epa-g2010-p3-q1 – energy peanut shell fuel for the...

EPA-G2010-P3-Q1 – Energy

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PEANUT SHELL FUEL FOR THE GAMBIA Table of Contents Abstract 1 Research Plan 3 Proposed Project/Design 3 Challenge Definition 4 Relationship of Challenge to Sustainability 8 Results, Evaluation, and Demonstration 9 Integration of P3 Concepts as an Educational Tool 11 Project Schedule and Milestones 11 Partnerships 12 References 12 Budget and Budget Justification 14 Resumes 15 Current and Pending Support 21 Letters of Support 23

Abstract P3 Award: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-G2010-P3-Q1 – Energy Title: Peanut Shell Fuel for the Gambia Principal Investigator: Jess Everett ([email protected]) Co-Pi: Hong Zhang ([email protected]) Student Investigators (undergraduates): Tyler Staudinger: [email protected], Edward Arthur Trapper III, [email protected] Institutions: Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ Student Represented Departments and Institutions: Civil & Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Project Period: September 1, 2010 – August 31, 2011 EPA Project Amount: $9,100 Total Project Amount: $9,100

The challenge faced is to develop a cheap yet environmentally friendly alternative to wood fuel in the Gambia. This can be accomplished through the use of biomass briquettes derived from peanut shells. The briquettes will be produced using a human powered press to compact the organic materials. The production of these briquettes will provide a fuel source to those in poverty, providing a supplemental income to villages that produce more than they consume. There will be a reduction in the rate of deforestation taking place as villagers will no longer need to harvest such a large amount of wood with which to cook. This project will also provide the villagers will more free time to earn money or receive and education and will lead to an increase in the overall quality of life.


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The success of the design for the briquette manufacturing apparatus will be measured by how rapidly the device can produce briquettes, how easy it is to operate, how easy it is to produce, how much the device costs, and the characteristics of the briquettes.

We will design, build, and test three devices. Two of the devices are based on existing designs already in use with other biomass materials and/or in other countries. If the project is successfully completed our device would become one of a suite of products promoted by the Engineering Innovators Without Borders center at Rowan University and would further supplement the campus’s desire to implement sustainable technologies around the world.

Supplemental Keywords:

Alternative Fuels, Waste to Value, Monitoring Resource Consumption, Agricultural Byproducts, Biomass Briquette’s , Briquette Production


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RESEARCH PLAN Proposed Project/Design Gambians are largely dependent on using wood to cook food, resulting in deforestation and time consuming wood gathering. The goal of this project is to create a biomass briquette solution to The Gambia’s growing fuel concerns.

Innovative Aspects: The solution developed will use materials readily available to the people of The Gambia; this includes the materials the press are made from as well as the choice of agricultural byproduct, peanut shells. Interdisciplinary Aspects: This project combines mechanical engineering in the design and production of the press, and environmental and chemical engineering in the fact that the materials must be carefully selected from those at hand; it also has a focus on sustainable development. Feasibility: As peanut hulls are agricultural waste, their usefulness as a fuel should be considered. A large amount of peanut hulls are available in areas that produce peanuts. The feasibility of burning peanut hulls can be assumed knowing that some farmers burn them purely as a means of disposal (Hongtao, 1994).

Peanuts make up 6.9 % of The Gambia’s economy, as shown in Figure 1 (Central Intelligence Agency, 2009). Given that The Gambia’s GDP is $779 M US (Central Intelligence Agency, 2009), the 6.9 figure translates to approximately $54 M US worth of peanuts a year. A ton of peanuts costs around $7.6 US (Central Intelligence Agency, 2009). This indicates that the Gambia produces ~ 7.08 M tons of whole peanuts/ year. When a peanut is still in its shell, 25% of the mass of the peanut is the peanut hull (Fasina, 2008). This indicates that The Gambia has approximately 1.8 M tons of peanut hulls available for use as fuel. These peanut hulls have little use other than lying fallow in the fields; therefore, burning them to cook food is a good alternative.

Figure 1. Distribution of Gambia’s GDP (Central Intelligence Agency, 2009)

Whether burning peanut hulls is a suitable alternative to burning firewood depends on whether the peanut hulls are compacted or loose, as shown in Figure 2 (Koyuncu and Pinar, 2007; (Hongtao, 1994). Firewood burns with a specific enthalpy of 19,000 kJ per kg. Loose peanut hulls burn with a specific enthalpy of 15,250 kJ per kg. This shows that burning loose peanut hulls is less efficient then burning firewood and that more peanut hulls, by mass, would need to

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services

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other agriculture

peanuts


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be burned to produce the same amount of heat. Compacted peanut hulls, however, have a specific enthalpy of 22,820 kJ per kg. This is greater than the specific enthalpy of firewood, making compacted peanut hulls a more efficient fuel then fire wood. Compacted material burns more efficiently than loose material because of its higher density. Dense material burns more slowly and therefore more completely than loose material (Schmidt, 2008).

𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑠 𝑣𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑 =2282019000

= 1.2 = 120%

Figure 2. Burn Characteristics of Peanuts

(Koyuncu and Pinar, 2007; (Hongtao, 1994)

Pollution prevention: Introducing a briquette production technology to the Gambia is expected to decrease deforestation, by replacing wood fuel with biomass waste. This will have significant environmental benefits.

When loose peanut hulls are burned they emit 2422 mg of carbon monoxide /MJ produced. For nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide the numbers are 18.32 mg/MJ and 37.72 mg/MJ, respectively (Koyuncu and Pinar, 2007). For comparison, firewood emits 1489 mg/MJ, 12.54 mg/MJ, and 19.00 mg/MJ, respectively (Koyuncu and Pinar, 2007). It is expected that burning compressed peanut shells will result in lower emissions/MJ as compressed shells burn more efficiently; however, this could not be confirmed through literature review. It is anticipated that the benefit of reducing deforestation will outweigh the impact of any increased air emission. Further research needs to be done in this area.

Challenge Definition The project goal is to create a viable and inexpensive alternative to firewood for the Gambia. The problem will have all its design constraints determined by available resources in the Gambia. In phase 1 the focus is on developing a household scale solution. If phase 2 is funded, the focus will be on dissemination and evaluation in The Gambia or the development of an industrial scale process.

The Gambia is almost entirely dependent upon wood for cooking fuel and demand is increasing

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firewood loose peanut hulls

compacted peanut hulls

Specific Enthalpy

kJ/kg

Material


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throughout the country as a whole (Table 1). This is likely due to the urbanization of the coast, and means that more and more wood must be either harvested or imported.

Table 1: Commercial fuel wood trade in The Gambia (FAO 2002) Year Total Country-wide fuel consumption (m3) 1996 17,576.35 1997 17,752.67 1998 38,930.60 1999 45,770.96 Total 120,030.58

Note: This table is only documented trade.

A fuel wood survey carried out by National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) indicated that 97.8% of all Gambian households surveyed use wood as their primary source of fuel particularly for cooking (FAO, 2002). Presently, for the majority of the Gambian population, no other energy source is more economical than wood. According to the survey results, some 73% of the households sampled use the traditional 3-stone stove for cooking.

Various studies have been undertaken to estimate the fuel wood consumption and demand of the country. These estimates give consumption rates varying from 0.34 to 1.44 m3 per capita per year, with the most likely value between 0.4 and 0.6 (FAO, 2002). Assuming a value of 0.5 m3, the annual fuel wood consumption would amount to about 650,000 m3 which is more than the annual increment of the country’s forest cover of about 523,000 m3 (FAO, 2002).

Assuming an average density of wood of 0.57 𝑔/𝑐𝑚3 (Wolfram Alpha, 2009) and an average per capita consumption of 0.5 𝑚3:

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 (𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑢𝑎𝑙) = 0.5𝑚3

𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟∗ 570

𝑘𝑔𝑚3 = 285

𝑘𝑔𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 (𝐺𝑎𝑚𝑏𝑖𝑎) = 285𝑘𝑔𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟

∗ 1.71 𝑀𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑃𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 = 487,350𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑠

𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟

Something must be done to decrease the current wood consumption of the Gambian population.

One challenge is to determine if peanut shells are plentiful enough for briquetting to have any chance at reducing wood fuel consumption significantly. If the average peanut shell briquette is 2 in thick, possesses a 6 in outer diameter and a 1 in inner diameter (a doughnut shaped configuration):

𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 = ��𝟏𝟓.𝟐𝟒 𝐜𝐦

𝟐�𝟐

𝛑 − �𝟐.𝟓𝟒 𝐜𝐦

𝟐�𝟐

𝛑�𝟓.𝟎𝟖 𝐜𝐦 = 𝟗𝟎𝟎 .𝟗𝟔 𝐜𝐦𝟑 = 𝟎.𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟗 𝐦𝟑

Assuming an average annual per capita consumption of .5 𝑚3 (FAO, 2002):

𝐵𝑟𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟(𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑢𝑎𝑙)

= 0.5 𝑚3

0.0009 𝑚3 = 555.56 𝐵𝑟𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑠

𝐵𝑟𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑎𝑦(𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑢𝑎𝑙) =555.56

365= 1.52 𝐵𝑟𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑠


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Dividing this by the efficiency factor of burning compressed peanuts vs. wood yields: 1.521.2

= 1.26 𝐵𝑟𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑎𝑦

If it takes an average of five minutes to load and operate a briquette press and approximately 10 briquettes are produced per use then:

𝐷𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑦 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 =10

5 𝑚𝑖𝑛∗ 60 𝑚𝑖𝑛/ℎ𝑟 ∗ 3 ℎ𝑟 = 360

𝐵𝑟𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑠3 ℎ𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑢𝑠𝑒

𝐹𝑢𝑒𝑙 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑠 𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 =3601.26

𝐵𝑟𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑠 𝑎 𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑎𝑦

≈ 286 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒

One device used 3 hours a day fulfills the daily fuel needs of 286 people!

