Paul Anderson,<br><br>Mass production is absolutely critical in reducing costs.<br>It involves shears, molds, jigs and presses that are capable of stamping out parts quickly and precisely.<br>Try to make tin cans or glass bottles one at a time by hand.<br>
This would be impractical even in countries where labor is cheap.<br>The same applies to most of the parts of a TLUD.<br>So far we have spent about $20,000 US so far in an effort to make all of the parts (except for the reactor) shown here:<br>
<a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/22013094/150%20Gasifier/Jpegs/JP6/150%20Gasifier%20Parts.pdf">https://dl.dropbox.com/u/22013094/150%20Gasifier/Jpegs/JP6/150%20Gasifier%20Parts.pdf</a><br>To mass produce the reactor itself, we need a continuous pipe forming machine that costs about $100,000.<br>
We will invest in this machine only after we have sold a few thousand units.<br>But this pipe forming machine is absolutely necessary in the long run.<br>It knocks about $10 US off the price of the reactor.<br>With the mass production equipment that we have lined up so far,<br>
we are in a position to make about 500 gasifiers per day.<br><a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/22013094/150%20Gasifier/Pic/2012-10-21%2006.14.11.jpg">https://dl.dropbox.com/u/22013094/150%20Gasifier/Pic/2012-10-21%2006.14.11.jpg</a><br>
<br>So far we have six depots where gasifiers will be made available to small retailers.<br>These depots are located in Vietnam from Cau Mau in the Mekong to Dak Lac in the central highlands.<br>The units (all in stainless steel) will wholesale for about $30.<br>
This includes a small profit margin for the manufacturer.<br>The retailer will resell for about $37.50.<br><br>Also the retailer has to assist the household in setting up a countertop to enclose the gasifier.<br>Under no conditions should the gasifier be operated as a stand-alone unit.<br>
Here you see the construction of a countertop:<br><a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/22013094/150%20Gasifier/Pic/IMG_1154.JPG">https://dl.dropbox.com/u/22013094/150%20Gasifier/Pic/IMG_1154.JPG</a><br><a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/22013094/150%20Gasifier/Pic/IMG_1195.JPG">https://dl.dropbox.com/u/22013094/150%20Gasifier/Pic/IMG_1195.JPG</a><br>
<a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/22013094/150%20Gasifier/Jpegs/JP6/024%20-%20Within%20Countertop.pdf">https://dl.dropbox.com/u/22013094/150%20Gasifier/Jpegs/JP6/024%20-%20Within%20Countertop.pdf</a><br>It costs about $10 US to build such a countertop.<br>
Most households in Vietnam have countertops made in brick and mortar.<br>The height of these countertops matches perfectly the height of the 150 gasifier.<br><br>The company that will mass produce the gasifiers has also begun to design and make pellet machines.<br>
When rice hulls are formed into pellets, the burn time increases five- to six-fold.<br>If long burn times are not needed, then the height of the reactor could be greatly reduced.<br>We are quite excited about the idea of forming rice straw into pellets.<br>
<br>Thanks.<br>Paul Olivier<br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Oct 24, 2012 at 8:29 PM, Paul Anderson <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:psanders@ilstu.edu" target="_blank">psanders@ilstu.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
<div>Dear Stovers (and a few friends who
might find this summary interesting).<br>
<br>
On 10/23/2012 11:38 AM, Crispin Pemberton-Pigott wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
Why do you think the Peko Pe is not in (mass) production in
Uganda? Is it not a low cost and effective stove? <br>
<br>
</blockquote>
Dear Stovers,<br>
<br>
Honestly, I do not ask Crispin or others to ask such questions, but
I thank him for this great opening.<br>
<br>
The reply is not just about the Peko Pe, but about TLUD gasifier
stoves in general. And the overall response is "the lack of any
substantial backing." But here are some details.<br>
<br>
The largest TLUD mass production thus far has been the Oorja stove
in India. Forced air, pellet fuel, and massive expenditures by BP.
400,000 units as of a 2009 when BP pulled out and the business was
re-organized as First Energy. I suggest Stovers see their
website: <a href="http://www.firstenergy.in" target="_blank">www.firstenergy.in</a> New design (not sure when it came
to the market). Go to the "About" tab (then "Overview") on
the menu. And also see the About/Team tab for info about Mahesh
Yagnaraman. I met him in Delhi a few years back. Very capable.
