Predicting the Emissions Characteristics of Charcoal Fired Cook stoves from their Thermal Performance Indicators

Abstract

This paper presents basic statistical model to predict emissions factors of CO, CO 2 and PM 2.5 from the thermal performance (firepower) using results from an experimental Water Boiling Test with Laboratory Emissions Monitoring System of twelve (12) different traditional and improved charcoal fired cookstoves. The development of improved biomass cookstoves with superior thermal performance and emission characteristics thus has huge environmental and social benefits because of the risks associated with inefficient stoves. A statistical Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was used to determine the degree of linear association of the combustion characteristics with the emissions factors. The models for the evaluation of cookstove emissions from the firepower of a charcoal fired cookstove proved reasonably accurate for the prediction of CO 2 , CO and PM 2.5 without direct measurement using laboratory emissions monitoring systems.