One device could save 286 people over 257,400 Dalasi per year on fuel costs, given that each individual spends about 75 Dalasi/month. This assumes the peanut shells can be obtained at zero cost.

Let us examine how much the briquette press can assist with reducing fuel consumption, assuming the Gambia has 1.8 million tons of peanut hulls available and the wood consumption per year is 487,350,000 𝑘𝑔

𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟

(1.8 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑠) ∗907.18 𝑘𝑔

1 𝑡𝑜𝑛= 1.904 ∗ 109𝑘𝑔 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑠 𝑎𝑣𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒

1.904 ∗ 109 𝑘𝑔 𝑎𝑣𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 487350000 𝑘𝑔 𝑑𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑑

= 3.30 = 330%

Peanut hulls can supply all of The Gambia’s wood fuel needs.

There are a number of challenges to developing a household scale briquette maker for peanut shells in the Gambia. The existence of industrial peanut shell briquetting indicates that peanut shells can be compressed to form a briquette fuel (Bennett, 1987). Past experience with peanut shell briquettes indicates that they do not burn well in all types of stoves. Various stove designs are available. It may be necessary to adjust the shape and size of the briquettes to ensure acceptable combustion in a wider range of stoves.

Much can be learned by examining devices used in other countries and with other materials. Examples of materials that have been successfully briquetted at the household scale include waste papers, sawdust, leaves, wood shavings, rice husk, rice straw, sugar cane (Ahmed et al. 2008; Nakka ,2009). A number studies indicate that the quality of briquettes can be effected by a number of factors, such as heat, moisture content, and component ratios (Bhattacharya et al. 2009, Chou et al 2009a; Chou et al. 2009b). We will need to experiment to obtain optimal peanut shell briquettes. Based on an investigation of existing presses, we have developed Device 1, shown in Figure 3. Our simple design is composed of a wooden rectangular frame bolted together so it can withstand the pressure, a segment of a PVC pipe to hold the organic material, a stand to hold the PVC in place, and a hand powered hydraulic press such as a carjack.


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Figure 3. Device 1 - Simple Briquetting Machine

A practical, low-tech method of processing selected agro-residues was developed in the mid 1980’s (Legacy Foundation, 2009; Beach Rotary, 2009). A wooden briquette press was developed (Device 2, Figure 4). Legacy foundation, a US based non-profit adopted the technology and proceeded to develop a field-based extension package. Legacy has delivered it directly to seven nations over the past eight years. Six technical training and applications manuals have been developed which cover important aspects of the agro-residue fuel briquette technology. These manuals are based on ten year's experience in the field and the lab. Manual titles include Porta Press™: A Users Manual, Porta Press™: Construction Manual Fuel Briquette Press Kit: A Construction Manual, Briquette making: A User's Manual, Fuel Briquettes; A Trainer's Manual and Fuel Briquettes: Theory and Applications from Around the World. These manuals will be used to guide our efforts for the Gambia. We will build and test their device, shown in Figure 4.

The Paper Recycling Skills Project, a Gambian charity, is using a metallic rectangular hand powered press (Device 3, Figure 5); to create briquettes composed of waste paper/cardboard and sawdust (PRSP, 2008). The project intends to utilize 40 tons of waste paper/cardboard and 110 tones of sawdust to produce 150 tons of briquettes per year. We will attempt to coordinate our efforts with this group. We will build their device and test it on peanut shells.


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Figure 4. Device 2 - Simple Briquetting Machine (Continental Drift, 2008)

Figure 5. Device 3 - Simple Briquetting Machine (PRSP, 2008)

Relationship of Challenge to Sustainability (People, Prosperity and the Planet) The proposed project will help people, prosperity, and the planet. With respect to people: The Gambia is a poor nation and as such its citizens still depend on wood for cooking fuel. The time it takes to gather the fuel can be quite high. Briquette press technology will allow a reduction in the time it takes to get the necessary amount of fuel for daily cooking needs. Women and children, the typical wood gatherers, will have more time to perform other activities such as earning money thru a job or receiving an education (Mabona, 2009;


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Ahmed et al., 2008). Production and gathering of the biomass can be accomplished more safely, as there will less need to go beyond the village limits in search of wood. With respect to prosperity: There are a number of economic concerns currently plaguing the Gambia in regards to fuel wood. There are approximately 1.71 million people living in the Gambia and the average paying citizen uses 1kg/day of firewood at a cost of 2.5 Dalasi /day. Though many gather wood from the country side for “free”, let us assume that 2.5 Dalai is a good estimate of the economic value of wood, in which case the annual value of wood fuel is over 1.5 Billion Dalasi (PRSP, 2008). At current exchange rates this is over $62 Million US.

