Does Pan Diameter Influence Carbon Monoxide Levels During Heating of Water to Boiling Point With a Camping Stove?

Self Cite

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Pan diameter may be another independent variable in CO production from camping stoves, and further discussion of the flame-dispersal hypothesis is given in 2 subsequent articles. 18,19…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of Carbon Monoxide Levels During Heating of Ice and Water to Boiling Point With a Camping Stove

Leigh-Smith

Watt

McFadyen

et al. 2004

Self Cite

“…Even with an optimal blue flame, CO production will increase 10-fold with pan contact with the flame because of flame dispersal. 9 When using an arctic tent, it is often possible to increase ventilation by opening vent flies located close to the ceiling or using the vestibule for cooking, thereby reducing the risk of exposure to pollutants. In contrast, when using a snow cave for shelter, changes in ventilation are limited to ventilation canals of varying lengths made through the cave roof or cave walls to the outside.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Field Study of Carbon Monoxide Levels in Snow Caves During Short-Term Stove Use

Nielsen,

Karlsen

2024

Introduction While the use of camping stoves in poorly ventilated areas is discouraged, the need to address dehydration challenges in harsh arctic conditions has led to their unconventional use inside snow caves for snow melting, subjecting occupants to unknown carbon monoxide (CO) levels. This study, located at sea level in northeastern Greenland, aimed to assess CO levels and dynamics during short cooking sessions in newly constructed emergency snow caves. Methods In 5 snow caves, constructed according to the same design principles by 4 different individuals, a single MSR Whisperlite multifuel burner, primed with ethanol and burning white gas, was used to melt snow. CO concentrations were monitored every minute until all the snow in a 5-L pot was converted to water and CO levels returned to below 10 ppm. Results A total of 16 experiments conducted showed that the priming phase generated the highest CO peaks, with a maximum of 120 ppm. Time-weighted averages ranged from 14 ppm to 67 ppm, with trial durations of 15 to 21 min. A single trial with a dirty burner resulted in up to a 10-fold increase in CO levels. Conclusions While single, short cooking sessions of less than 10 min burn time in newly constructed snow caves may be tolerated under specific conditions, the study highlighted substantial variation between caves and the importance of using clean burners, emphasizing the need for further research to gain a comprehensive understanding of CO exposure dynamics in snow caves.

“…1 The extent of carbon monoxide accumulation when using camping stoves has previously been demonstrated in experimental models to be influenced by factors such as flame color, pan size, and fuel type. [4][5][6] It would be presumed that other variables such as variations in tent style and design that influence insulating properties would lead to variations in carbon monoxide accumulation as well. We elected to conduct this experiment in an outdoor environment in a semicontrolled fashion in an attempt to mimic a scenario that may be encountered among persons using gas camping stoves inside enclosed tents of varied design.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Fuel Type on Carbon Monoxide Accumulation in Tents of Varied Design

Betten

Bales

Hughes

2013