Search NASA⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Booker, Kayje

Publications and source records attributed to Booker, Kayje.

Lessons learned from a comparison study of charcoal stoves for Haiti

Biomass is the predominant cooking fuel in Haiti, where it creates burdens on both the environment and the Haitian people. Following the 2010 earthquake in Port-au-Prince, the need for fuel-efficient cookstoves was acute. Although several organizations were quite interested in dissemination of fuel-efficient stoves in the relief effort, there was little knowledge about the performance and usability of the proposed stoves. To help fill the knowledge gap, stove researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory evaluated and compared the performance of several cookstoves intended for dissemination in Haiti. This paper discusses the decisions made throughout the course of that work, from project identification and approach through the dissemination of results. It identifies the challenges faced and how they were addressed, while briefly presenting the data from stove performance evaluated using Water Boiling and Controlled Cooking Tests. Furthermore, it also highlights the importance and benefits of evaluating technologies such as cookstoves prior to dissemination, even in urgent disaster relief situations.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Performance comparison of charcoal cookstoves for Haiti: Laboratory testing with Water Boiling and Controlled Cooking Tests

Charcoal cooking accounts for a large portion of Haiti's energy usage and leads to severe economic, health, and environmental hardships. Organizations are hoping that fuel-efficient cookstoves can help solve the problem. In this study, four charcoal cookstoves intended for dissemination in Haiti were rigorously assessed and compared using Water Boiling and Controlled Cooking Tests. Due to the poor thermal efficiency of the traditional stove, all improved stoves saved fuel on average over the traditional with the majority also reducing the total emissions released. However, the traditional stove could be difficult to replace because it had the fastest time-to-boil, an important consideration for end users. Here, through the testing, the number of trials conducted was found to be an important consideration for error analysis. Also, noticeable differences in stove performance were seen between the two protocols, supporting arguments by prior researchers of the necessity to use multiple test protocols for practically useful comparisons.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Performance of Charcoal Cookstoves for Haiti, Part 2: Results from the Controlled Cooking Test

Five charcoal cookstoves were tested using a Controlled Cooking Test (CCT) developed from cooking practices in Haiti. Cookstoves were tested for total burn time, specific fuel consumption, and emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), and the ratio of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide (CO/CO 2 ). These results are presented in this report along with LBNL testers’ observations regarding the usability of the stoves.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Performance of Charcoal Cookstoves for Haiti Part 1: Results from the Water Boiling Test

In April 2010, a team of scientists and engineers from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBNL) and UC Berkeley, with support from the Darfur Stoves Project (DSP), undertook a fact-finding mission to Haiti in order to assess needs and opportunities for cookstove intervention. Based on data collected from informal interviews with Haitians and NGOs, the team, Scott Sadlon, Robert Cheng, and Kayje Booker, identified and recommended stove testing and comparison as a high priority need that could be filled by LBNL. In response to that recommendation, five charcoal stoves were tested at the LBNL stove testing facility using a modified form of version 3 of the Shell Foundation Household Energy Project Water Boiling Test (WBT). The original protocol is available online. Stoves were tested for time to boil, thermal efficiency, specific fuel consumption, and emissions of CO, CO{sub 2}, and the ratio of CO/CO{sub 2}. In addition, Haitian user feedback and field observations over a subset of the stoves were combined with the experiences of the laboratory testing technicians to evaluate the usability of the stoves and their appropriateness for Haitian cooking. The laboratory results from emissions and efficiency testing and conclusions regarding usability of the stoves are presented in this report.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Trading Carbon: Can Cookstoves Light the Way (LBNL Science at the Theater)

Science at the Theater: Get smart about carbon! Learn how families in Africa, using stoves designed by Berkeley Lab, are at the forefront of global carbon reduction. Ashok Gadgil is the driving force behind the Berkeley-Darfur Cookstove. He is a researcher, inventor, renowned humanitarian, and director of Berkeley Lab's Environmental Energy Technologies Division. Kayje Booker is a Berkeley Lab researcher and UC Berkeley graduate student in ecosystem sciences. She is exploring how carbon markets can serve as catalysts for innovation in technologies for the poor. Adam Rausch is a Berkeley Lab researcher and UC Berkeley graduate student in civil environmental engineering. He helps to design and test stove designs in Ethiopia and elsewhere.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Carbon Smackdown: Cookstoves for the developing world

In this June 30, 2010 Berkeley Lab summer lecture, learn how efficient cookstoves for the developing world — from Darfur to Ethiopia and beyond — are reducing carbon dioxide emissions, saving forests, and improving health. Berkeley Lab's Ashok Gadgil, Kayje Booker, and Adam Rausch discuss why they got started in this great challenge and what's next.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