Developing Stoves to

Achieve the 50%/90% Future:

Stoves in Use That Address
Health and Climate Issues
Dean Still and Nordica MacCarty

Millions of Stoves /
Modernizing Traditional Energy
Since 1976, Aprovecho has assisted over 100 projects
around the world leading to Millions of Rocket stoves.
Thanks, Peter Scott and GTZ!
As performance
requirements have become
more demanding there has
been a general move from
artisanal production to
centralized manufacturing.
Low emission stoves that
protect health with
reduced global warming
potential are a reality in
labs.

Defining Stove Performance

Hundreds of stove designs have been tested at Aprovecho using the
PEMS, resulting in a WBT library. Thanks to Nordica, Karl, Damon!
Lessons Learned: Mixing results in clean combustion (Fan) or force
gas and smoke to enter flame (TLUD).
Increasing heat transfer efficiency is the magic that decreases fuel
use.
Sam Baldwin and Larry Winiarski describe how to make 50% fuel
reduction stoves.
90% reduction of CO and PM has been achieved in the lab.

Aprovecho Stove Test Library

Testing with the WBT helps to:

Discover what works well.

Predict the effects of design changes.
Determine if a design is optimized.

Stove test library published in Energy for

Sustainable Development, September 2010
Shell Foundation/Aprovecho Benchmarks
have been developed and used since 2005
based on the WBT and the PEMS emission
hood.
The WBT is a standardized test resulting in
comparable results between labs. (Jetter,
2008)

50%/90% WBT Benchmarks?

WBT 50%/90% Benchmarks could be created.
Using the WBT library, a 50%/90% reduction
compared to open fire would be:
50% Fuel Use: 625 g wood or 10.9 MJ energy
90% reduction Carbon Monoxide: 6.5 g
90% reduction Particulate Matter: 170mg

Can we go this low in CCT field testing?

Energy to Complete WBT (MJ)

0
Kerosene

Gasifiers Fan Stoves Charcoal

Alcohol

30

Propane

Charcoal Rocket

Charcoal Stove with Skirt

Charcoal Jiko

Mali Char

Wood Gas

Bottom Air Fan Stove

Battery Powered Fan

Grid-Powered Fan

Large Gasifier

Erxperimental Gasifier

Rocket Stoves

Charcoal-Making gasifier

2-Door w/Skirt

2-Door w/out skirt

1-Door w/Skirt

1-Door w/out skirt

Baldosa rocket, large body, with

Cast Iron Rocket

Extra Small Door w/ Skirt

Two-Pot Rocket

Short Light Rocket

Insulated Brick Rocket

Simple Stoves

Previous Improved

10

Heavy Skirted Rocket

Previous Improved

Tall Heavy Skirted Rocket

20-L Can Skirted Rocket

Modified VITA w/ Insulation

Modified VITA Stove

Cast Iron Stove from India

Baldwin VITA

Mud/Sawdust

Ghana Wood

35

Three Stone Fire

WBT Proposed Benchmark: Energy Use

A cooking stove should use less than 15 MJ (or 10.9 for a 50% reduction) of energy or
850 grams of testing wood to complete the WBT.
Energy Use vs. Benchmark

<-----------------------------Gathered Fuel -------------------------------------Prepared Fuel ------Purchased Fuel---->

Liquid/
Gas

25

20

15

50% Savings = 10.9 MJ

PM Emission To Complete WBT (mg)

<-----------------------------Gathered Fuel ----------------------------------------Prepared Fuel --------Purchased Fuel---->

5000
Simple Stoves
Rocket Stoves
Gasifiers Fan Stoves Charcoal Liquid/
4500
Gas
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
Cast Iron Rocket

Extra Small Door w/ Skirt

Two-Pot Rocket

Short Light Rocket

Insulated Brick Rocket

Previous Improved

Heavy Skirted Rocket

Kerosene

Alcohol

Propane

Charcoal Rocket

Charcoal Stove with Skirt

Charcoal Jiko

Mali Char

Wood Gas

Bottom Air Fan Stove

Battery Powered Fan

Grid-Powered Fan

Large Gasifier

Erxperimental Gasifier

Charcoal-Making gasifier

2-Door w/Skirt

2-Door w/out skirt

1-Door w/Skirt

1-Door w/out skirt

Baldosa rocket, large body, with

90% Reduction = 170 mg

Previous Improved

Tall Heavy Skirted Rocket

20-L Can Skirted Rocket

Modified VITA w/ Insulation

Modified VITA Stove

Cast Iron Stove from India

Baldwin VITA

Mud/Sawdust

Ghana Wood

Three Stone Fire

WBT Proposed Benchmark: Particulate

Matter Emissions
A cooking stove should emit less than 1500 milligrams (or 170 for a 90% reduction) of
Particulate Matter to complete the WBT.

