Experimental Study of Charcoal Savings Achieved by an Insulated Oven with Terracotta Bricks: Implications for the Protection of Forest Resources

Abstract

This work is devoted to an experimental study of charcoal savings achieved by an isolated barbecue oven with terracotta bricks compared to the same non-insulated oven. The methodology is based on the simultaneous monitoring of ovens temperatures at the grills level using thermocouples and an infrared imaging camera. The results show that for the same quantity of charcoal used, the temperatures reached in the grill of the insulated oven are above those of the non-insulated oven and the energy losses to the outside environment are very significant in the non-insulated oven. As a result, with a reduction in the amount of charcoal by 35%, the insulated oven achieves the same performance as the non-insulated one. These results highlight the importance of insulating barbecue ovens, particularly with terracotta bricks in reducing of charcoal consumption in Burkina Faso, and consequently in the safeguard of forest resources.