Performance on a novel-designed dual-fuel advanced cookstove.

ObjectiveIn low - and middle-income countries, a large number of people still use solid fuels, including crop residues such as biofuels/wood and coal, for heating and cooking. Compared with clean fuels(electric, liquefied petroleum gas, natural gas, marsh gas and solar), solid fuels can cause numerous health hazards. There is limited evidence suggesting that the use of solid fuel is associated with self-perceived low back pain (LBP) and neck pain (NP). This study aimed to analyze the association between household solid fuel use and the risk of LBP and NP in middle aged and elderly adults.MethodsWe used data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study for five cross-sectional and ten panel analyses. Multivariable logistic regression model and generalized estimation equation were used to elucidate the relationship between solid fuel and the number of solid fuels used and two pains(LBP and NP). Moreover, the effect of fuel type conversion on LBP and NP is also done.ResultsThe results indicate that users of solid fuels, particularly those using solid cooking fuels, may have a higher risk of LBP(OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.05–1.22 for 2011–2020) and NP(OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.13–1.31 for 2018–2020). The use of solid fuels for heating also raises the risk of LBP(OR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.06–1.24 for 2011–2020) and NP(OR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.22–1.46 for 2015–2020). Compared to complete clean fuel users, both mixed fuel and complete solid fuel users face a greater risk for LBP (OR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.17–1.43 for complete solid fuel users) and NP(OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.22–1.55 for complete solid fuel users). Additionally, persistent solid fuel users and those who switch fuel types exhibit higher risks of LBP (OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.20–1.47 for persistent solid fuel heating; OR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.26–1.54 for persistent solid fuel cooking) and NP (OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.20–1.59 for persistent solid fuel heating; OR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.17–1.54 for persistent solid fuel cooking) than persistent clean fuel users.ConclusionLong-term exposure to household solid fuels is associated with a higher risk of LBP and NP. It is suggested that multiple departments cooperate to increase the global use of clean energy and thereby reduce the risk of LBP and NP among middle-aged and elderly people.

Emissions from solid-fuel cookstoves have been linked to indoor and outdoor air pollution, climate forcing, and human disease. Although task-based laboratory protocols, such as the Water Boiling Test (WBT), overestimate the ability of improved stoves to lower emissions, WBT emissions data are commonly used to benchmark cookstove performance, estimate indoor and outdoor air pollution concentrations, estimate impacts of stove intervention projects, and select stoves for large-scale control trials. Multiple-firepower testing has been proposed as an alternative to the WBT and is the basis for a new standardized protocol (ISO 19867-1:2018); however, data are needed to assess the value of this approach. In this work, we (a) developed a Firepower Sweep Test [FST], (b) compared emissions from the FST, WBT, and in-home cooking, and (c) quantified the relationship between firepower and emissions using correlation analysis and linear model selection. Twenty-three stove-fuel combinations were evaluated. The FST reproduced the range of PM2.5 and CO emissions observed in the field, including high emissions events not typically observed under the WBT. Firepower was modestly correlated with emissions, although the relationship varied between stove-fuel combinations. Our results justify incorporating multiple-firepower testing into laboratory-based protocols but demonstrate that firepower alone cannot explain the observed variability in cookstove emissions.

Impacts of household coal and biomass combustion on indoor and ambient air quality in China: Current status and implication

Extract from the report of the judges on stoves and grates

Traditional open fire methods are used by lots of people in developing countries for cooking and heating. These cooking methods are inefficient in burning fuel. In Sierra Leone, majority of the population, especially those living in rural communities, prepare their food using three-stone fire stove, which is inefficient in terms of fuel use leading to more trees being cut down which increases deforestation. A stove that uses less fuel and takes less time to perform heating and cooking tasks can help solve these issues. Thus, the essence of this study, which is to design and produce an improved solid biomass cook stove that can transfer heat more efficiently thereby using less fuel. Mild steel was used to fabricate the entire stove, which is widely available and cheaper. The parts were joined through Arc welding, while four roller bearings provided movement of the combustion chamber for reloading of fuel. Performance of the stove was tested using Water Boiling Test. Thermal efficiency results for the rocket, natural draft and forced draft are 39.55%, 48.68% and 52.48% respectively. Burning rates for forced draft operation was 6.76g/s, while those for rocket and natural are 2.97g/s, 4.11g/s respectively. Specific fuel consumption for the three tests were 0.62 Kgwood/Kgwater, 0.72 Kgwood/Kgwater and 0.77 Kgwood/Kgwater. Time taken to boil water was lowest for the forced draft (6 minutes), which is due to the faster rate of air supplied to the fuel, but it consumed more fuel than the other two methods. These results show that an improved cookstove that is carefully designed is more efficient than traditional stoves, as it facilitates enhanced mixing of combustible gases and oxygen, promoting more efficient burning of fuel and ultimately lowering emissions, thus, better thermal efficiency and reduced fuel consumed will reflect favourably on the environment as less trees will be cut down.