PM Emissions vs. Benchmark

NOTE: Only 1 PM measurement for 9 stoves

CO Emission to Complete WBT (g)

<-----------------------------Gathered Fuel ----------------------------------------Prepared Fuel --------Purchased Fuel---->

160
Gasifiers Fan Stoves Charcoal Liquid/
Simple Stoves
Rocket Stoves
140
Gas
120
100
80
60
40
20
0

90% Reduction = 6.5 g

Kerosene

Alcohol

Propane

Charcoal Rocket

Charcoal Stove with Skirt

Charcoal Jiko

Mali Char

Wood Gas

Bottom Air Fan Stove

Battery Powered Fan

Grid-Powered Fan

Large Gasifier

Erxperimental Gasifier

Charcoal-Making gasifier

2-Door w/Skirt

2-Door w/out skirt

1-Door w/Skirt

1-Door w/out skirt

Baldosa rocket, large body,

Cast Iron Rocket

Extra Small Door w/ Skirt

Two-Pot Rocket

Short Light Rocket

Insulated Brick Rocket

Previous Improved

Heavy Skirted Rocket

Previous Improved

Tall Heavy Skirted Rocket

20-L Can Skirted Rocket

Modified VITA w/ Insulation

Modified VITA Stove

Cast Iron Stove from India

Baldwin VITA

Mud/Sawdust

Ghana Wood

Three Stone Fire

WBT Proposed Benchmark: Carbon

Monoxide Emissions
A cooking stove should emit less than 20 grams (or 6.5 for a 90%
reduction) of Carbon Monoxide to complete the WBT.

CO Emission vs. Benchmark

WBT Proposed Benchmark: Chimney Stoves

A cooking stove with chimney is exempt from the previous standards provided
it does not leak. A stove with functioning chimney should use less than 30 MJ
of energy or 1500 grams of testing wood to complete the WBT.

Fuel Use for Stoves with Chimney vs. Benchmark

3000

Fuel to Complete WBT (g)

Sunken Pots

Griddle Only

Griddle with Holes for Pots

2500
2000

Good chimney stoves meet the 90% (indoor) emissions reduction!

1500
1000
500
0
Sunken Pot w ith Sunken Tw o-Pot Insulative Tw o
Steam Jets
Insulative
Pot w ith Holes
Rocket

One Pot Rocket

w ith Holes

Patsari
Prototype

Tw o-pot Rocket
w ith Holes

Justa

Griddle Stove
w ith Oven

Large Griddle
Stove

A stove with chimney is checked for leaks by placing a HOBO-type CO meter 30 cm above the stove.
If less than an average of 50 ppm CO is emitted, the stove is exempt from non-chimney standards

TLUD and fan stove perform well

in EPA tests

Types of Improved Stoves:

1.) Natural Draft Rocket Stoves
Higher temperatures, mixing, metering
and then forcing the gases against the
bottom, sides of the pot reduces fuel use
and emissions

Fuels: Sticks, woody biomass,

Gathered fuels, some crop residue

Time to
Boil

Fuel Use

CO
Emission

PM
Emission

3-Stone

38

1253

65

2363

Rocket

38

650

20

783

51%

70%

67%

Reduction
with Skirt

Reduction

Reduction

WBT
data

Envirofit, $25

StoveTec $8-$12

Types of Improved Stoves:

2.) Fan Stoves
TOP LOADING
Fuel: Pellets, small pieces
Philips, $60
WoodGas, $55
Oorja, $25

Burning the fuel with forced air jets at

the bottom and/or top of the
combustion chamber creates high
velocity mixing which dramatically
decreases fuel use & emissions.
Time to
Boil

Fuel Use

CO
Emission

PM
Emission

3-Stone

38

1253

65

2363

Fan

14

614

293

51%

91%

88%

Reduction

Reduction

Reduction

WBT
data

SIDE FEED
Fuel: Sticks, gathered biomass
StoveTec/Biolite TEG, $30

Types of Improved Stoves:

3.) Semi-Gasifiers

Fuel: pellets, briquettes, some

crop residues

Burning the fuel with carefully

controlled primary and secondary air
within a closed stove results in efficient
fuel use, and emissions are removed
through the chimney.
Time to
Boil

Fuel Use

CO
Emission

PM
Emission

3-Stone

38

1253

65

2363

Yunnan

22

734

317

41%

88%

87%

Reduction

Reduction

Reduction

WBT
data

Yunnan Gasifier, $45

Daxu Stove, $50

Types of Improved Stoves:

4.) Natural Draft Gasifiers (TLUD)
Fuels: Pellets, some gathered fuels

Champion Stove, $30

Top lighting, limiting the Primary Air in

a TLUD, secondary burn, results in very
low particulate matter emissions.
Time to
Boil

Fuel Use

CO
Emission

PM
Emission

3-Stone

38

1253

65

2363

TLUD

27

737

18

255

41%

72%

89%

Reduction

Reduction

Reduction

WBT
data

Vesto Stove, $60

World Stove, $35

Types of Improved Stoves:

5.) Institutional Stoves
Fuels: Sticks, woody biomass,
Gathered fuels, some crop residue

Transferring heat to the bottom and

sides of a very large pot efficiently uses
the heat from the fire and emits fewer
emissions.
Time to
Boil

Fuel Use

CO
Emission

PM
Emission

3-Stone

38

1253

65

2363

60L Stove

32

305

181

76%

89%

92%

Reduction

Reduction

Reduction

WBT
data

(Data Normalized for 5L)

