Akola: At a time when LPG ‘crisis’ has gripped most households and eateries, Prabhat Day Boarding School in Akola prepares meals for nearly 1,500 students every day using a unique flameless and cylinder-free cooking system. Installed about 10 years ago, the school’s thermic fluid heater system ensures uninterrupted food preparation and has become a striking example of how alternative technology can provide long-term resilience.The school introduced the system nearly a decade ago to reduce dependency on LPG and improve efficiency in its large-scale kitchen operations. Unlike conventional kitchens that rely on gas burners, the system uses heated thermic oil circulated through pipes to generate heat for cooking vessels. The process eliminates direct flames and significantly reduces fuel consumption while maintaining consistent cooking temperatures. School authorities say the system allows them to cook meals for hundreds of students daily without using a single LPG cylinder.Working in large kitchens during summer can be extremely challenging because of the intense heat generated by gas burners and stoves. However, the absence of open flames in the school’s kitchen ensures that the room temperature remains relatively stable, creating a more comfortable environment for the staff.Seema Patil, a kitchen worker at the school, says the difference is noticeable. “There is no direct gas flame here, so the heat is much less. Compared to traditional kitchens, it is easier and more comfortable for us to work,” she said.The system uses biomass-based fuel pellets made from agricultural waste such as crop residue. It reduces dependency on LPG cylinders and absence of open flame keeps kitchen temperature controlled thus minimising risk of gas cylinder explosions or fire accidents. The system has negligible carbon dioxide emissions compared to conventional systemsThe example of Prabhat Day Boarding School highlights how early adoption of alternative technologies can offer solutions during supply disruptions and rising fuel costs.While concerns over LPG availability continue in several sectors due to global energy uncertainties, the school’s experiment demonstrates that energy-efficient and environmentally friendly cooking systems can provide a reliable alternative for large-scale kitchens.
