The effects of fuel type and stove design on emissions and efficiency of natural-draft semi-gasifier biomass cookstoves

Abstract

Approximately forty percent of the world's population uses solid biomass fuel for cooking. The resulting exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter (PM) emissions leads to increased risk of acute CO poisoning, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory ailments. Although some existing improved the TLUD stoves. The maximum thermal efficiency achieved was 42%. The minimum CO and PM emissions achieved were 0.6 gMJ −1 d and 48 mgMJ −1 d , respectively. These results fall within Tier 3 for high-power emissions and efficiency and suggest that development of a natural draft semi-gasifier cookstove that falls within Tier 4 (efficiency > 45%, CO < 8 gMJ −1 d , PM < 41 mgMJ −1 d ) is possible. However, semi-gasifier cookstove designs that exhibit more robust performance are needed. The results of the energy balance model indicated that, for some cookstove/fuel type combinations, up to 60% of the fuel energy input into the stove can remain as char once the fuel bed had gasified. This result illustrates the importance of calculating both the thermal efficiency and the overall efficiency when evaluating the performance of these types of cookstoves.

Treatment technologies for urban solid biowaste to create value products: a review with focus on low- and middle-income settings

“…On household level, top-lit updraft (TLUD) semi-gasifier stoves, which can be fed with densified biomass, are a promising alternative to traditional stoves (Roth 2014). They are increasingly being researched as they have shown to be the lowest-emitting type of solid biomass cookstoves (Jetter et al 2012;Tryner et al 2014). These efforts might further increase the potential of the urban biowaste densification technology.…”

Reducing Ultrafine Particle Emissions Using Air Injection in Wood-Burning Cookstoves

“…4 Researchers have explored new environmental technologies for increasing efficiency in biomass cookstoves while decreasing harmful emissions, primarily focusing on particulate matter (PM). [5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Previous research reveals that introducing turbulence (via air injection) into the gas-phase combustion zone can dramatically improve cooking performance and reduce the total mass of PM generated from biomass combustion. 5,9,11 Injecting air into the gas-phase combustion zone to generate turbulence (here-on referred to as air injection) promotes better gaseous fuel-air mixing, leading to more complete combustion, and can increase residence time of soot in the flame, promoting oxidation of soot.…”

The Effect of Biomass Physical Properties on Top-Lit Updraft Gasification of Woodchips

“…Most of the published work on TLUDs has been focused on the application of this reactor for cooking purposes in developing countries since it generates low pollutant emissions with relatively high efficiency [24][25][26][27]. Brown [28] recognized the potential of the top-lit updraft configuration for the production of biochar and remarked the lack of research on this process.…”