Measurements of improved stoves distributed by AHDESA

Presentation by Tami Bond

15 July 2006

Purpose of the measurements

• AHDESA is distributing stoves that may use less wood and produce fewer emissions.

• Our measurements examine whether improved stoves really are better.

Augusto is installing a new chimney.

Augusto is installing a new chimney.

This lady has a new Ecofogon.This lady has a new Ecofogon.

Important pollutant: Carbon monoxide

• Carbon monoxide (CO)• Colorless, odorless gas

o You can’t see it or smell it

• Causes dizziness and death• Concentration measured in parts per million (ppm)

o 1 ppm is 1 molecule of CO in each million molecules of air

Where is the CO?

Important pollutant: Particulate matter

• Particulate matter (PM) makesvisible smoke

• The particles are very small!o Diameters about 0.1 m (100 times

smaller than diameter of a human hair)o These particles cause illness

because they get deep into the lungs

• Concentration is measured in g/m3 o 1 g/m3 is one microgram

of particles in each cubic meter of air

Black particles look like this if you use a

very strong microscope.

Black particles look like this if you use a

very strong microscope.

If you can see it, it’s particulate matter!If you can see it, it’s particulate matter!

Concentration and emission are different.

Wood usedx

pollutant per wood=

total emission

Wood usedx

pollutant per wood=

total emission

Concentration in the room depends on:- Total emission

-room size -pollutant removal

Concentration in the room depends on:- Total emission

-room size -pollutant removal

Example4 kg wood

x5 g PM/kg wood

= 20 g PM emitted

There are many ways to reduce air concentration.

Wood usedx

pollutant per wood=

total emission

Wood usedx

pollutant per wood=

total emission

Concentration in the room depends on:- Total emission

-room size -pollutant removal

Concentration in the room depends on:- Total emission

-room size -pollutant removal

Solutions:

• Use less wood o Better efficiency by improving

stove design

• Reduce emissions (less pollution from each kilogram of wood)

o Improve burning with better stove design

o Use fuel that burns better

• Remove pollutants from roomo Use a chimneyo Increase ventilation

Both concentration and emission are important.

• The amount of concentration affects people’s health. o A stove with high emissions may not cause health

problems if people do not breathe the smoke.

• The amount of emission affects the environment.o When a neighborhood

has many stoves, high emissions result in poor air quality

o Stove emissions stay in the atmosphere and change its chemistry.

Homes are very close together in Nueva Suyapa. Stoves need to have low

emissions even if they have chimneys.

Homes are very close together in Nueva Suyapa. Stoves need to have low

emissions even if they have chimneys.

We measured 4 kinds of stoves.

Justa (chimney)Justa

(chimney)

Traditional (no chimney)Traditional (no chimney)

We also measured the Ecobarril, a chimney stove that was discontinued. We also measured the Ecobarril, a

chimney stove that was discontinued. EcoRocket/Ecolenca (no chimney)EcoRocket/Ecolenca (no chimney)

Ecofogon/Ecohorno (chimney)

Ecofogon/Ecohorno (chimney)

1. Measuring concentrations

The concentration monitoring package is installed in a kitchen.The concentration monitoring

package is installed in a kitchen.

• Indoor air concentrations are measured with equipment that can be left in the home overnight.

• This can be done by AHDESA personnel.

Filter (forparticles)

Filter (forparticles)

PumpPump

HOBO (for CO)HOBO

(for CO)

What concentrations are too high?

• The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set standards for outdoor air.

• Any concentration that is greater is too high.• Although the comparison is not perfect, we will

compare with these standards.

* 8-hour average ** 24-hour average

Carbon monoxide (CO): 9 ppm *Particulate matter (PM): 65 g/m3 **

Carbon monoxide in homes

• If homes don’t have chimneys, concentrations can be too high.

• Concentrations are generally acceptable for improved stoves with and without chimneys.

• However, even the highest concentrations are lower than those on Tegucigalpa roadways!

010

2030

CO

(pp

m)

Ecobarril Ecofogon Ecolenca Justa Traditional

EPA standard

Measurements made during cooking

Particulate matter in homes

• For stoves without chimneys, concentrations are many times higher than the standard!

• This is true even for improved stoves.

• Stoves with chimneys help maintain acceptable air quality.

• Particulate matter is a bigger problem than carbon monoxide. The concentrations are much higher than the standard.

050

01,

000

1,50

0P

M (

ug/m

3)

Ecobarril Ecofogon Ecolenca Justa Traditional

EPA standard

Measurements made during cooking

2. Measuring emissions

• The University of Illinois built a portable cart to make emission measurements.

• Right now, the measurement has to be done by researchers.

• We hope to make it easier so that everyone can do it.

Chris and Benjamin use the emission cart to measure the stove

inside the kitchen.

Chris and Benjamin use the emission cart to measure the stove

inside the kitchen.

Emissions of carbon monoxide (CO)

• Improved stoves emit about as much CO per wood as traditional stoves.

• If they use less wood, they will emit less CO for cooking a meal.

050

100

150

200

CO

(g/

kg)

Traditional Ecolenca Ecobarril Justa Ecofogon

Remember: Wood used x pollutant per wood = total emissionRemember: Wood used x pollutant per wood = total emission

gram

s of

CO

per

kilo

gram

of

woo

d

Emissions of particulate matter (PM)

• Stoves with chimneys reduce emissions of PM per kilogram of wood.

• There could be an additional benefit if they use less wood.

• This is beneficial for the environment.

05

1015

20P

M (

g/kg

)

Traditional Ecolenca Ecobarril Justa Ecofogon

Ecolenca tests were mostly new users, so emissions may not be representative.

gram

s of

PM

per

kilo

gram

of

woo

d

Initial Findings

• In homes with traditional stoves:o concentrations of carbon monoxide can be too higho concentrations of particulate matter are almost

always too high– sometimes by 10 times

• Chimney stoves have lower emissions and improve indoor air quality.o The chimney promotes a stronger draft.

• Stoves without chimneys may be successful with user training.

Comments

• University of Illinois also did measurements in 2006. These will be added after we examine the data.

• AHDESA will do many more tests to measure 24-hour concentrations. These will also be added.

• Carbon dioxide (CO2) is also an important pollutanto Contributes to global warming, not dangerous to peopleo Using less fuel is the easiest way to reduce emissions

The Measurement Team

AHDESA• Benjamin Osorto Pinel, organizer, stove installer

and monitoring expert• Augusto Ramirez, organizer

University of Illinois• Tami Bond and Christoph Roden, emission

measurements• Questions: Tami – yark@uiuc.edu

Thank you!!