𝐸𝑥𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 =. 04 𝑑𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑎𝑟

1 𝑑𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑖 𝑜𝑛 𝐷𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 14𝑡ℎ 2009

1.71 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 ∗ 2.5 𝐷𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑦

∗ 365 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟

= 1,560,375,000𝐷𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟

𝐴𝑛𝑛𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝐺𝑎𝑚𝑏𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝐹𝑢𝑒𝑙 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑠 = $62,415,000𝑈𝑆𝐷𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟

Assuming briquettes would sell for the price of fuel wood, a Gambian citizen making fuel briquettes from waste biomass could make the following gross revenue per year:

2.5 𝐷𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑦

∗ 365 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠 = 912.5𝐷𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑖

𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛 𝑏𝑢𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑑

Should this technology be implemented it can fulfill the fuel needs of many Gambian citizen’s and spawn a micro-economy. This micro-economy will consist of the production, distribution and sale of the produced fuel briquettes. With proper training and distribution of the briquette production technology this micro-economy could arise in less than six months. Additionally the briquette press technology will reduce the need for wood imports from Senegal and other neighboring countries, saving citizens a great deal of money and aiding the Gambian economy.

With respect to the planet: According to the United Nations, the rate of deforestation in Africa is twice as high as in the rest of the world because a large majority of the population depends entirely on firewood for cooking fuel (Doyle, 2008). The briquette press technology would reduce deforestation, erosion, and desertification as it would reduce the need to harvest wood. The press technology also uses an agricultural waste product that would normally be discarded so production of briquettes requires zero consumable resources that are needed by the Gambians. In some areas, such as the capital city of Banjul, peanut shell refuse is so prevalent there are mounds of it along the road which people can take for free (Gambia Guide, 2009). Providing a simple and reliable method for converting peanut shells to a wood fuel substitute will reduce deforestation in The Gambia.

Results, Evaluation and Demonstration The briquette machine described in Figure 3 (Device 1) is one of a suite of three that will be constructed and tested. Device 2 (Figure 4) is a wooden frame designed to provide a lever arm to increase the force generated by the human arm and transfer it into compressive force on the biomass. Device 3 (Figure 5) is a metallic brick-shaped receptacle to which a metal lid is applied and the biomass is compressed by human power alone. This model has a number of potential


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issues associated with it, for one there may not be enough compressive force to yield an efficiently burning briquette, and manual compression requires a lot of hard labor.

The designs shown here have been used outside of the Gambia and on non-peanut shell waste biomass. We will build the three devices, test them on peanut shells under varying conditions—such as moisture content--and modify them as necessary, resulting in a device suitable for The Gambia. Peanut shells will be obtained in the US. In January 2011 the Rowan EWB chapter will travel to the Gambia. We will bring at least one device and demonstrate it in the field. Feedback will be obtained and used to direct further testing and modification.

A design matrix similar to the one below will be used to evaluate each model’s strengths and weaknesses. Each category will be given a rating of one, two, or three relative to the other devices, and the highest total score will be used to determine which design is best.

Table 2. Parametric Design Matrix Device One Device Two Device Three

Ease of Use TBD TBD TBD Durability TBD TBD TBD

Cost TBD TBD TBD Briquette TBD TBD TBD

Total TBD TBD TBD Note: TBD = To Be Determined

Briquettes will be evaluated on ease of use, MJ/kg, and transportability. A simple bomb calorimeter will be constructed from high temperature glassware, tubing, and insulation. Combustion tests will be conducted in hoods with suitable precautions taken. Bomb calorimeters are simple to make, as a search of “bomb calorimeter dyi” on the internet demonstrates. Briquettes will also be tested in typical stoves used in The Gambia.

The device selected from the parametric design process will be studied closely and modified until it uses the least amount of material, and is as cheap as possible to make without detracting from its function. Ideally the final design must be able to be mass produced efficiently and cheaply. Once a cost effective ergonomic design is selected, stress testing will begin. The machine will be subjected to massive use via a mechanical apparatus that wears the parts. If the machine is not durable enough it will be redesigned and stress testing will begin anew. This process will continue until a viable household briquetting solution is attained. This device will be introduced in eight Gambian villages with which our Rowan Engineers Without Borders chapter is working.

P3 Phase 2 funding will be sought for one of two projects: expansion of dissemination of the household scale device; or development of improved industrial applications of briquette technologies. There exists multitude of apparatus that could be built directly into a peanut processing plant to deliver briquettes right from the source, e.g., the apparatus shown in Figure 6.