I remember that his background was (is) in the production of
automobile parts in Pune. Solid business connections in metal
fabrication is clearly a key to making mass produced TLUD stoves.
I hope that he and First Energy are represented at the GACC Forum in
Cambodia next March, including demonstrating the Oorja for
commercial kitchens (nice product). <br>
<br>
Another corporate push to mass production is just beginning to be
seen. Philips has produced a natural draft TLUD stove. (I do not
consider the Philips forced-air unit to be a TLUD. It is a
"fan-jet" stove with enhanced turbulence like the forced air Lucia
by Worldstove, and the Ecococina from El Salvador, and now the
Biolite stoves with TEG technology, but that is a different
discussion.) Going into production in Lesotho, I believe. But
not with the Philips name on it. <br>
<br>
Summary thus far, big business with big money can give you mass
production when the bosses decide to do it.<br>
<br>
There are a few other TLUDs made with "industrial quality" where
mass production would be a matter of having larger markets to keep
the machines and workers busy.<br>
<br>
The Reed Woodgas Campstoves are "mass produced" in India and sold
mainly to recreational campers in affluent societies. I think it
has passed 5000 (maybe 10,000) units sold.<br>
<br>
The Nurhuda stoves in Indonesia are well into the thousands and are
true TLUDs. We just need more information.<br>
<br>
And the Servals "Champion" TLUD is well known, but does not have yet
the financial backing or large orders to push it into "mass"
production. <br>
<br>
Oh, and in China the Daxu company had a TLUD reported to have had
25,000 made, but I believe that stopped when the heavy subsidy
stopped.<br>
<br>
NOTE: If I have left anybody out, it is because your information
has not reached me. If you are out there and with mass production
of a TLUD stove, let us hear from you.<br>
<br>
All the rest are small to tiny operations. A few thousands of
units. <br>
<br>
So why no mass production of the Peko Pe? Do people think that
Paal Wendlebo is a wealthy man or in control of a company to pay the
bills? There is some action about Peko Pe in Zambia and maybe
elsewhere. But I do not have sufficient information to make much
of a report on it.<br>
<br>
There is also the recently completed World Bank BEIA project for the
Mwoto TLUD stove in Uganda. (see <a href="http://www.mwotostove.com" target="_blank">www.mwotostove.com</a> ) About 2500
TLUDs in the "Mwoto Classic" design have been produced with 100%
tinsmith labor. The BEIA project showed that sufficient and
accepting markets for the Mwoto stoves exist in Uganda. Production
was not able to meet fully the demand created in this pilot study.<br>
<br>
As an offshoot of the BEIA project, I am personally involved in a
start-up company called Awamu Biomass Energy (ABE) in Uganda, with
the "Mwoto Quad" as its first product. (A report of test results
on the Quad stove is available at my website: <a href="http://www.drtlud.com" target="_blank">www.drtlud.com</a>
). It has the TLUD operational characteristics and dimensions of
the Mwoto Classic, but is designed for mass production via labor
intensive processes, not machine-made. But we are just starting
(following the end of the BEIA project). Please stay tuned, or
(better yet) please volunteer to assist.<br>
<br>
End note: I have great hopes that the GACC Forum in Cambodia
(March 2013) will include a wonderful and the largest ever gathering
of people who are working on the TLUD micro-gasifier cookstoves. <br>
<br>
Paul<br>
<pre cols="72">Paul S. Anderson, PhD aka "Dr TLUD"
Email: <a href="mailto:psanders@ilstu.edu" target="_blank">psanders@ilstu.edu</a> Skype: paultlud Phone: +1-309-452-7072
Website: <a href="http://www.drtlud.com" target="_blank">www.drtlud.com</a></pre>
<br>
<br>
</div>
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<br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Paul A. Olivier PhD<br>27C Pham Hong Thai Street<br>Dalat<br>Vietnam<br><br>Louisiana telephone: 1-337-447-4124 (rings Vietnam)<br>Mobile: 090-694-1573 (in Vietnam)<br>
Skype address: Xpolivier<br><a href="http://www.esrla.com/" target="_blank">http://www.esrla.com/</a><br>