Mud Stoves Research Articles

Comparative analysis of fuel wood consumption of improved mud stove and three stone fire stove: a case study

Comparative analysis of fuel wood consumption of improved mud stove and three stone fire stove: a case study

Health risk perceptions of household air pollution and perceived benefits of improved stoves among pregnant women in rural Ethiopia: a mixed method study

ObjectiveSince community perceptions of the risk of biomass smoke and the benefits of improved stoves play a critical role in behaviour change to the uptake and sustainable utilisation of improved...

Indoor Air Quality among the Rural Community of Bhutan

Introduction: Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) in Bhutan remains a concern, as firewood and biomass combustion are the fuels generally used for cooking and heating. The adverse impact of indoor air pollution (AIP) on health is inevitable and requires further evidence to be acquainted with strategic modifications. This study aimed to determine IAQ in the rural communities of Bhutan. Method: Air sampling equipment DUSTTRA DRX Aerosol Monitor was used to collect samples from 161 rural households with randomised sampling from February to June 2021. An hourly survey included data extraction regarding particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 ) and common health problems among household members. Results: IAQ worsened during the cooking hours, where PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 increased by 118%, 112.2%, and 111.6%, respectively. Overall, 77% of households used firewood for cooking, 96.3% used it for room heating, and 100% used fodder for cooking. The main source of higher indoor air pollution was associated with the combustion of sawdust, firewood, and biogas. Similarly, traditional mud stoves generated more IAP than gas and modified mud stoves. It is found that there is a significant association of longer hours of window-opening (p < 0.05) and more numbers of rooms (p < 0.001), with IAP. Common health-related complaints comprised eye irritation (22%), headache (22%), coughing (19%), and skin irritation (11%). Conclusion: This study recorded high concentrations of PM during biomass combustion in rural houses in Bhutan. The Study demonstrated the importance of modified stoves with efficient venting systems as alternatives to counter the long-term burden of IAP.

Environmental and financial benefits of improved cookstove technologies in the central highlands of Ethiopia

This study assessed the potential contributions of improved cookstoves in increasing organic fertilizer availability for application to farmland, greenhouse gas emission mitigation and improvement of household finances using the Kitchen Performance Test, Controlled Cooking Test, household survey and focus group discussions. Substitution of a three-stone open fire with improved cookstoves significantly (p < 0.01) improved fuel use efficiency by 54% (highest) for the mirt stove with an additional biogas stove and 32% (lowest) for the mud stove without an additional biogas stove. The greenhouse gas emission reductions in carbon dioxide equivalents were 4534 (±32) kg y−1, 6370 (±42) kg y−1, 6953 (±51) kg y−1, 7661 (±43) kg y−1 for the mud stove, mirt stove, mud stove with an additional biogas stove and mirt stove with an additional biogas stove respectively. The average financial savings from the sale of surplus biomass fuel for the improved cookstoves were higher than the summed financial savings from substitution of commercial fertilizer, generation of carbon finance and replacement of kerosene for lighting. This explains why households usually prefer to sell surplus biomass fuels instead of using them as organic fertilizers. This finding suggests that wide scale adoption of fuel-efficient solid biomass stoves can contribute to the financial security of households, and may help to reduce green gas emissions, but will do little to increase the fertility of soils. By contrast, including biogas stoves will help to improve soil fertility by retaining at least some of the carbon and nutrients in bioslurry that will then be applied to the soil.

Incentivizing Elimination of Biomass Cooking Fuels with a Reversible Commitment and a Spare LPG Cylinder.

In India, approximately 480,000 deaths occur annually from exposure to household air pollution from the use of biomass cooking fuels. Displacing biomass use with clean fuels, such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), can help reduce these deaths. Through government initiatives, most Indian households now own an LPG stove and one LPG cylinder. Many households, however, continue to regularly use indoor biomass-fueled mud stoves (chulhas) alongside LPG. Focusing on this population in rural Maharashtra, India, this study (N = 186) tests the effects of conditioning a sales offer for a spare LPG cylinder on a reversible commitment requiring initially disabling indoor chulhas. We find that almost all relevant households (>98%) were willing to accept this commitment. Indoor chulha use decreased by 90% (95% CI = 80% to 101%) when the sales offer included the commitment, compared to a 23% decrease (95% CI = 14% to 32%) without it. For both treatment groups, we find that 80% purchased the spare cylinder at the end of the study.