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Figure 6. An Industrial Briquetting Mechanism

Integration of P3 Concepts as an Educational Tool Students in the Rowan University College of Engineering take Engineering Clinic (EC) classes in each of their eight semesters (Everett et al. 2004). In Junior and Senior EC, students work in small teams on real-world open-ended projects under the supervision of one or more professor. Teams of students are organized based on their particular skills, interests and background, and matched to a particular project. The P3 project proposed here will be completed by a team of Junior and Senior engineering students in the Junior/Senior EC course.

Engineering Innovators without Borders is an organization started at Rowan University in 2008. EIWB seeks to establish entrepreneurship opportunities for the developing world. Through the Junior/Senior engineering clinics at Rowan University, engineering and business majors work together to develop sustainable devices and business plans. Completed prototypes are turned over to organizations in the developing world for manufacture, distribution, and use. The first technology developed by EIWB was a human powered grain crusher. The grain crusher project created an inexpensive and simple human-powered device to grind barley, corn, and other grain. EIWB is currently working with entrepreneurs in India and The Gambia to distribute grain crusher technology.

The P3 project proposed here will be operated within the EIWB & EWB framework and be completed as part of Junior/Senior Clinic coursework. Project information will be disseminated through the EIWB & EWB websites, the annual STEM symposium at Rowan University, and the annual Engineering Open House. The University’s Office of Media & Public Relations will also promote the project. Video will be taken of the briquette maker while in operation at Rowan University and in The Gambia and disseminated through the College of Engineering’s website.

Project Schedule and Milestones Table 3 shows the Phase 1 tasks. A – E result in the construction of the briquette making devices and the bomb calorimeter. We will then begin testing the devices, ultimately selecting one for more in depth tests (F). After two months of testing, one student will travel to The Gambia (G), with Rowan’s EWB chapter, to meet with The Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust and residents of the “our” villages to demonstrate at least one briquette maker device and obtain feedback. remaining device modification and testing (H) will be influenced by these discussions. Tasks I & J involve preparing for briquette maker dissemination in The Gambia and developing the Phase 2 proposal. Task K is the incorporation of P3 concepts in the education mission, e.g., through the Jr/Sr EC and the STEM symposium.


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Table 3: Project Schedule and Milestones

Partnerships The Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust (GHDT) has a long working relationship with villages in The Gambia and will help with the briquette press dissemination. They will also make their facilities available to us during trips to the Gambia.

Wider distribution will require more partners. We will work with our contact in Concern Universidad and the US Peace Corps to identify additional partners as needed, such as the Paper Recycling Skills Project.

References Ahmed, Sharif, Md. Mizanur Rahman, Md. Aminul Islam, Mohammad Mashud, Md. Nawsher

Ali Moral (2008) “Role of Biomass Briquetting in the Renewable Energy Sector and Poverty Diminution for Bangladesh” , Proceedings of 4th BSME-ASME International Conference on Thermal Engineering, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Beach Rotary (2009) “Biomass Cooking Fuel Briquettes in Uganda”, beachrotary.org, accessed December 1st 2009.

Bennett, Keith (1987) “Groundnut Shell Briquetting in the Gambia”, Boiling Point, 12, accessed December 15, 2009.

Central Intelligence Agency (2009) “The Gambia,” CIA World Factbook, www.cia.gov, accessed September 12, 2009.

Continental Drift (2008) “The Briquette Press”, www.continentaldrift.net, accessed Dec 16, 2009.

Task Month 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

A. Update literature review of relevant and current approaches to challenge

B. Refine project/design goals and objectives

C. Develop qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods

D. Build devices E. Build bomb calorimeter F. Test devices, select 1 for more

testing

G. Travel to The Gambia H. Build fatigue tester and test I. Complete Implementation Plan J. Develop Phase 2 Proposal K. Incorporate P3 concepts into

educational mission

http://www.continentaldrift.net/�


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Doyle, A. (2008) “Africa’s Deforestation Twice World Rate, Says Atlas,” Reuters, www.reuters.com, accessed September 20, 2009.

Fasina, O. ( 2008) “Physical Properties of Peanut Hull Pellets,” Elsevier B. V., 99, pp. 1259-1266.

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Gambia Guide (2009) “Gambia Ground Nut Farming”, www.accessgambia.com, accessed October 30, 2009.

Koyuncu, T., Pinar, Y., 2007, “The Emissions from a Space-Heating Biomass Stove,” Elsevier B.V., 31, pp. 73-79.

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Wolfram Alpha (2009) “Density of Wood”, www.wolframalpha.com, accessed December 3, 2009.

Zonglin, S., Baoqi, H., Hongyin, Y., Guoxi, L., Zhijian, G., Changhai, L., Hongtao, L. (1994) “The Technology of Converting Biomass into Shaped Fuels,” Integrated Energy Systems in China: The Cold Northeastern Experience, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, www.fao.org, accessed September 15, 2009.

