South Africa: Off-Grid Auto-Feed Macadamia Nut Dryer

Author(s)

• Jen Nichwitz, University of Dayton
• Ben Berry, University of Dayton
• Michael Luers, University of Dayton

Document Type

Report

Publication Date

8-31-2019

Abstract

This past summer, University of Dayton students Ben Berry, Mike Luers, and Jen Nichwitz, traveled to Durban, South Africa to work with Adrian Padt and Rocket Works on sustainable cooking and drying technologies. Durban is the third largest city in South Africa and is located on the Indian Ocean. It is known for being the busiest port in all of Africa and also for its wide array of cultural influences, from the local Zulu people to the largest population of Indian people in the country. Rocket Works is best known for the “Rocket Stove,” a highly efficient wood-burning stove invented by Adrian Padt. The students researched psychrometry, the science of drying fruit, in order to develop a macadamia nut dryer. This dryer was to be developed from a reused air conditioned shipping container. Additionally, the students developed an automatic woodchip feeder to fuel the gasifier that heated a previously designed off-grid dryer. Throughout these projects, the students gained an understanding of applied engineering principles, as well as communication and marketing in a foreign economy.

eCommons Citation

Nichwitz, Jen; Berry, Ben; and Luers, Michael, "South Africa: Off-Grid Auto-Feed Macadamia Nut Dryer" (2019). ETHOS Technical Reports. 62.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/ethos_reports/62