Was es macht
HydrogenCooker, developed in collaboration between ECAL and LRESE, a renowned renewable energy lab, replaces polluting and emitting fuels with solar-generated hydrogen. It promotes harmless cooking and user autonomy with a robust design for local production.
Deine Inspiration
Around 2.6 billion people rely on polluting open fires or basic stoves for cooking, depleting resources. This indoor air pollution leads according the WHO to 3.8 million annual deaths, 40% being children. Inspired by a pilot project of EPFL's Renewable Energy Research Lab and Softpower, a Cameroonian start-up, we learned about this facts and consequently, sought to contribute to the continuous research. We initiated a collaboration as a diploma project, conducting on-site research in Cameroon. This involved cooking with five families, conducting surveys, and exploring local production options and facilities to gain comprehensive insights.
So funktioniert es
Softpower's concept uses solar energy in central solar power plants to generate hydrogen and oxygen from water. Hydrogen is utilized for clean cooking, while oxygen can serve other purposes. The startup will offer hydrogen and cookers as a rental service, making the technology accessible to low-income groups. To reduce initial costs, the top cooker unit can be used independently on pre-existing kitchen furniture. It can be configured in different orientations, making it a non-sided solution. The control knob on top regulates the desired heating level. Opening it reveals a neon red dot, analogously indicating that the hob is in operation. The stove operates without external power, thanks to a pneumatic air pump. The pump is driven by the hydrogen gas pressure released from the bottle and draws in the ambient air required for the combustion process. The hydrogen hob achieves an efficiency of up to 59%, surpassing conventional gas burners at 40%.
Designprozess
The specific context made a unique design approach necessary. Extensive on-site research and surveys formed the foundation of this project's development. Through steady exchange with local manufacturers, we devised a design explicitly focused on easy manufacturing and maintenance, effortless cleaning, and long-lasting durability, as it is intended to be distributed as a service. Through our stays in Cameroon, we better understood future users' cultural habits and needs. Cooking alongside families from different social classes deepened our understanding of the market, cooking practices, and local dishes. Cooking often occurs in semi-outdoor spaces, so a need arose to reposition the stove and introduce a more mobile solution. The element of mobility also facilitates cooker distribution. Considering larger portions typically cooked, the glass ceramic hotplates feature a larger diameter and a transition area for pot placement. A gradient representing an abstract sun symbolizes the power source and visually depicts decaying heat on the hotplate. The stove interface is intentionally designed to be universally understandable, ensuring language independence. To ensure the safety of children, it is strategically placed on top of the cooker so that it cannot be reached.
Warum es anders ist
A new typology emerged based on Matthieu's research, Stefan's on-site investigations and expert insights. HydrogenCooker introduces an innovative, sustainable and environmentally friendly solution that mitigates family health risks. With frequent power cuts in Cameroon, the cooker operates as a fully autonomous system, promoting user independence. To truly positively impact people's daily lives, our objective is to facilitate local production and stimulate the economy by creating job opportunities. Local manufacturing becomes feasible by utilizing locally laser-cut sheet metal parts and simple bending techniques. The appliance's design is intentionally simple, enabling individuals with minimal training to participate in its production. This project serves as a promising starting point for further advancements in solar-generated hydrogen technology, striving for enhanced efficiency in the future. Amid the climate crisis transitioning to renewables is imperative.
Pläne für die Zukunft
The next milestone is currently ongoing which is the realisation of the pilot project with ten families in Douala, Cameroon. Aspects such as functionality, acceptance and interface of the cooker are currently tested. The design then is going to be further refined and will in the future hopefully, have real impact by helping people to cook less harmful and without polluting fuels. The aim of this project is to develop the stove to market maturity and produce a small series. It also seeks to push the general debate around renewable energies and generate more funding to continue researching on cooking with hydrogen and develop further concepts.
Auszeichnungen
HydrogenCooker is currently on display at the Vitra Design Museum in the exhibition ‘Transform! Designing the Future of Energy’.
Verbinden