Grantee Research Project Results

2020 Progress Report: Multi-Sensor Fusion for Low-Cost, Automated Woodstoves

EPA Grant Number: SU839466
Title: Multi-Sensor Fusion for Low-Cost, Automated Woodstoves
Investigators: Venkatadriagaram, Sundararajan , Lechiara, Matt , Vangrin, Robert Z , Patil, Ronak , Iverson, Denton , Orduna, Gabriel , Wishner, Ryan , Valencia, Jeanette , Rodriguez, Alexandra
Institution: University of California - Riverside
EPA Project Officer: Callan, Richard
Phase: I
Project Period: December 1, 2018 through November 30, 2019 (Extended to November 30, 2022)
Project Period Covered by this Report: December 1, 2019 through November 30,2020
Project Amount: $14,753
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2018) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Air Quality

Objective:

The objective for this project is to manufacture a low cost wood stove that reduces indoor air pollution. An additional goal is to increase the combustion efficiency of wood stoves defined as the heat output per unit of fuel burned. The intended users of this wood stove are low-income households in cold climates of the United States, particularly focusing on Native American communities. The research adopts a multi-sensor fusion approach for the monitoring and control of automated wood-stoves in order to make them more efficient, non-polluting and inexpensive. The expected outcomes of the project are an automated wood-stove that 1) maintains the PM2.5 emissions less than 2.0 g/hr using crib-wood or 2.5 g/hr for cord-wood, 2) increases combustion efficiency beyond 80% and 3) costs less than $1000. The wood stove will comply with the regulations published by the EPA on March 16, 2015 in 80 FR 13702 for subpart AAA – Standards of Performance for New Residential Wood Heaters

Progress Summary:

The project team has completed the detailed design, the mathematical modeling and the computer simulation of the wood stove. Some of the significant features of the design include a drying chamber, which reuses waste heat from the exhaust gases to decrease the moisture content of the wood, a catalytic converter, used to reduce the emitted pollutants, and variable control of air flow to increase combustion efficiency at various stages of burn and regulate emissions. The team has also constructed a prototype of the wood stove and an experimental setup for testing emissions according to the ASTM E2515-11 standards. The materials used in the construction of the prototype were standard parts available online or locally with the intent of keeping costs low. Initial tests were successfully conducted and have demonstrated the effectiveness of the drying chamber and the catalytic converter. Operating parameters such as the fuel mass and size, fuel moisture, wood stacking patterns and air velocity as well as presence/absence of the catalytic converter and drying chambers are being evaluated to characterize the parameter space of the system and to screen for significant factors. Outcome measurements include air velocity of the fan, and the temperature for the stove, combustion chamber, baffle chamber, and drying chamber. Based on these outcomes, the team has redesigned the air-intake system to allow for more effective airflow through the system and to support more efficient burning. The team has constructed the CAD models of these changes and is awaiting construction once campus restrictions due to COVID-19 have been eased.

Future Activities:

The team has re-designed the air intake system and will conduct screening experiments to a subset of operating parameters that have significant impact on the outcome measures. The construction of the re-designed woodstove has been delayed due to COVID-19 related campus closure of laboratories and facilities for undergraduate students. After conducting detailed experiments with these parameters to determine optimal values, a control system will be developed to provide improved combustion efficiency and reduced emissions. The automated wood stove will then be tested extensively using the ASTM E2515-11 standard. It will also be tested thoroughly for compliance with the Standards of Performance for New Residential Wood Heaters set out by the EPA.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 1 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

environmental justice, emission control technologies, heating, sustainable infrastructure

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.