Design of housing for stove use monitors (SUMs) to measure adoption/

Abstract

Billions of people around the globe rely on solid fuels such as wood or charcoal to heat their homes and cook their meals which negatively impacts health as well as the environment. Improved cook stoves negate these problems but are often not used over time. Stove use monitors (SUMs) are attached to improved cook stoves to track adoption rates. Three basic designs were generated of a housing for the SUM. They were analyzed by considering material choices, manufacturing options, and customer needs. Thermal images were taken of an improved cook stove in use to measure temperatures at key locations around the stove. It was found that the sides and handles of the stove attain a maximum temperature of above 150 °C (300 °F), and the feet and base of the stove below that. It was determined the best course of action is to design a housing for the base or feet of the stoves and use resin casting and later injection molding as production needs increase.