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Pollutant Emissions and Energy Efficiency under Controlled Conditions for Household Biomass Cookstoves and Implications for Metrics Useful in Setting International Test Standards
Citation:
Jetter, J., Y. Zhao, K. Smith, T. Yelverton, P. DeCarlo, M. D. Hays, Y. ZHAO, K. R. Smith, B. Khan, AND T. YELVERTON. Pollutant Emissions and Energy Efficiency under Controlled Conditions for Household Biomass Cookstoves and Implications for Metrics Useful in Setting International Test Standards. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Indianapolis, IN, 46(19):10827-10834, (2012).
Impact/Purpose:
This study aims to systematically apply a set of sampling and measurement methods to evaluate efficiency and emissions from a wide range of cookstove technologies. Study objectives include achieving emissions test reproducibility via introduction of systematic methodology and through use of the best-available sampling and measurement technology and methods. Twenty-two cookstoves burning six fuels (cookstove dependent) at two moisture content levels are examined under laboratory-controlled operating conditions. Pollutant emissions are sampled using established hood and dilution methods. Real-time measurements of carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH4), total hydrocarbons (THCs), fine particulate matter, and ultrafine particles (UFPs) emissions are provided. In the interest of developing a novel and versatile emissions database for cookstoves, emissions rates and factors are calculated on the basis of cooking energy delivered, cooking task, fuel energy and fuel mass. Cooking power, energy efficiency, and fuel use are also calculated. Using these laboratory-controlled test results and observations as a basis, useful metrics for developing and setting international standards for cookstove emissions and energy efficiency are proposed.
Description:
Realistic metrics and methods for testing household biomass cookstoves are required to develop standards needed by international policy makers, donors, and investors. Application of consistent test practices allows emissions and energy efficiency performance to be benchmarked and also allows for meaningful comparisons among a variety of traditional and advanced stove types. In this study, twenty-two cookstoves burning six fuel types (wood, charcoal, pellets, corn cobs, rice hulls and plant oil) at two fuel moisture levels were examined under laboratory-controlled operating conditions as outlined in the Water Boiling Test (WBT) protocol, Version 4. Tests were performed in triplicate (at least) under each set of experimental conditions. Pollutant emissions (carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, total hydrocarbons, ultrafine particles) were continuously monitored using real-time instrumentation. Fine particle mass was measured gravimetrically for each WBT phase (high-power cold- and hot-starts and low-power simmer). Additional measurements included cookstove power, energy efficiency, and fuel use. Emissions factors are given on the basis of fuel energy, cooking energy, fuel mass, time, and cooking task or activity. Compared with the base-case open 3-stone cookfire, technologically advanced cookstoves show substantial reductions in pollutant emissions concomitant with improvements in fuel efficiency. Based on these laboratory-controlled test results and observations, further recommendations for developing potentially useful metrics for setting international standards are proposed.
