Problems of engineering entrepreneurship in Africa: A design optimization example in solar thermal engineering

This paper addresses Africa's challenges and opportunities to engineering entrepreneurs. A business environmental scan is done in line with the standard PESTLE analysis, identifying at least twenty generic problems across the continent. Focus is directed to an opportunity in solar water heating, where inadequate electricity supply combines with a plentiful solar resource amidst environmental protection awareness, to make investments potentially worthwhile. Three home level market segments are identified. Key issues in the PESTLE scan are linked with available materials to formulate and solve a design optimization model for these segments. A competition-less product emerges for rural homes. Another - for small urban homes - can be retailed at 50% of current equivalent system prices, and yet, still make profits for the entrepreneur. Both these systems attain average temperatures in excess of 57 degrees C, the fatal level for most pathogenic bacteria. The 3rd and larger system for rich urban homes incorporates a supplementary electric heater that is programmable to kick in half an hour before water withdrawal if solar energy has failed to maintain water temperature above 60 degrees C. The entrepreneur can still make profit if the product retails at 52% of the equivalent competition price. (C) 2019 Karabuk University. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V.