Effects of Burnrate, Wood Species, Altitude, and Stove Type on Woodstove Emissions

Abstract

During the winter of 1986—87, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted an emission measurement program in Boise, ID, as part of the Integrated Air Cancer Project (IACP). This program was designed to identify the potential mutagenic impact of residential wood burning on ambient and indoor air. One facet of this field sampling effort involved obtaining emission samples from chimneys serving wood burning appliances in Boise. As a companion to the field source sampling, a parallel project was undertaken in an instrumented woodstove test laboratory to quantify woodstove emissions during operations typical of Boise usage. Two woodstoves were operated in a test laboratory over a range of burnrates, burning either eastern oak or white pine from the Boise, ID, area. A conventional stove, manufactured in the Boise area, was tested at altitudes of 90 and 825 m. A catalytic stove was tested only at the high altitude facility. All emission tests were started with kindling a fire in a cold stove using black and white newsprint. Emissions were collected using the wood stove dilution sampling system (WSDSS) for a continuous period of about 8 hours, encompassing start-up and several wood additions. The results showed wide variability probably due primarily to the difficulty in duplicating conditions during start-up. Total WSDSS emissions showed the expected inverse correlations with burnrate for the conventional stove and nearly flat for the catalytic stove. While there appeared to be little or no correlation of total WSDSS emissions with altitude, the sum of the 16 poly-nuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) quantified showed an inverse correlation with altitude: higher PAH emissions at the lower altitude.

Distinguishing the Contributions of Residential Wood Combustion and Mobile Source Emissions Using Relative Concentrations of Dimethylphenanthrene Isomers

“…(5) 1,3-, 2,10-, 3,9-, and 3,10-dimethylphenanthrenes; (6) 1,6-and 2,9-dimethylphenanthrenes; (7) 1,7-dimethylphenanthrene; (8) fluoranthene; (9) acephenanthrylene; (10) pyrene; (11) C3-phenanthrene/anthracene; (12) methyl ester of abietic acid and isomer of methylfluoranthene/pyrene; (13) retene; (14) methyl ester of dehydroabietic acid; (15) benzo[g/»Jfluoranthene; (16) cyclopenta[cd]pyrene; (17) benz[a]anthracene; (18) chrysene/triphenylene; (19) benzo [6]-, benzo[/|-, and benzofluoranthenes; (20) benzo[e]pyrene; (21) benzo[a]pyrene; (22) indeno[1,2,3-c<flpyrene; (23) benzo[g/iijperylene.…”

“…Uncertainties estimated at ±10% of the listed fractions RWC, and they represent the 95% confidence interval. 6 Based on 14C/'3C measurements of extracts after PAH fractionation. Values in parentheses are from carbon isotope measurements performed on the extract without PAH fractionation.…”

“…In addition to ambient sampling, the EPA generated a number of source samples from wood stove test burns of different types of woods indigenous to the Boise region (6). Two extracts from test burns of a white pine (SPLL-1) and an eastern oak sample (SOLL-2, not indigenous to Boise) were generated as described previously (6). Briefly, the oak and pine woods were burned in a conventional stove, at a burn rate averaging 2.3 kg/h over an 8-h period, at an altitude of 90 m.…”

Organic compounds in biomass smoke from residential wood combustion: Emissions characterization at a continental scale

“…The types of woods being burned also depend on region and can produce different fine‐particle emission rates [ Fine et al , 2001, 2002; McDonald et al , 2000; Schauer et al , 2001; P. M. Fine et al, Chemical characterization of fine particle emissions from the fireplace combustion of woods grown in the western United States; P. M. Fine et al, Chemical characterization of the fine particle emissions from the wood stove combustion of prevalent United States wood species; P. M. Fine et al, Chemical characterization of the fine particle emissions from the fireplace combustion of woods grown in the midwestern United States, submitted to Environmental Science and Technology , 2001; hereinafter referred to as submitted manuscript, 2001a, 2001b, and 2001c, respectively]. Different wood combustion appliances, including wood stoves, fireplaces, and any corresponding emissions control equipment, can lead to very different emission characteristics even when the same woods are burned [ McCrillis and Burnet , 1990; McCrillis et al , 1992; McDonald et al , 2000]. Other factors such as fuel moisture content, burn rate, log size, and log configuration also can significantly affect emission rates [ Burnet et al , 1986; McCrillis and Burnet , 1990; McCrillis et al , 1992; Stern et al , 1992].…”

“…Different wood combustion appliances, including wood stoves, fireplaces, and any corresponding emissions control equipment, can lead to very different emission characteristics even when the same woods are burned [ McCrillis and Burnet , 1990; McCrillis et al , 1992; McDonald et al , 2000]. Other factors such as fuel moisture content, burn rate, log size, and log configuration also can significantly affect emission rates [ Burnet et al , 1986; McCrillis and Burnet , 1990; McCrillis et al , 1992; Stern et al , 1992]. Currently, the best estimates of the amount of fine‐particulate matter emitted to the atmosphere from residential wood combustion are based on emissions inventory approaches.…”