Turbo-cooker Wins Prize for Clean Burning
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin 
on 12. 2.07
A man with something to prove could change the world. And Rene Nunez had something to prove. After dedicating his life and fortune to his invention, he had to prove it could be done to show his family and friends that he is not following a crazy dream. Nunez claims to have succeeded. His invention, the Turbo-cooker (or turbo-cocina), could make life better for 3 billion people who rely on primitive wood- or biomass-burning stoves for cooking and heating.
According to the World Health Organization's report Fuel for Life (pdf), "The inefficient burning of solid fuels on an open fire or traditional stove indoors creates a dangerous cocktail of hundreds of pollutants, primarily carbon monoxide and small particles, but also nitrogen oxides, benzene, butadiene, formaldehyde, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and many other health-damaging chemicals." Nunez claims to have a stove that burns very efficiently, reducing the amount of fuel which is needed by over 95%. That is 95% less deforestation, less greenhouse gases and less toxins in the living space of women and children around the world.
Nunez has won an environmental prize from the UN, funding from the Fondo Iniciativa para las Americas El Salvador (FIAES) and has received a US patent for his invention. According to Nunez, in an interview in the El Salvador (Spanish), the secret to his cooker is that the combustion occurs at a much lower temperature than in a normal, open fire. In theory, this concept could apply to any combustibles, including natural gas or propane for example.
The turbo-cooker joins inventions like the solar oven in trying to address a fundamental need for humans around the world, while taking steps to sustainability which may also be useful for those of us lucky enough to consider cooking an engaging hobby or at least a pleasant household duty.
Via ::All Business and ::LA Times
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It seems that the solar oven is far superior to this? How can this even compete with the solar oven?
The LA Times (via Energy Bulletin) reports Nunez hasn't lured any investors with his invention, or even inspired any NGO's to shell out anything. Seems there's no money to be made in helping poor people feed themselves. It's a pretty sorry story.
he should get the nobel peace award not al gore
This is very cool. I'd like to see this in reality, working in developing countries that need it.
I'm glad you told me about Nunez and his cooker but I'm left with many questions:
what are his hopes for it?
is it cheap/easy to produce?
what are the political battles to overcome to mass produce/distribute it?
Treehugger - will you consider publishing more info on some stories? I get the impression you feel 4 or 5 paragraphs is optimal but there are stories, such as this, that deserve more space...
Nothing we can do about Al's award now. Everyone needs to move on. We can move on by nominating this guy for next year. That product looks like something that will truly improve the lives of millions, if not billions of people.
Interested in reading the details?
See U.S. Patent No. 6,651,645
Readily available from a variety of sources, including Google Patents and of course the U.S. Patent Office.
Easily downloadable from www.pat2pdf.org
This link might work
http://www.pat2pdf.org/patents/pat6651645.pdf
Design seems a bit complicated for easy manufacturing and repair in 3rd world countries. It is basically the same as the WoodFlame (http://www.woodflame.com/) system in that they both use fans to add oxygen to boost the fire and improve the efficiency. The complex nozzles to great a vortex seem clunky, where simple deflector vents would work. I don't have a Woodflame, so I don't know what it uses. Though it is nicely packaged and has fancy controls, I am sure a simplified version wuld work just as well.
>>It seems that the solar oven is far superior to this? How can this even compete with the solar oven?
Ever cook a meal after the sun goes down? So do people in the developing world. In fact, most farmers I've known frequently eat breakfast before the sun comes up, too.
95% more efficient? Great news! Even if the design were modified at the expense of efficiency to simplify production, this is still an invention that could make a very real impact. Less resources consumed and less time spent gathering them. A noble cause.
Is this different from a gasifier? Who measured the emmisions, and what were they?
How is this different from the Rocket Stove?
http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/Rocket_stove
It competes with the solar cooker because of speed and convenience. It will cook anytime, like when the sun isn't up or it's raining and it cooks a lot faster, 20-30 min vs 2-3 hrs. Simple.
I will be happy to learn, develop and distribute this stove at low cost among poor. Please contact
This type of equipment its great (in India there are several similar systems and they work) but people that have use for it can not even afford a normal one. In Africa rural areas a family have monthly incomes less than USD20. It will only work if subsidies are in place. For this type or any type its up to the NGO's of this world to make it happen.
As to this being complicated or difficult to make, think about it this way (it's not PC, but it's applicable...) - the AK-47 isn't the simplest piece of equipment, but people keep making them w/ minimal tools, etc... in many third world countries...
Solar ovens are fantastic, but only work when it is sunny.
This oven could be used the rest of the time -- when it is cloudy, rainy, or at night. Good job!
This is a good idea, but still has some room for improvement. The fact that it requires batteries to run a fan has three main disadvantages: 1) Batteries can be costly, difficult to obtain in some parts of the world, and are environmentally nasty. 2) Moving parts mean more parts to break. 3) The wiring in these (and other similar cookers) is directly underneath the cooking area. If water boils over, there is a good chance it will fry the wiring.
If someone could come up with a more simple design that does not require an electric fan, that could really change the world.
I really don't think this is a novel idea. It looks like a knock-off of the Vesto stove by New Tech Engineering in Africa, who have been making this system for years. Maybe I am wrong, but just Google the keywords, and see it for yourself!