive destruction as a result of using firewood for cooking by a higher
percentage of rural communities. The reinforced coir fibres reduce undesirable traits in
ceramics including, low fracture toughness and low flexural strength. Sample
characterisation involved; fibre modification, tensile tests of fibres, three-point bend tests
on the composites, water absorption tests on the composite materials, hardness tests, and
compressive tests. A prototype was developed and tested for thermal performance and
analysis before the first prospective model of the stove was fabricated.
Description
Capstone Project submitted to the Department of Engineering, Ashesi University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, April 2019
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Capstone project
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Keywords
ceramic-matrix composite, ceramic-matrix, fibre modification, Solar, electric stove