Stove Performance Comparison

Time to
Boil

Fuel Use

CO
Emission

PM Emission

3-Stone

38

1253

65

2363

Rocket

38

650 w/skirt

20

783

Fan Top loaded

14

614

293

Fan Side Feed

34

722

151

Semi-Gasifier

22

734

317

TLUD Gasifier

27

737

18

255

Institutional 60L

32

305

181

(Data is from Water Boiling Test)

Knowing which Stove Works:

Testing is Essential
LABORATORY
Stoves are carefully designed and optimized in the
laboratory
WBT/Emissions measurements quickly, inexpensively
highlight promising technologies

FIELD

Stoves must be re-designed/modified

with input from cooks
Consumer testing is at least of stove development
Focus groups must be involved when selecting, comparing,
choosing stove models. It does not matter if a stove performs
well in the lab if the cooks dont use it or will not buy it!

Limitations of Testing Targets

There are many more aspects to a stove than
performance and emission reduction! The stove must be
in use, loved by cooks. The competition (a three stone
fire) is free!
A stove that is not used will not be effective therefore it
is crucial to have consumer approval be an integral part
of product development.
TESTING IN THE FIELD becomes more important than
extensive lab testing.
Without consumer approval our new stoves will sit on
shelves or become flower pots.
In-field testing is absolutely crucial to also ensure that
50%/90% stoves achieve performance and emission
goals.
Lets not fail a third time!

Can the WBT Predict In Use

Performance?
A lot of time over the last five years has been spent
debating the WBT and attempting to bring it closer to field
results.
Some have adapted WBT to use local pots, local fuel,
timing, etc.
Conditions in the field are highly variable so its difficult to
adequately adjust the WBT. The cook is probably the
biggest variable. Can we bring enough cooks into the
lab?
The CCT/KPT in field tests help predict actual
performance.
Use the CCT/w emissions? Cooks use their own
techniques, fuels, foods, compares traditional to new
stove. Use hood or nose/mouth emission measurements?

Follow Chapter Five in Sam Baldwins Book

Laboratory, Production, Field, and Market efforts are
detailed in: Biomass Stoves: Engineering Design,
Development, and Dissemination.
1.WBTs and CCTs are used to select promising prototypes
2.Templates are developed using local pots, fuels, etc.
3.Limited production of small number of stoves made to
analyze costs, methods.
4.Stoves are used by local cooks to determine acceptability
and actual measured performance.
5.At the same time, stoves are in stores on a commission
basis to measure commercial viability.
6.On the basis of these tests, modifications are made as
needed and the process is repeated (and repeated) until
success is achieved.

Measuring Emissions:
IAP Exposure
In the Aprovecho IAP Meter, a small fan draws a sample through a
snorkel into the meter, allowing a better measurement of actual
exposure

Perhaps benchmarks based on exposure could be developed? Measurements of

exposure could be directly related to EPA and WHO guidelines, unlike other
methods.
Aprovecho is following up the extensive WBT testing with CCT in Test Kitchen and
under a veranda testing using the IAP Meter.

Measuring Exposure to the Cook

Indoors and Out
Emissions Exposure as Measured by IAP Meter Backpack
Outdoors and Indoors for Three-Stone Fire and TLUD
14,000

100

PM
CO

12,000

90
80
70

Three-Stone:
97% Reduction
from Indoor to Out

8,000

60
50

6,000

TLUD:
92% Reduction
from Indoor to Out

4,000

40
30
20

2,000

10
0

0
Three-Stone Indoor

Three-Stone Outdoor

TLUD Indoor

TLUD Outdoor

CO (ppm)

PM (ug/m3)

10,000

Clean Cook Stoves at Market Price

Carbon credits can reduce the consumer price of new clean stoves
My Uncertain Estimates:
(will vary with market, etc)

Carbon credit income per

ton per year: ~$5-$10/year

Total Global Warming Potential

grams CO2 equivalent per liter of water boiled and simmered 30 minutes,
normalized for starting temperature and fuel moisture content

700
600

5 years?

500
PM -- -50*OM
400

Stove generates 1-4 tons

CO2e savings per year

PM--680*EC

Global Warming
Potential (g CO2 300
equivalent/L)
200

3*CO
12*NMHC
296*N2O
21*Methane

100

calculated CO2 savings

switching from coal to
renewable biomass about
3.8 ton CO2e/yr.

CO2

0
-100
Three Stone
Fire

Rocket

Fan

Gasifier

Charcoal

From A Laboratory Comparison of the Global Warming

Potential of Five Major Types of Biomass Cooking Stove
Energy for Sustainable Development, June 2008

Summary
There are promising new generation stoves in existence
The stove community could proceed to multiple-site in-field
testing of performance w/emissions, user satisfaction, and
durability.
The stove community could support mass
manufacturing/distribution for best quality, lowest price for
successful purchased stoves.
There can be millions of stoves ready to address climate change
and health in the near future.
Very clean stoves can be sold at the local market price due to a
$5-$10/year carbon credit.

NOLS saying as 5 people push a

2,000 pound boat up a steep
beach:
If we all push easy, its hard
If we all push hard, its easy.