Cookstove Emissions and Performance Evaluation Using a New ISO Protocol and Comparison of Results with Previous Test Protocols

In 2018, the International Organization
for Standardization (ISO)
19867-1 “Harmonized laboratory test protocols” were
released for establishing improved quality and comparability for data
on cookstove air pollutant emissions, efficiency, safety, and durability.
This is the first study that compares emissions [carbon dioxide, carbon
monoxide, total hydrocarbons, methane, nitrogen oxides, fine particulate
matter (PM2.5), organic carbon, elemental carbon, and ultrafine
particles] and efficiency data between the ISO protocol and the Water
Boiling Test (WBT). The study examines six stove/fuel combinations
[liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), pellet, wood fan, wood rocket, three
stone fire, and charcoal] tested in the same US EPA laboratory. Evaluation
of the ISO protocol shows improvements over previous test protocols
and that results are relatively consistent with former WBT data in
terms of tier ratings for emissions and efficiency, as defined by
the ISO 19867-3 “Voluntary Performance Targets.” Most
stove types remain similarly ranked using ISO and WBT protocols, except
charcoal and LPG are in higher PM2.5 tiers with the ISO
protocol. Additionally, emissions data including polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons are utilized to compare between the ISO and Firepower
Sweep Test (FST) protocols. Compared to the FST, the ISO protocol
results in generally higher PM2.5 tier ratings.