Life Cycle assessment of LPG Cook-stove with Porous Radiant Burner and Conventional Burner – A comparative study

Abstract

This article aims to compare the environmental impact of 1–3 kW LPG operated Porous Radiant Burner (PRBLPG) based domestic cook-stove with that of a Conventional Burner (CBLPG) based domestic cook-stove. “Cradle-to-grave” Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) which includes eighteen midpoint and three endpoint levels of ReCiPe method has been adopted. The functional unit includes the fabrication and the operation phases of LPG cook-stoves (PRBLPG and CBLPG) with life-span of 10 years. Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) is considered for the quantitative representation of the embodied energy of the material required. Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) is performed for 1 kW and 3 kW power outputs. It is observed that all the midpoint and endpoint impact categories are considerably driven by the operation phases of cook-stoves than fabrication. Also, PRBLPG when compared to CBLPG cook-stove has the potential of reducing the impacts on human health (DALY – Death Average Limiting Years), ecosystem damage (species.yr) and resource depletion ($) by 15%, each for 1 kW output. Whereas, the respective values for 3 kW power output are also reduced by 15% each for PRBLPG when compared to CBLPG cook-stove. This study could serve as a source of scientific information for decision-making on environmental sustainability of cook-stoves.