Environmental and Financial Benefits of Improved Cookstove Technologies in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia

This study assessed the potential contributions of improved cookstoves in enhancing organic fertilizer availability for application to farmland, greenhouse gas emission mitigation and improvement of household finances using the Kitchen Performance Test and Controlled Cooking Test. Substitution of a three-stone open fire with improved cookstoves significantly (p<0.01) improved fuel use efficiency by 54% (highest) for the mirt stove together with biogas and 32% (lowest) for the mud stove without biogas. The greenhouse gas emission reductions in carbon dioxide equivalents were 4534(±32) kg y -1 , 6370(±42) kg y -1 , 6953(±51) kg y -1 , 7661(±43) kg y -1 for the mud stove, mirt stove, mud stove with biogas and mirt stove with biogas respectively. The average financial savings from the sale of surplus biomass fuel for the improved cookstoves were higher than the summed financial savings from substitution of commercial fertilizer, generation of carbon finance and replacement of kerosene for lighting. This explains why households usually prefer to sell surplus biomass fuels instead of using them as organic fertilizers. This finding suggests that wide scale adoption of fuel-efficient solid biomass stoves can contribute to the financial security of households, and may help to reduce deforestation, but will do little to increase the fertility of soils. By contrast, including biogas stoves will help to improve soil fertility by retaining at least some of the carbon and nutrients in bioslurry that will then be applied to the soil.

Nepal Ambient Monitoring and Source Testing Experiment (NAMaSTE): emissions of particulate matter from wood- and dung-fueled cooking fires, garbage and crop residue burning, brick kilns, and other sources

Abstract. The Nepal Ambient Monitoring and Source Testing Experiment (NAMaSTE) characterized widespread and under-sampled combustion sources common to South Asia, including brick kilns, garbage burning, diesel and gasoline generators, diesel groundwater pumps, idling motorcycles, traditional and modern cooking stoves and fires, crop residue burning, and heating fire. Fuel-based emission factors (EFs; with units of pollutant mass emitted per kilogram of fuel combusted) were determined for fine particulate matter (PM2.5), organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), inorganic ions, trace metals, and organic species. For the forced-draft zigzag brick kiln, EFPM2.5 ranged from 12 to 19 g kg−1 with major contributions from OC (7 %), sulfate expected to be in the form of sulfuric acid (31.9 %), and other chemicals not measured (e.g., particle-bound water). For the clamp kiln, EFPM2.5 ranged from 8 to 13 g kg−1, with major contributions from OC (63.2 %), sulfate (23.4 %), and ammonium (16 %). Our brick kiln EFPM2.5 values may exceed those previously reported, partly because we sampled emissions at ambient temperature after emission from the stack or kiln allowing some particle-phase OC and sulfate to form from gaseous precursors. The combustion of mixed household garbage under dry conditions had an EFPM2.5 of 7.4 ± 1.2 g kg−1, whereas damp conditions generated the highest EFPM2.5 of all combustion sources in this study, reaching up to 125 ± 23 g kg−1. Garbage burning emissions contained triphenylbenzene and relatively high concentrations of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Sb), making these useful markers of this source. A variety of cooking stoves and fires fueled with dung, hardwood, twigs, and/or other biofuels were studied. The use of dung for cooking and heating produced higher EFPM2.5 than other biofuel sources and consistently emitted more PM2.5 and OC than burning hardwood and/or twigs; this trend was consistent across traditional mud stoves, chimney stoves, and three-stone cooking fires. The comparisons of different cooking stoves and cooking fires revealed the highest PM emissions from three-stone cooking fires (7.6–73 g kg−1), followed by traditional mud stoves (5.3–19.7 g kg−1), mud stoves with a chimney for exhaust (3.0–6.8 g kg−1), rocket stoves (1.5–7.2 g kg−1), induced-draft stoves (1.2–5.7 g kg−1), and the bhuse chulo stove (3.2 g kg−1), while biogas had no detectable PM emissions. Idling motorcycle emissions were evaluated before and after routine servicing at a local shop, which decreased EFPM2.5 from 8.8 ± 1.3 to 0.71 ± 0.45 g kg−1 when averaged across five motorcycles. Organic species analysis indicated that this reduction in PM2.5 was largely due to a decrease in emission of motor oil, probably from the crankcase. The EF and chemical emissions profiles developed in this study may be used for source apportionment and to update regional emission inventories.

