A wood gasification stove for domestic use : performance and emission factors using locally available fuel

Abstract

It has been shown that large numbers of low-income SA households use wood for domestic cooking and space-heating purposes and are exposed to high concentrations of air pollutants emitted from the unsophisticated appliances being utilised. Although the related problem of exposure to coal smoke from domestic fires has been and is being addressed, wood smoke exposure remains a pressing problem. The design of a more efficient wood using appliance therefore has the potential to reduce the particulate matter exposure of a considerable portion of the SA population. This paper presents the results of testing a natural draft wood gasification stove for domestic use based on the inverted downdraft principle. Prototypes have been built in two sizes suitable for relatively unsophisticated manufacturing techniques. The results of performance and emission factor testing using a laboratory fuel as well as fuel obtained from the local programme for eradication of invasive tree species (known as Working for Water) are presented. It is shown that simple wood gasification stoves can result in a considerable reduction in exposure of household members to particulate matter inhalation.