"Rural Technology & Innovations"

Science Project for the District-Level Inter-School Science Exhibition,

 RMSA-Chandel District, Manipur

THEME CHOSEN: “Alternative Energy: Green Energy”

PROJECT TITLE:  “Charcoal-heated, multi-purpose micro-oven”

RATIONALE BEHIND THE PROJECT:

Man is known to have an undeniably strong reliance on thermal energy for sustenance of his life. From day to day cooking and boiling to other activities, heat has been utilized to fulfil our needs and requirements. Taking cue of this, mankind through ages has found innovative ways of tapping and making use of this energy. Civilizations across the globe are known to have developed their own methods and ways of heating, cooking, boiling, baking and drying various items and materials. From Kilns used for making bricks and ceramics, to ovens and grillers etc., they all have no doubt made our living easier and better.

To the people of Manipur, or for that matter to most people of North East India, it has been a tradition to preserve and consume preserved food items. Drying of meat and fishes is thus common to most of us. In doing so, we use the already available hearths/fireplace, chullahs etc. Moerover, in due time, there have been many innovations on the use of fire for different purposes. Of all these, the project produced here for exhibition stands out as one efficient and remarkably easier and better way of heating, grilling or drying edible food items.

PROCEDURE: 

The “Charcoal-heated, multi-purpose micro-oven” is easy to build and easy to use. The team of students from Sita Government High School, guided by a Science teacher and under the technical supervision of Mr. Jamkhokhai, a local blacksmith and carpenter came up with a version of charcoal-heated home-made device which we call the “Charcoal-heated, multi-purpose micro-oven” for presentational purpose, under the theme “Alternative Energy: Green Energy” as it proves out to be a better alternative to the currently followed methods and proves to be a method which is greener as it saves more energy as compared to others. This easy-to-use device is also hygienic and more user-friendly.

Sanctioned by the school, the team studied the blue-print, got the necessary raw materials and pursued the goal of their science project with technical aid from the chosen local artisan and guidance and support from teachers and peers. Having developed the product, it was pre-tested and found to be superior in functions and utilities than the other methods used. It gives a better cooked and dried meat (specimen for test) items.   

Raw Materials required:

• Metal sheet- Unused vegetable-oil cans

• Pins/nails of different size

• Hammer

• Thermal-heat insulation foil

• Cutting tools and equipment

• Door latch

• Charcoal-fire

• Matchbox/Lighter

1. Grilling/Drying Cabinet: Cubic in shape, this part serves as the chamber for placement of food items to be heated/dried. The present model has a door on the front which can be latched from outside and can be opened time to time to release air/heat pressure from inside. Inside, there are two parallel rows of base on the walls located left and right. These bases serve as a placement base for racks/tray. The model has two trays with uniform size and design which are interchangeable. The inner walls are covered with heat-insulation foil to prevent loss of energy. There is an opening on the floor which serves as the slot for placing the removable and replaceable charcoal heater. The cabinet has a handle on the outside of its upper wall for carrying and lifting. The outer walls are hand-painted to aid heat insulation
2. Cone-shaped Charcoal heater: This part serves as the basic source of energy. This metal cone has punch holes on its walls to allow air flow that should keep the charcoal burning.  These holes also pave way for ash to exit the slot. Required volume of Bamboo/Wood charcoal is placed inside the cone, lighted and burnt to heat the cavity inside of the cabinet.
3. Catchment Tray: This tray at the bottom of the body is where all the exhausted fuel gets collected in the form of ash. The ash thus collected can be emptied and discarded manually.
4. Stand/Supporting pillars: The body is fitted with four sturdy pillars that keeps the structure erect and standing firm. 

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: 

The “Charcoal-heated, multi-purpose micro-oven” has a metal body made entirely of cut-outs of different shapes and sizes. For this, unused and empty vegetable-oil cans/tins are utilized. The body is made of four distinct parts:

Charcoal as fuel produces heat that emits volumes of gas. This gas is trapped inside the cabinet of this product. This trapping of gas leads to increased pressure and the end result is ‘faster cooking’ that produce better cooked, heat/dried food items (Meat, fish etc).

REFLECTIONS/FINDINGS:  The students found out that the innovative project can further ease the life of many by providing a simple yet brilliant way of aiding their food production activities. This is especially relevant as the Sita Government High School is located in a rural social set up where people usually produce food for themselves. In a region where drying of meat and fish items, baking of rice cakes and the use of charcoal as fuel is common, such innovations can go a long way in improving the lives of the people. Apart from the joy of ‘learning by doing’ that the students experienced, this project has further served as a springboard that would take the students’ curiosity and their search for innovations and excellence to a higher level.

FEATURES, FUNCTIONS & UTILITY  Easy to build and operate Raw materials easily available Non electrical heat supply Energy Source: Charcoal( Bamboo/Wood)  Hygienic and fast way for drying food items Metal body makes it durable and long-lasting Easy to repair Higher grade of dried food items Energy saving Universal mode of operation Scope for value addition Metal tray can be modified with smallerholes  and the cabinet can be elevated ( so that various levels of heat-flow can be maintained) to enable baking of rice cakes etc.,  Reduction of drudgery