A hi-tech wood-fired stove

A wood-fired stove may be past, but it is still used in rural areas of under developed and developing countries like India. But, when British scientist had a relook at it, from advanced technical aspect, a revolutionary wood-fired stove powered by soundwaves is developed under the SCORE (Stove for Cooking, Refrigeration and Electricity) project, to both cook and cool food. The innovation that could help millions in poor countries with scant electricity or near lack of electricity.

According to Reuters, the all-in-one cooker, refrigerator and generator will use thermo acoustic technology - a hi-tech and more efficient way of harnessing the energy in wood than an open fire.

It works like this. The "super-stove" will channel heat into a special pipe to produce pockets of high and low gas pressure, generating sound in a similar way to a singing kettle. An alternator then converts the sound into electricity to power the appliance.

The SCORE (Stove for Cooking, Refrigeration and Electricity) project director Paul Riley aims to make it commercially available on a pilot basis within four years.

He says "We are hoping to build a million a year after year five - that's the aspiration - and the price target we've set ourselves is between 15 and 20 pounds ($30-40) per unit,".