PFM
Department of Industrial Design, National Kaohsiung Normal University
四點設計 Contact to PFM for cooperation
PFM stands for Portable Firewood Machine, which is a device used to manufacture charcoal by grinding elephant grass and heating it until it transforms into solid charcoal. This device helps local people reduce the time and effort spent on gathering fuel for cooking and slows down the rate of deforestation. Women can operate the PFM by pedaling, which drives internal blades to crush the elephant grass, allowing the pieces to fall into the combustion chamber below. The grass is then heated to produce usable solid charcoal through thermal cracking. The construction material of the PFM insulates the combustion chamber to prevent heat from escaping, increasing safety for women users. Moreover, it promotes charcoal as a sustainable alternative material, reducing the consumption of firewood and mitigating deforestation, thus addressing health issues caused by wood burning.