Chou, Chuen-Shii, Sheau-Horng Lin, Wen-Chung Lu (2009) “Preparation and characterization of solid biomass fuel made from rice straw and rice bran”, Fuel Processing Technology 90:980–987.

Chou, Chuen-Shii, Sheau-Horng Lin, Chun-Chieh Peng, Wen-Chung Lu (2009) “The optimum conditions for preparing solid fuel briquette of rice straw by a piston-mold process using the Taguchi method”, Fuel Processing Technology, 90:1041–1046.

Bhattacharya, S., M. Augustus Leon, and Md. Mizanur Rahman (2009) “A Study on Improved Biomass Briquetting”, at www.retsasia.ait.ac.th, accessed December 15, 2009.

http://www.retsasia.ait.ac.th/�


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Budget and Justification

DESCRIPTION AMOUNT Travel

National Sustainable Design Expo ( 3 days-2 prof. & 3 students) $2,700 The Gambia (10 days-1 student) $2,500

Supplies Device 1 (multiple) $400 Device 2 (multiple) $400 Device 3 (multiple) $400 Bomb Calorimeter (constructed from off the shelf components) $400 Device selected for second round of testing $800 Fatigue Tester (reciprocating device) $1500 Gambian stoves suitable for briquettes (multiple) $200

Total $9,300 The project will be completed in a two-semester Jr/Sr Engineering Clinic (EC) taught by Professors Everett and Zhang. Summer effort is also anticipated. The course will include at least 4 students, with at least one from Civil & Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Electrical and Computer Engineering. In addition to the two students identified in the proposal, additional students will be identified through the normal EC student selection process. Professor Everett will ensure that the students develop a suitable device for the Gambia and supervise construction of the bomb calorimeter. He will also ensure that activities are coordinated with Rowan EWB, Rowan EIWB, and the Gambian Horse and Donkey Trust (GHDT). Professor Everett is the EWB faculty advisor and works closely with the advisor of EIWB. Professor Zhang will ensure that the students design and build a suitable Fatigue test apparatus. Prof. Zhang has extensive experience with fabrication. The College of Engineering maintains suitable fabrication equipment and employs a full time machinist. Both professors will oversee device design-build-test activities. The supervision of the students in a Jr.Sr clinic is valued at a half-month salary, i.e., five to six thousand dollars. This is provided by Rowan University. Funds are requested for travel to the National Sustainable Design Expo (2 professors and 3 students) and travel to The Gambia (1 student). The student travelling to the Gambia will travel with the Rowan EWB chapter. The GHDT will provide food and board while the Rowan student is in the villages. GHDT room and board is valued at $30 per day per person. GHDT will also help coordinate efforts with local villagers. The rest of the funding is requested to build the devices, the bomb calorimeter and the fatigue test apparatus, and purchase/construct a range of Gambia-style stoves. The Rowan curriculum is very hands-on. Students, faculty, and staff are adept at the design-build-test process. The Gambian stoves will be purchased during a January 2010 Rowan EWB trip to the Gambian, in anticipation of funding, or they will be fabricated at Rowan based on Gambian specifications.


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Tyler Staudinger (Undergraduate) [email protected], 973-534-1818 Objective: To obtain P3 funding. Education Bachelor of Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering Anticipated May 2011 Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey GPA 3.2 Bantivoligo honors scholarship Technical Projects Model Space Shuttle Fuel and Oxidizer System Fall 2007 Team member in the construction of a model fuel and oxidizer transfer system for a space shuttle Used knowledge of electrical circuitry and other physics principals to complete project Remote Monitored Aquarium Spring 2008 Team member in the construction of a remote monitored aquarium that streams live data on water quality parameters as well as a live camera feed Used knowledge of MS-DOS, Adobe Dreamweaver, HTML, and FTP protocols to complete project Laser guided missile modeling Fall 2008 Team member in the construction of a mathematical model of a laser guided missile firing scenario Used knowledge of calculus, functions in 3-space, and vector value functions Wind Turbine Optimization Project Winter 2008 Team member in the construction of a computer simulation to optimize a wind turbine to produce the greatest amount of electrical power Used knowledge of C++, parametric design process, and blade element theory to accomplish goals Technical Skills Operating Systems: Windows XP/ Windows Vista, Linux(Ubuntu), Unix(Solaris), MAC OS 10, MS-DOS, Programming Languages: C++, Visual Basic, Java, Matlab, Xilinx HDL, Microsoft Office 2003/2008, Design Tools: Mentor Graphics, ModelSim, P-CAD, P-Spice, Multimeters, Oscilloscopes Professional Societies/Awards Engineers without Borders, EWB Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, IEEE Work History Computer Lab Manager Fall 2008-Present Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ

mailto:[email protected]�


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Edward Arthur Trapper III (Undergraduate) 835 Arlington Ave , Forked River, NJ, 08731 (609)971-0138 [email protected]

Objective

Obtain P3 Funding

Education Diploma Lacey Township High School – 4.33 GPA

Associate in Science, Mechanical Engineering

Ocean County College, Toms River NJ

NJ Stars Program – 3.813 GPA

Graduated with high honors (Magna Cum Laude)

Bachelor Degree in Engineering

Rowan University, Glassboro NJ

• Major: Mechanical Engineering • Member of NJ Stars II program • 1 of 11 selected for transfer into M.E.

