Research Article
Evaluation and Verification of Small-scale Portable Biomass Bread Baking Oven
Duresa Tesfaye*
,
Usman Kadir
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 2, April 2025
Pages:
26-31
Received:
15 July 2025
Accepted:
5 August 2025
Published:
28 August 2025
Abstract: Bread baking was the most energy-intensive activity in Ethiopia and preparation of bread was rather a long process relative to other Ethiopian food. This study presented the evaluation and verification of small-scale portable biomass bread bread-baking oven parameters of an indigenous wood-fired bread-baking oven for small-scale farmers, householders, and small-scale entrepreneurs, pre-urban and urban populations with an electrification shortage. It was an insulated rectangular box-like chamber made of mild and stainless steel sheet metal with a total dimension of 1350mm*1030mm*845mm. The oven characteristics were evaluated in terms of the baking capacity, baking efficiency, and weight loss of the baked bread. This oven comprises two baking compartments within one chamber and two combustion chambers. Each compartment bread carrying capacity for small, medium, and large bread trays with bread dough weights of 100 g, 500 g, and 2000 g of bread was 80, 16, and 4 pieces of bread. When fully loaded it has the carrying capacity of 160 pieces of loaf bread per batch of operation at two compartments baking capacity and efficiency of 96.6% and 86.9%, respectively, and a weight loss of 12.6% on average. The machine's baking time was observed at 100 g, lying between 10-15 minutes, and with a single biomass fuel feed of 5kg by 5kg for each fire chamber, the machine's performance was very effective.
Abstract: Bread baking was the most energy-intensive activity in Ethiopia and preparation of bread was rather a long process relative to other Ethiopian food. This study presented the evaluation and verification of small-scale portable biomass bread bread-baking oven parameters of an indigenous wood-fired bread-baking oven for small-scale farmers, householde...
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Research Article
Towards Ensuring Energy Security in Africa: A Proposal of Technologies and Policies
Barnabas Babatunde*
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 2, April 2025
Pages:
32-40
Received:
26 September 2024
Accepted:
15 October 2024
Published:
13 September 2025
Abstract: Energy security is the ability of a region to affordably access sufficient energy, and to utilize such energy for its growth, well-being, and overall economic development. Africa is a continent rich in both renewable and non-renewable energy resources. An irony lies in the fact that Africa’s access to energy is nearly insignificant when compared to developed parts of the world. Africa has tremendous energy resources at its disposal, however, the technological, socio-economic, and policy-oriented systems required to fully harness these resources have eluded the continent for years. This paper offers insights on how the gap can be bridged – moving Africa from being merely a depository of energy resources, to a continent that harnesses its natural energy endowments towards improving the well-being of its people. The paper begins by providing an introduction to the current state of Africa’s energy sector. It then goes further to discuss the challenges militating against energy security in Africa. Most importantly, it provides insights into the technical, socio-economic and policy-oriented approaches and strategies that can be taken to turn Africa into an energy-secure continent. The paper concludes by summarizing the actionable steps that can be taken to achieve a sustainable energy future for the African continent.
Abstract: Energy security is the ability of a region to affordably access sufficient energy, and to utilize such energy for its growth, well-being, and overall economic development. Africa is a continent rich in both renewable and non-renewable energy resources. An irony lies in the fact that Africa’s access to energy is nearly insignificant when compared to...
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