Emission Performance and User Acceptance of a Catalytic Biomass Cookstove in Rural Guatemala

Abstract

A catalytic rocket stove was developed to reduce emissions and improve efficiency compared to open cooking fires or traditional semienclosed cookstoves, called poyos, typical of rural Guatemala. Traditional stoves often emit particulate matter and carbon monoxide at sufficient levels to cause respiratory illnesses and other health problems. Using focus group results, the stove was tailored to the needs of Guatemalan cooks. Field trial participants were provided with stove training to ensure that stoves were operated correctly. Somewhat surprisingly, the field trial demonstrated a high level of user acceptance in rural Guatemala, where users cooked 93% of the time with the catalytic stove despite having to change some cooking practices. In the field trial, the stove reduced emissions by as much as 68% and improved fuel efficiency by as much as 61% during real-world cooking events relative to the traditional poyo. An additional qualitative portion of the field study identified strengths and weaknesses of the stove that are being addressed as part of an iterative design process.

Parametric Analysis of a Gasification-Based Cookstove as a Function of Biomass Density, Gasification Behavior, Airflow Ratio, and Design

“…Comparing the total suspended particulate matter emissions of traditional cookstoves whose values ranged from 219 to 347 mg/MJ d , , the TLUD cookstove studied herein reached reductions between 65 and 80%. Furthermore, the values obtained in the total suspended particulate matter emissions are comparable to other improved cookstoves with wood as fuel, whose values ranged from 105 to 207 mg/MJ d . ,,,, …”

“…According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 40% of the world population cook and heat their homes with open systems using biomass or carbon due to the low cost and availability associated with these fuels . In vulnerable communities of developing countries, these low-efficiency cookstoves are dominant while, simultaneously, affecting negatively the environment and quality of life and health of children, women, and the elderly, who usually spend more time at home and, consequently, are in contact with the stove combustion products. , Indoor air quality (IAQ) presents a risk factor for the health of people; according to the WHO, every year more than 4 million people globally die due to diseases linked to pollution of indoor air in homes because of the use of solid fuels for cooking in traditional and inefficient systems …”

“…2 In vulnerable communities of developing countries, these low-efficiency cookstoves are dominant while, simultaneously, affecting negatively the environment and quality of life and health of children, women, and the elderly, who usually spend more time at home and, consequently, are in contact with the stove combustion products. 3,4 Indoor air quality (IAQ) presents a risk factor for the health of people; 5 according to the WHO, every year more than 4 million people globally die due to diseases linked to pollution of indoor air in homes because of the use of solid fuels for cooking in traditional and inefficient systems. 6 In Colombia, between 15 and 20% of the population use firewood as the main fuel source for cooking; that is, ∼1.6 million homes use firewood daily to cook their food.…”

“…Furthermore, the values obtained in the total suspended particulate matter emissions are comparable to other improved cookstoves with wood as fuel, whose values ranged from 105 to 207 mg/MJ d . 4,45,46,50,64 2.2. Control Volume 2: Combustion Chamber.…”

Gaseous and particulate emissions from a chimneyless biomass cookstove equipped with a potassium catalyst

“…However, restricting air flow was unable to return CO emissions to the level of a stove with no monolith. Despite this, a follow-on field trial study [44] determined that the stove never exceeded 24-hour average (7 mg/m 3 ) or 15-minute acute (100 mg/m 3 ) CO limits set by WHO. Due to the complexity of the system, why restricting the fuel inlet decreased emissions when restricting airflow with a blank monolith increased emissions is unclear.…”