June 2007

May 2009

Transferred fall 2009

Expected graduation:

Summer 2011

Awards/

Leadership High School • High Honor Roll - ten marking periods

• High Honor Roll Award - two consecutive years

• Perfect Attendance Award - one year

• Elks Peer Leadership Conference

• 1st

• Industrial Technology Award

place Craftsman Fair Award - four consecutive years

• Athletic/Activity Award - three consecutive years

Employment Summer/Part Time

• Lacey Township Grounds Department – summer 2005

• Lukoil Gas Station – part time junior and senior year

• Self employed lawn cutting – June 2005 to 2008

• JRG electric – Summer 2007

• Exelon Nuclear Generating Station, Oyster Creek (Engineering intern) – Summer 2009


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Jess W. Everett (PI) Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Education Duke University Civil & Environmental Engineering B.S.E. 1984 Duke University Civil & Environmental Engineering M.S. 1986 Duke University Civil & Environmental Engineering Ph.D. 1991 Work Experience Rowan University, Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering (01-present) Dalarna University, Visiting Professor, Energy & Environmental Technology (2006), Borlänge,

Sweden Rowan University, Associate Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering (98-01) University of Oklahoma, Associate Professor with tenure, Civil Engineering & Environmental

Science (97-98) University of Oklahoma, Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering & Environmental Science (91-

97) Interests • Environmental Engineering • Clean Energy • Sustainable Engineering • Engineers Without Borders • Education innovation Recent Publications Jansson, P., W. Riddell, J. Everett (2008) “Teaching Sustainable Design Via Experiential

Learning,” International Journal of Technology, Knowledge and Society, Accepted subject to revision.

Sukumaran, B., Y. Mehta, T. Bryant, R. D’Intino, A. Marchese, J. Everett, and Z. Gephardt (2007), “Generating entrepreneurship opportunities for the developing world through the engineering curriculum,” World Transaction in Engineering and Technology Education, Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 37-40.

Everett, J., L. Kennedy, E. Becvar (2006) “Field-scale Demonstration of Induced Biogeochemical Reductive Dechlorination at Dover Air Force Base, Dover, Delaware”, J. of Contaminant Hydrology, 88:119-136.

Canty, G., and J. Everett (2006) “Alkaline Injection Technology: Field Demonstration”, Fuel, 85:2545-2554.

Everett, J., L. Kennedy, J. Gonzales (2006) “Natural Attenuation Assessment Using Mineral Data”, Practical Periodical of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste Management, ASCE, 10(4):256-263.

Canty, G., and J. Everett (2006) “Injection of Fluidized Combustion ash to Mine Workings for Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage”, Mine Water and Environment, 25(1):45–55.

Kennedy, L., J. Everett, and J. Gonzales (2006) “Assessment of Biogeochemical Natural Attenuation and treatment of Chlorinated Solvents”, Altus Air Force Base, Altus, Oklahoma”, J. of Contaminant Hydrology, 83(3-4):221-236.


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Everett, J., L. Head, B. Sukumaran, J. Orlins and K. Jahan (2006) “Field Experiences in Engineering Courses”, World Transactions on Engineering and Technology Education, 4(2):269-272.

Jahan, K., J. Everett, R. Hesketh, P. Jansson, K. Hollar (2004) “Environmental Education for all Engineers” Water Science and Technology, 49(8):19-25.

Everett, J. and P. Riley (2003) “Using Surveys to Understand Curbside Recycling Programs”, J. of Solid Waste Technology and Management, 29(3):192-205.

Recent Projects Everett, J., D. Cleary, P. Jansson, “Solar Array Design: NJDMAVA Headquarters and W. J.

Doyle Veteran Cemetery”, NJ DMAVA, $50,000, 2009. Everett, J., W. Riddel, P. Jansson, “Wind Assessment: Johnson Matthey”, Johnson Matthey,

$4,350, 2009. Everett, J., P. Von Lockette, K. Jahan, Z. Gephardt, L. Head, S-STEM: Scholarships to Enhance

the High-Tech Workforce of Southern New Jersey”, NSF, $600,000, 2008-2013. Jahan, K., Y. Tang, J. Everett, “Hands on an Aquarium”, NSF DUE, $199,649, 2008-2011. Everett, J., K. Bhatia, W. Riddel, P. Jansson, “Fort Dix Electrical Energy Analysis & Audit”, NJ

DMAVA, $20,109, 2008. Everett, J., J. Wyrick, “Internship Program and Staff Workshop”, NJ DSO, $55,131, 2007-2010. Everett, J. “AMIBA and BiRD Assessment at Lipari Landfill”, USACE/EPA, $5,000, 2005-

2006. Kennedy, L., J. Everett, “BiRD Demonstration at Chevron Site”, SAIC, $70,000 (Earth Science

Services is Principal, Rowan University is sub-contractor), 2005. Lonnie Kennedy, L. J. Everett. “BiRD Injection Demonstration at Goodfellow AFB”, Earth

Tech, Inc., $17,890 (Earth Science Services is Principal, Rowan University is sub-contractor), 2005.