Bio-Energy Utilization through Thermo Efficient Biomass Cook Stove for Sustainable Rural Households

The thermo efficient biomass cook stove was designed using scientific principles, to assist better combustion and heat transfer, for improving efficiency performance. The goal of a development of a thermo efficient biomass cook stove was to improve upon the shortcomings of the existing improved cook stoves and traditional stoves, while still ensuring lower cost and ease of use. The thermo efficient biomass cook stove was designed and developed in Department of Unconventional Energy Sources and Electrical Engineering, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola (MS). The performance of the cook stove was evaluated viz., fuel burning rate, power output rating, thermal efficiency and carbon monoxide concentration in laboratory and actual cooking test at user’s site. The thermal efficiency of the thermo efficient biomass cook stove was found to be 31.34%, which was 20.56% higher than traditional biomass mud cook stove. It saved 39% cooking time over a traditional biomass cook stove. The CO concentration in flue gas emit by the thermo efficient cook stove was found to be 2.97g/MJ, whereas, the CO concentration was found to be 73.15% higher in traditional biomass mud stove cook stove than that of the thermo efficient cook stove. The cook stove is a relatively clean burning device, fuel efficient and easy to operate. User friendly and low cost thermo efficient biomass cook stove is recommended for cooking in rural households using cotton stalk (bioenergy) as fuel. From the study, it reveals that use of thermo efficient cook stove would be perspective for rural households over the conventional cook stove.

Biogas Stoves Reduce Firewood Use, Household Air Pollution, and Hospital Visits in Odisha, India

Traditional cooking using biomass is associated with ill health, local environmental degradation, and regional climate change. Clean stoves (liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), biogas, and electric) are heralded as a solution, but few studies have demonstrated their environmental health benefits in field settings. We analyzed the impact of mainly biogas (as well as electric and LPG) stove use on social, environmental, and health outcomes in two districts in Odisha, India, where the Indian government has promoted household biogas. We established a cross-sectional observational cohort of 105 households that use either traditional mud stoves or improved cookstoves (ICS). Our multidisciplinary team conducted surveys, environmental air sampling, fuel weighing, and health measurements. We examined associations between traditional or improved stove use and primary outcomes, stratifying households by proximity to major industrial plants. ICS use was associated with 91% reduced use of firewood (p < 0.01), substantial time savings for primary cooks, a 72% reduction in PM2.5, a 78% reduction in PAH levels, and significant reductions in water-soluble organic carbon and nitrogen (p < 0.01) in household air samples. ICS use was associated with reduced time in the hospital with acute respiratory infection and reduced diastolic blood pressure but not with other health measurements. We find many significant gains from promoting rural biogas stoves in a context in which traditional stove use persists, although pollution levels in ICS households still remained above WHO guidelines.

A pilot study of traditional indoor biomass cooking and heating in rural Bhutan: gas and particle concentrations and emission rates.

