Grantee Research Project Results

2021 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, 2020 through November 30,2021
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 of this project is to manufacture an inexpensive automated wood stove to increase combustion efficiency and reduce indoor air pollution. This project is intended for low-income Native American communities living in colder rural regions within The United States. In this research a multi-fusion approach will be adopted to automate the woodstove in order to increase the combustion efficiency beyond 80% which in turn will help to reduce indoor air pollution. The goals of this project is to 1) maintain PM2.5 emissions below 2.0g/hr using crib-wood or 2.5 g/hr for cordwood, 2) increase combustion efficiency beyond 80% and 3) cost 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:

After the testing conducted with the initial prototype problems with the initial design were identified, specifically smoke leakage through the air intake and insufficient air flow through the filters. The current team completed a detailed redesign of the air intake system to prevent further smoke leakage and also added a secondary air intake system to increase combustion efficiency. The primary air intake was moved to the bottom of the stove so that the air is below the bed of the fire. This will prevent the leakage of smoke since the density of the hotter air will cause it to rise away from the fire. The purpose of this primary air intake will be to provide sufficient air to begin the combustion. Once the stove reaches operating temperature the secondary air intake will take over, providing oxygen to the fire. The primary air intake is mounted with a centrifugal blower fan to which will be controlled to bring the fire to operational temperatures. To mount the fan below the stove a stand was made to elevate the stove. The stand was designed with casters to allow for more easy transport. The secondary air intake was placed below the baffles to which a small computer fan will be attached to control the airflow. This intake will be connected to a duct that will carry air to the bottom of the stove, providing preheated air to the bed of the fire. This will help to increase combustion efficiency and decrease pollution, as the oxygen will have sufficient temperature for combustion a short while after it enters the stove, readily reacting with any gases released from the wood. Detailed simulations of the air flow through the system have been conducted to validate the design. The electronic controls and sensors have been assembled and tested.

Future Activities:

The team will complete the construction of the air intake system and assemble the circuitry and components for the stove to conduct testing. Once the testing is concluded control systems will be implemented according to the data collected from testing. Finally, the operational stove will be tested using ASTM E2515-11 standards to ensure proper compliance with the Standards of Performance for New Residential Wood Heaters as set 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.