L. Kennedy, J. Everett. “BiRD mulch trench demonstration at Dover AFB”, AFCEE, $50,000 (Earth Science Services is principal and Rowan University is sub-contractor).

Miller, D., M. Weaver, J. Orlins, J, Hasse, J. Everett, and K. Jahan, “The Rowan University community partnership: Wastewater Reuse in Gloucester County, NJ, US Environmental Protection Agency, $250,000, 2004-2006.

Everett, J., “AMIBA Richmond Defense Supply Center 1”, MACTEC, $8,160, 2003-2004. Everett, J., L. Kennedy, "Demonstration of BiRD at Dover AFB", Air Force Center for

Environmental Excellence, $149,000 + $20,000 match, 2003-2004. Miller, D., J. Orlins, J, Hasse, J. Everett, and K. Jahan, “The Rowan University community

partnership: Bridging environmental information to the local community”, US Environmental Protection Agency, $250,000, 2003-2004

Everett, J., L. Kennedy, "Assessment of Enhanced Bioremediation at Altus AFB", Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence, $41,000, 2002-2004.


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Hong Zhang (Co-PI) Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Rowan University, College of Engineering201 Mullica Hill Road, Glassboro, NJ 08028

Telephone: 856-256-5347 E-mail: [email protected]

Professional Preparation Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, June, 2000

M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, June, 1996

B.S. in Automotive Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, June 1994

Appointments Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028

Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering (2007-present) Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028

Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering (2000-2007) University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Research Assistant, GRASP Lab (1996-2000) University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Teaching Assistant, Mechanical Engineering (1995-1996)

Publications Relevant publications:

“Optical Touch Screen with Virtual Force” H. Zhang, Proceedings of International Conference on System, Man and Cybernetics, Oct. 2009

“Using Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles as an Engineering Education Tool”

H. Zhang, J. Chen and E. Constans, iNEER Special Volume: Innovations 2007, Feb. 2007

“Design Integrated in the Mechanical Engineering Curriculum: Benefits and Assessment of the Engineering Clinics” J. Kadlowec, K. Bhatia, TR. Chandrupatla, J. Chen, E. Constans, H. Hartman, A. Marchese, P. von Lockette and H. Zhang, ASME J. of Mechanical Design, Special Edition on Design Education, Feb. 2007.

“Interactive Mobile Aqua Probe & Surveillance (IMAPS) – a Multidisciplinary Design Project” H. Zhang, Y. Tang, C. Richmond and P. Mosto, World Transaction on Engineering and Technology Education, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp425-428, 2006

“Development of a Wearable Gesture Recognition System”


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H. Zhang, Chinese Journal of Scientific Instrument, 2006-S1-304, pp792-794, Sept. 2006.

Other Publications:

“Design and Modeling an Interactive Mobile Aqua Probe and Surveillance (IMAPS) System”

H. Zhang and Y. Tang, International Journal of Intelligent Control and Systems, Nov., 2006

“Extended Visual Servoing”

H. Zhang, IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, Beijing, China, Oct. 9-15, 2006

“Teaching Tuned Vibration Absorbers in Undergraduate Engineering Education: Bridging Theory with Practice” J. Koo, H. Zhang and F. Goncalves, In Proceeding of ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, November 5-11, 2005, Orlando, FL.

"Effects of Scanning Parameters on Laser Scanning Thermal Probe Technique Crack” Characterization", Kephart, J., J. Chen, W. Riddell, and H. Zhang, Proceedings of ASNT/JSNDI Joint Symposium, Jun 20-24 Maui, Hawaii. 2005.

“Simple Mechanical Control Systems with Constraints and Symmetry” J. Cortes, S. Martinez, J.P. Ostrowski, and H. Zhang, SIAM Journal of Control and Optimization, Vol. 41, No.3, pp851-874, June, 2002.

Synergistic Activities Research: Mechatronic system design and analysis, sensor fusion, vision based mobile robot control, dynamic system analysis and control, non-traditional energy generation.

Education: Teaching innovation through project based learning, interactive learning and collaborative/team learning.


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Jess Everett


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Hong Zhang


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epa-g2010-p3-q1 – energy peanut shell fuel for the...

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