Although many studies have reported the health effects of biomass fuels in developing countries, relatively few have quantitatively characterized emissions from biomass stoves during cooking and heating. The aim of this pilot study was to characterize the emission characteristics of different biomass stoves in four rural houses in Bhutan during heating (metal chimney stove), rice cooking (traditional mud stove), fodder preparation (stone tripod stove), and liquor distillation (traditional mud stove). Three stage measurements (before, during, and after the activity had ceased) were conducted for PM2.5 , particle number (PN), CO, and CO2 . When stoves were operated, the pollutant concentrations were significantly elevated above background levels, by an average of 40 and 18 times for PM2.5 and CO, respectively. Emission rates (mg/min) ranged from 1.07×102 (PM2.5 ) and 3.50×102 (CO) for the stone tripod stove during fodder preparation to 6.20×102 (PM2.5 ) and 2.22×103 (CO) for the traditional mud stove during liquor distillation. Usable PN data were only available for one house, during heating using a metal chimney stove, which presented an emission rate of 3.24×1013 particles/min. Interventions to control household air pollution in Bhutan, in order to reduce the health risks associated with cooking and heating, are recommended.

Consequence of indoor air pollution in rural area of Nepal: a simplified measurement approach.

People of developing countries especially from rural area are commonly exposed to high levels of household pollution for 3–7 h daily using biomass in their kitchen. Such biomass produces harmful smoke and makes indoor air pollution (IAP). Community-based cross-sectional study was performed to identify effects of IAP by simplified measurement approach in Sunsari District of Nepal. Representative samples of 157 housewives from household, involving more than 5 years in kitchen were included by cluster sampling. Data were analyzed by SPSS and logistic regression was applied for the statistical test. Most (87.3%) housewives used biomass as a cooking fuel. Tearing of eyes, difficulty in breathing, and productive cough were the main reported health problems and traditional mud stoves and use of unrefined biomass were statistically significant (p < 0.05) and more risk (AOR > 2) with health problems related to IAP. The treatment cost and episodes of acute respiratory infection was >2 folders higher in severe IAP than mild IAP. Simplified measurement approach could be helpful to measure IAP in rural area. Some effective intervention is suggested to reduce the severe level of IAP considering women and children.

Performance of Clay Wood Cook Stove: An Analysis of Cost and Fuel Savings

The assessment of cooking energy cost and efficiency of improved woodfuel clay cookstoves in Nigeria have been considered in this study. Two improved wood burning clay cookstove models were compared to the 3-stone fire stove using the water boiling test and controlled cooking test. The following parameters: specific fuel consumption (SFC), thermal efficiency, ebulution time and cooking energy cost were considere as key indicators for comparison. The results show that the fire power for the cold starts phases were 7.72KW, 8.59KW and 9.78KW for the stove with grate, modified stove without grate and the 3-stone open fire (TFS) respectively. The thermal efficiencies ranges between 19-35%, 13.8-26.8% and 11.7-22.8% for the cold start, hot start and simmer phases for mud stove with grate (MSWG), mud stove no grate (MSNG) and three stone open fire (TFS) respectively. MSWG, showed the highest savings potential on wood fuel consumption with the lowest total wood cost of N127.80 and sfc of 1.632Kg of fuel/kg of food cooked. While MSNG and TFS, have a total wood fuel cost and SFC of N207.70 , N269.20, and 2.141, 1.632kg of fuel/kg of food cooked respectively.

A comparison of fuel use between a low cost, improved wood stove and traditional three-stone stove in rural Kenya

Low cost, improved cook stoves can potentially provide multiple benefits for local environments and climate through net reduction in fuel use and emissions from use of biomass fuels compared to traditional stoves. However the fuel efficiency of improved cook stoves has undergone limited in-field evaluation. In this study, we assessed the effectiveness of rocket mud stoves (RMS) in reducing fuelwood use in a rural community in Kenya. Using both cross-sectional and longitudinal (before–after) study designs, we conducted two-day kitchen performance tests in 145 households and 37 households, respectively. Fuel consumption was 5.4 kg d−1 in the rocket stove group and 6.7 kg d−1 in the three-stone stoves group. After we accounted for number of people cooked for, cooking duration and fuel moisture, RMS use was associated with 1.6 kg d−1 (95% CI: 0.6, 2.7) lower fuel use relative to three-stone stoves in the cross-sectional sample, and 2.2 kg d−1 (95% CI: 1.0, 3.3) lower fuel use in the longitudinal sample. Our data suggest that simple wood stoves like rocket mud stoves could ease the burden of fuelwood collection for rural households, and potentially address social and local environmental consequences of fuelwood collection.

