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Use of Biochar-Producing Gasifier Cookstove Improves Energy Use Efficiency and Indoor Air Quality in Rural Households

Author

Listed:
  • James K. Gitau

    (Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 2905-0065, Nairobi, Kenya
    World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), P.O. Box 30677-00100, Nairobi, Kenya)

  • Cecilia Sundberg

    (Department of Sustainable Development, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Environmental Science and Engineering (SEED), Teknikringen 10B, SE-10044 Stockholm, Sweden
    Department of Energy and Technology, The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden)

  • Ruth Mendum

    (Office of International Programs, College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, 106 Agricultural Administration Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA)

  • Jane Mutune

    (Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 2905-0065, Nairobi, Kenya)

  • Mary Njenga

    (Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 2905-0065, Nairobi, Kenya
    World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), P.O. Box 30677-00100, Nairobi, Kenya)

Abstract

Biomass fuels dominate the household energy mix in sub-Saharan Africa. Much of it is used inefficiently in poorly ventilated kitchens resulting in indoor air pollution and consumption of large amounts of wood fuel. Micro-gasification cookstoves can improve fuel use efficiency and reduce indoor air pollution while producing char as a by-product. This study monitored real-time concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ), and amount of firewood used when households were cooking dinner. Twenty-five households used the gasifier cookstove to cook and five repeated the same test with three-stone open fire on a different date. With the gasifier, the average corresponding dinner time CO, CO 2 , and PM 2.5 concentrations were reduced by 57%, 41%, and 79% respectively compared to three-stone open fire. The gasifier had average biomass-to-char conversion efficiency of 16.6%. If the produced char is used as fuel, households could save 32% of fuel compared to use of three-stone open fire and 18% when char is used as biochar, for instance. Adoption of the gasifier can help to reduce the need for firewood collection, hence reducing impacts on the environment while saving on the amount of time and money spent on cooking fuel.

Suggested Citation

  • James K. Gitau & Cecilia Sundberg & Ruth Mendum & Jane Mutune & Mary Njenga, 2019. "Use of Biochar-Producing Gasifier Cookstove Improves Energy Use Efficiency and Indoor Air Quality in Rural Households," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-19, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:22:p:4285-:d:285695
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Elías Hurtado Pérez & Oscar Mulumba Ilunga & David Alfonso Solar & María Cristina Moros Gómez & Paula Bastida-Molina, 2020. "Sustainable Cooking Based on a 3 kW Air-Forced Multifuel Gasification Stove Using Alternative Fuels Obtained from Agricultural Wastes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-15, September.
    2. Shengqiang Wei & Yiping Lu & Wei Yang & Yubin Ke & Haibiao Zheng & Lingbo Zhu & Jianfei Tong & Longwei Mei & Shinian Fu & Congju Yao, 2022. "Comparative Research on Ventilation Characteristics of Scattering and Sample Room from Chinese Spallation Neutron Source," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-16, May.

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