Nicaragua: Solar Autoclave for Medical Supplies

Author(s)

• Jason Roland, University of Dayton
• Joseph Schambach, University of Dayton

Document Type

Report

Publication Date

9-7-2011

Abstract

The ETHOS Nicaragua team of summer 2011 continued work on a solar autoclave started by a non-profit group called Salud del Sol in 2008. The technology aims to harness solar energy in the form of heat and pressure high enough to sterilize medical instruments at clinics in rural Nicaragua that may or may not have electricity. After a few summers of attempting to use the solar cookers already in use, new prototypes were tested and a particular design has the potential to be produced in country. The final design uses a reflector of an array of small mirrors that concentrates energy on a pressure vessel containing a pressure cooker. The prototype constructed was functional but sent back to Salud del Sol for further development towards a more appropriate technology. The design was also given to the Solar Women of Totogalpa, a cooperative in Nicaragua, who will be producing the autoclaves after the design is finalized.

eCommons Citation

Roland, Jason and Schambach, Joseph, "Nicaragua: Solar Autoclave for Medical Supplies" (2011). ETHOS Technical Reports. 81.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/ethos_reports/81