Influence of coal-particle size on emissions using the top-lit updraft ignition method

L Masondo,K Mohlapi,Hj Annegarn,T Makonese,D Masekameni

doi:10.17159/2410-972x/2016/v26n1a8

Abstract

Despite the Government’s intervention of an intensive electrification program in South Africa, which has resulted in more than 87% of households being connected to the grid, a majority of low-income households still depend on solid fuel (coal and wood) as a primary source of energy, especially on the central Highveld. In informal settlements, combustion of coal is done in inefficient self-fabricated braziers, colloquially known as imbaulas. Emissions from domestic coal combustion result in elevated household and ambient air pollution levels that often exceed national air quality limits. Continued dependence on coal combustion exposes households to copious amounts of health-damaging pollutants. Despite the health significance of coal-burning emissions from informal braziers, there is still a dearth of emissions data from these devices. Consequently, evaluating the emission characteristics of these devices and to determine the resultant emission factors is needed. The effects of ignition methods and ventilation rates on particulate and gaseous emission from coal-burning braziers are reported in literature. However, to date there are no studies carried out to investigate the influence of the size of coal pieces on brazier emission performance. In this paper, we report on controlled combustion experiments carried out to investigate systematically, influences of coal particle size on gaseous and condensed matter (smoke) emissions from informal residential coal combustion braziers. Results presented are averages of three identical burn-cycles of duration three hours or fuel burn-out, whichever was the soonest.

Highlights

Energy is an important factor for economic growth, community development and sustenance of life in South Africa (Masekameni et al, 2014)
In the low to medium economic stratum, these fuels are burnt in inefficient stoves and open fires that do not allow for complete combustion, impacting on human and environmental health (Kimemia et al, 2011)
In light of the above, this study aims to investigate the influence of coal particle size on the emissions performance of coalburning braziers using the top-lit updraft method

Summary

Introduction

Energy is an important factor for economic growth, community development and sustenance of life in South Africa (Masekameni et al, 2014). More than 3 billion people rely on solid fuels combusted in open fires or traditional stoves, for purposes of cooking and space heating (Smith et al, 2012). Emissions from solid fuels account for 4.3 million deaths per year globally (Gordon et al, 2014). These deaths are more common in developing countries with South Africa being no exception (WHO, 2012). In the low to medium economic stratum, these fuels are burnt in inefficient stoves and open fires that do not allow for complete combustion, impacting on human and environmental health (Kimemia et al, 2011).

Objectives

Methods

Results