Are rocket mud stoves associated with lower indoor carbon monoxide and personal exposure in rural Kenya?

Household use of biomass fuels is a major source of indoor air pollution and poor health in developing countries. We conducted a cross-sectional investigation in rural Kenya to assess household air pollution in homes with traditional three-stone stove and rocket mud stove (RMS), a low-cost unvented wood stove. We conducted continuous measurements of kitchen carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations and personal exposures in 102 households. Median 48-h kitchen and personal CO concentrations were 7.3 and 6.5 ppm, respectively, for three-stone stoves, while the corresponding concentrations for RMS were 5.8 and 4.4 ppm. After adjusting for kitchen location, ventilation, socio-economic status, and fuel moisture content, the use of RMS was associated with 33% lower levels of kitchen CO [95% Confidence Interval (CI), 64.4-25.1%] and 42% lower levels of personal CO (95% CI, 66.0-1.1%) as compared to three-stone stoves. Differences in CO concentrations by stove type were more pronounced when averaged over the cooking periods, although they were attenuated after adjusting for confounding. In conclusion, RMS appear to lower kitchen and personal CO concentrations compared to the traditional three-stone stoves but overall, the CO concentrations remain high. The rocket mud stoves (RMS) were associated with lower CO concentrations compared to three-stone stoves. However, the difference in concentrations was modest and concentrations in both stove groups exceeded the WHO guideline of 7 μg/m(3) , suggesting the unvented RMSs on their own are unlikely to appreciably benefit health in this population. Greater air quality benefit could be realized if the stoves were complemented with behavior change, including education on extinguishing fire when not in use as well as fuel drying, and cooking in locations that are separate from the main house.

Distribution of improved cook stoves: analysis of field experiments using strategic niche management theory

Close to three billion people globally and over 800 million in India are dependent on direct combustion of unprocessed solid biomass fuels in inefficient traditional mud stoves. Current cooking practices, besides causing serious health problems, are also being linked to emissions of climate change and pollution agents such as black carbon and ozone precursors. In India several initiatives have been taken up to tackle the problem but the present trajectory of limited technical and social change in cooking energy use is nonetheless persistent in rural areas. In order to develop and scale up alternative cooking technology options, we have analyzed, using the principles of strategic niche management, two projects implemented by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in nine villages in India. The assessment, while highlighting reasons for stability of the current cooking regime, also points to triggers that can destabilize the regime. The focus is also on assessing the influence of protection in the form of subsidies on the process of transition. User preferences relating to social and technical aspects have been analyzed, pointing to forced draft cookstoves as the preferred option notwithstanding cost reductions to address affordability concerns. The assessment indicates that while it is critically important to understand and address the preferences of users and to improve the technology, scaling up will depend on stove cost reduction through further research. Creativity in effective financing schemes and support structures put in place by fostering public–private partnerships are also needed.

Quantification of Indoor Air Pollution from Using Cookstoves and Estimation of Its Health Effects on Adult Women in Northwest Bangladesh

A longitudinal stove intervention study was conducted in Northwest Bangladesh between August 2005 and June 2009 to quantify the reduction of indoor air pollution from a Bangladeshi manufactured and commercialized cookstove (the BCSIR improved stove). In the post-intervention phase of the study, the indoor particulate matter (PM) size distribution and chemical composition, as well as carbon monoxide (CO) concentration, were characterized in 40 kitchens, 50% with the BCSIR improved stoves and 50% with traditional stoves. The TSI DustTrak, P-TRAK and Q-TRAK Plus, along with the UCB Particle Monitor and the Onset HOBO, were simultaneously deployed to continuously characterize Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Particulate Matter (PM). Detailed chemical composition was quantified from X-Ray Flouroscence and Carbon Analyzer. Median 24-hr concentrations for CO and PM2.5 were 2.5 mg/m3 and 1.8 mg/m3, respectively, for the unimproved mud stove kitchens and were 2.0 mg/m3 and 0.73 mg/m3, respectively, for the BCSIR improved stove kitchens. These differences were equivalent to 23% and 59% reduction of CO and PM2.5 concentrations, respectively. The cook’s daily exposure was estimated from these measurements to assess health impacts. Ultrafine particle number concentrations were 15,000 ± 7,200 pt/cm3 during non-cooking periods and 75,000 ± 31,000 pt/cm3 during cooking periods. Of the chemical composition of the PM2.5 emitted from cooking, 59–60% was organic matter and 29–30% was elemental carbon. The predominant chemical species were elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), chlorine, and potassium. These results demonstrate possible reduction of PM and CO from cooking with improved stoves in rural areas in Bangladesh where solid fuels are used for cooking.