Of all the European Union’s member states, Poland has the most acute ambient air pollution problem. An urgent transition from solid-fuel heating ('e.g.' coal and wood) in the housing sector is required to improve air quality in the country. National regulations still allow the sale of solid fuels for heating, but some municipalities impose local resolutions with binding deadlines for solid-fuel bans. A real-world study covering 422 apartments in heritage tenements in Wrocław is presented. A link between domestic solid-fuel usage and tenure type is identified: solid fuels prevail in social housing. The transition to other forms of heating will adversely affect the inhabitants already vulnerable to fuel poverty. Solid fuel proves to be the least preferred heating option and is linked to substandard living conditions. Fuel poverty vulnerability for low-income households is established based on cost analysis for different heating options, thermal retrofit strategies, internal temperatures and apartment sizes. The results indicate that climate injustice is likely to occur for the poorest inhabitants due to their inability to afford increased costs. Policy implications to address this injustice are needed to ensure the transition from solid-fuel heating will avoid new vulnerabilities. 'Policy relevance' Domestic solid-fuel combustion for heating purposes is linked to poor air quality in urban areas in Poland. Heritage tenements are the most technically deprived building stock and their inhabitants are already vulnerable to fuel poverty. To improve air quality and respond to climate change, solid fuels need to be substituted with less polluting but more expensive heating options. Potential climate injustice (harm) is likely to occur if the poorest inhabitants cannot afford to heat their homes due to a ban on solid fuels. The change of heating needs to be combined with additional support (thermal retrofit and appropriate pricing of alternative fuels). Air quality-driven polices focused on solid-fuel eradication should not ignore fuel poverty already experienced mainly by social housing residents using expensive electric heating on a standard tariff. Fuel poverty has a gender aspect related to the gender pay gap that needs addressing.

Modification effect of healthy lifestyle among solid fuels and mild cognitive impairment in middle-aged and older adults: A prospective cohort study.

In international development programs on improvement of energy supply for cooking in remote regions, biomass gasifier cook stoves have a remarkable place. Fuel type and size play a key role on the performance of such stoves. The most abundant woody biomass waste in Iran is apple pruning waste (up to 1.32 Mt a year). This paper reports the result of evaluation of a top lit updraft biomass stove specifically modified to burn apple pruning waste. In addition, the improved biomass cooking stove (ICS) was technically compared with traditional cook stove (TCS) based on Water Boiling Test 4.2.3 and time to boil (TTB) instruction. Water and flame temperature variations were compared with a natural gas stove (GS), as the most common cooking device in Iran. The average TTB was 12, 13, and 20 min for the GS, ICS, and TCS, respectively. The comparison of regression equations indicated that the rate of increase in the flame and water temperature in the both ICS and GS were similar. In general, better thermal efficiency was observed in the ICS (about 35%) in comparison with the TCS (12.6%). The specific and the total fuel consumption in the ICS were 73 and 67% lower than that of the TCS, respectively.

Charcoal stoves constitute an essential energy provision for millions residing in sub-Saharan Africa; however, conventional designs exhibit inefficiency and pose health risks, contributing to approximately 3.2 million premature fatalities each year due to household air pollution. This systematic review consolidates advancements in charcoal stove technology, with an emphasis on enhancing thermal efficiency, minimizing emissions, and ensuring user safety. Utilizing a methodologically rigorous approach, a total of 52 peer-reviewed studies (1994–2025) were meticulously examined from databases such as Scopus and ScienceDirect, employing standardized testing protocols (e.g., Water Boiling Test). The findings indicate that innovative designs, including rocket and gasifier stoves, attain thermal efficiencies ranging from 17% to 87%, in contrast to the 11% to 16% efficiencies observed in traditional models, alongside reductions in carbon monoxide emissions by as much as 75% and a decrease in fuel consumption by 70%. Nonetheless, performance outcomes exhibit variability in practical applications, influenced by user behavior and the durability of materials employed. The review emphasizes the imperative for validation through field-based studies and the development of economically accessible designs to promote widespread adoption. These technological innovations hold the potential to provide sustainable cooking solutions, thereby contributing to public health and the achievement of environmental objectives such as Sustainable Development Goal 7.

Physical characterization of particulate matter emitted from wood combustion in improved and traditional cookstoves

Indoor solid fuel use and incident arthritis among middle-aged and older adults in rural China: A nationwide population-based cohort study

Closing the gap between lab and field cookstove tests: Benefits of multi-pot and sequencing cooking tasks through controlled burning cycles

Previous research found tobacco smoking and solid fuel use for cooking to increase the risk of chronic liver disease mortality, but previous cohort studies have not investigated their independent and joint associations with liver cancer incidence in contemporary China. The China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) study recruited 0.5 million adults aged 30-79 years from 10 areas across China during 2004-2008. Participants reported detailed smoking and fuel use information at baseline. After an 11.1-year median follow-up via electronic record linkage, we recorded 2,997 liver cancer cases. Overall, 29.4% participants were current smokers. Among those who cooked at least once per month, 48.8% always used solid fuels (i.e. coal or wood) for cooking. Tobacco smoking and solid fuel use for cooking were independently associated with increased risks of liver cancer, with HRs (95% CIs) of 1.28 (1.15-1.42) and 1.25 (1.03-1.52), respectively. The more cigarettes consumed each day, the earlier the age of starting smoking, or the longer duration of solid fuels exposure, the higher the risk (Ptrend <0.001, =0.001, =0.018, respectively). Compared with never smokers who had always used clean fuels (i.e. gas or electricity), ever-smokers who had always used solid fuels for cooking had a 67% (95% CIs: 1.29-2.17) higher risk. Among Chinese adults, tobacco smoking and solid fuel use for cooking were independently associated with higher risk of liver cancer incidence. Stronger association was observed with higher number of daily cigarette consumption, the earlier age of starting smoking and longer duration of solid fuel use.

Real-time combustion rate of wood charcoal in the heating fire basin: Direct measurement and its correlation to CO emissions

Efficiency and emissions of a new domestic gas burner with a swirling flame