Evaluating the Laboratory Performance of Pellet-Fueled Semigasifier Cookstoves

This study examines three representative
semigasifier
cookstove
models each burning four types of pelletized-biomass fuel (hardwood,
peanut hull, rice husk, and wheat straw) using the International Organization
for Standardization (ISO) 19867-1:2018 protocol. ISO tier ratings
for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide
(CO) emissions ranged 1–4 and 2–5 (where 5 = cleanest),
respectively, suggesting that pellet-fueled cookstoves may provide
substantial emissions reductions, dependent upon stove/fuel matching
and operation, over other biomass-fueled cooking alternatives. PM2.5 emission factors based on useful energy delivered (EFd) varied by up to 25-fold, and organic and elemental carbon
(OC and EC) EFd values respectively varied by >200-
and
∼100-fold, reflecting complex variability in PM2.5 composition. These semigasifier cookstoves showed higher ultrafine
particle (UFP) emissions but lower bulk PM2.5 emissions.
Operation of pellet-fueled cookstoves at higher firepower resulted
in higher PM2.5 and UFP emission factors and higher EC-to-total-carbon
ratios; operation at lower firepower resulted in higher gaseous pollutant
emission factors. Results of this work provide technical guidance
for stove developers, users, and policy-makers. These ISO-protocol-based
emission factors are also pertinent to health and climate modeling
efforts.