[Stoves] Assessing Cook Stove Performance: Field and Lab Studies of Three Rocket Stoves

[Tom Miles]

Aprovecho Research Center has published a new controlled cooking test (CCT)
study in India apparently funded by the Shell foundation. 

http://www.bioenergylists.org/en/aproindiacct0408  

 

Assessing Cook Stove Performance: Field and Lab Studies of Three Rocket
Stoves Comparing the Open Fire and Traditional Stoves in Tamil Nadu, India
on Measures of Time to Cook, Fuel Use, Total Emissions, and Indoor Air
Pollution

Nordica MacCarty, Dean Still, Damon Ogle, Thomas Drouin, Aprovecho Research
Center, January 2008

 

Overview

 

The following is an initial report of the performance of three types of
Rocket stoves: a single pot stove, a double pot stove, and a double pot
stove with chimney, compared to both the open fire and traditional stoves
commonly used in Tamil Nadu, India. The stoves were tested using the
Controlled Cooking Test to measure fuel use, carbon monoxide and particulate
matter emissions made while local cooks prepare commonly made foods.
Portable emissions measurement equipment created by Aprovecho Research
Center was used to measure emissions made in both the lab and field.

 

The in-field use of Rocket stoves (without pot skirts) resulted in
approximately 18% to

35% fuel savings as compared to the traditional stoves and reduced fuel used
from 39% to 47% compared to the Three Stone Fire. Emissions savings for the
non-chimney stoves were about 45% when compared with the traditional stoves
and about 50-55% in comparison to the three stone fire. When emissions
released into the room were compared for the chimney stove, a 40%
improvement was seen over the traditional chimney stove, while an 84%
improvement was seen in IAP as compared to the three-stone fire.

 

The performance of the traditional stoves might be slightly reduced in
homes, as they are frequently fully submerged in the earth and surrounded by
mud, lowering both heat transfer and combustion efficiency.

 

This data also showed that the same meal cooked on a kerosene stove would
cost 3.5 Rupees for the fuel at the current subsidized price of 9 Rupees per
Liter. The Rocket stoves used an average of about 1.5 kilos of firewood to
cook the standard meal, while the traditional stoves used an average of 2.2
kilos. The cost of cooking with wood is dependant on the source of the fuel.

 

The three Rocket stoves and the Three Stone fire had been previously tested
using the UCB revised Water Boiling Test in the Aprovecho laboratory.
Relative reductions as compared to the three-stone fire in the laboratory
studies were analyzed. Emissions reductions from the laboratory and field
testing agreed within 18% or less, while fuel savings agreed within 12%
except for the chimney stove. Time savings agreed within about 30% or
better.

 

Summary

The Controlled Cooking Test series conducted on the pilot stoves in India
was a positive experience. Results showed fuel and emissions savings to be
substantial, and generally in line with what was expected from the
laboratory design. The portable emission equipment functioned well and was
easy to use and unobtrusive to the cooking process.

 

Observation of the cooking practice was informative, and spending time with
the women who will actually use the stove was invaluable. It is hoped that
the results of this study can be shared in order to encourage other stove
groups to take the time and direct resources needed to conduct field testing
in a careful and scientific manner.

 

See Aprovecho Research Center Publications:
http://www.aprovecho.org/web-content/publications/publications.html