Unbelievable but improved cookstoves are not helpful in reducing firewood demand in Nepal

ABSTRACTThis paper analyzes the effect of different types of cookstoves on firewood demand at the household level. Using nationally representative household survey data from Nepal, we find that stove type significantly affects the firewood demand for household uses. Traditional mud-stove user households seem to use less firewood than the open-fire stove users. Surprisingly, households with the so-called ‘improved’ stoves seem to use more firewood than the households with mud stoves. Thus, converting traditional open-fire stoves to mud stoves may be a better conservation strategy in the short term rather than installing improved stoves, unless the technology improves. However, in the long run, making cleaner fuel more accessible to rural households is desirable to reduce indoor air pollution.

Fuel-efficient stoves for Darfur: The social construction of subsistence marketplaces in post-conflict settings

This paper explores the development of market roles and transactions in fuel-efficient stoves in Darfur from 1997 to 2008 as a grounded example of how subsistence markets are socially constructed in post-conflict settings. Using a combination of archival texts, interviews, and real-time discourses by protagonists, this study explains the who, what, why and how of emergent marketplaces by showing how development interventions come to imbue market participants and transactions with socially (re)constructed meanings. The fitful emergence of subsistence marketplaces for fuel-efficient in Darfur is punctuated by development interventions which at times under- or misrepresent market participants and by successes and failures in bringing together trainers, producers, sellers, consumers and users of fuel-efficient stoves. Subsidies and handouts delay and distort the emergence of grassroots demand, choices, and prices; a plurality of competing development interventions re-shape the supply. By the end of 2008, the subsistence market for fuel-efficient stoves catches momentum, engaging over 52% of the Darfuri communities in market transactions for the product. As market participants gain voice and influence they reshape the market to favour mud stoves over metal stoves. Reports by several development organizations suggest that among fuel-efficient stove users, 90% use mud models, and 49% of women who own both mud and metal stoves prefer mud stoves.

Investigation of CTARA wood-burning stove. Part I. Experimental investigation

This paper describes experimental investigation of a single pot wood-burning stove developed atCtara. The stove incorporates features such as a converging combustion space, a grate, preheated secondary air and a swirling-device. Using chipped wood and a large diameter vessel (30 cm), efficiencies in excess of 40% have been measured. An electric stove, having a geometry similar to that of the woodburning stove, has also been experimented with to obtain magnitudes of heat transfer coefficient at the vessel bottom, to estimate relative contributions of convection and radiation heat transfer to the vessel bottom, to study the effect of flame to grate heat release ratios and to study the effect of depth of insertion of the vessel into the stove. Finally, a 3-pot mud stove used in the Konkan region is investigated and it is shown that provision of a grate improves the efficiency of the stove.

A sample study of biomass fuel consumption in Sri Lanka households

Biomass, as a household fuel, is vital to the energy economy of Sri Lanka, although few reliable estimates of consumption are available. In the present study, biomass fuel consumption was measured and other related data collected from a sample of 518 households. The total consumption of biomass fuel by the household sector was estimated at 7·5 million tonnes year −1 and the per caput consumption at 1·36 kg day −1. The biomass fuels used included rubber wood 18·0%, crop wastes (mainly from coconut) 28·8%, and other fuelwood 53·2%. Of the rural households studied 81% obtained their biomass fuel by gathering, generally within a distance of 1·6 km (1 mile). The mud stove and the three-stone open fireplace were the most common cooking devices used.