Emission of carbon monoxide, total hydrocarbons and particulate matter during wood combustion in a stove operating under distinct conditions

Abstract

Wood combustion experiments were carried out to determine the effect of ignition technique, biomass load and cleavage, as well as secondary air supply, on carbon monoxide (CO), total hydrocarbon (THC), particulate matter (PM 10 ) and particle number emissions from a woodstove. Wood from two typical tree species in the Iberian Peninsula was selected: pine (Pinus pinaster) and beech (Fagus sylvatica). The highest CO and total hydrocarbon emission factors (EFs) were observed, respectively, for pine and beech, for high and low fuel loads. The highest PM 10 EF was recorded for the operation with low loads for both woods. Secondary air supply produced the lowest PM 10 emission factors. The top ignition can decrease the PM 10 EF to less than half when compared with the common technique of lighting from the bottom. The lowest particle number emission factors were observed when operating with high loads of split beech logs and when using secondary air supply during the combustion of pine. Regarding particle number distributions, the highest geometric mean diameter (Dg), for both woods, were observed when operating with high loads (with split and non-split wood).

Influence of operating conditions on chemical composition of particulate matter emissions from residential combustion

“…Samples were analysed for organic and elemental carbon (OC/EC), levoglucosan and 56 elements. The information provided in the present study complements that given by Vicente et al (2015), in which combustion temperatures, burn rates, emissions factors (g kg −1 of wood burned, dry basis) of both PM 10 and flue gases, as well as particle number size distributions, were explored.…”

“…The lower density of softwood promotes higher combustion rates compared to those observed for hardwood. Softwood burns quickly and, thus, the occurrence of oxygen deficit zones in the combustion chamber is likely to occur (Vicente et al, 2015). The PM 10 from the top-down ignition using beech wood consisted of OC and EC in almost equal fractions, which indicates combustion under higher temperatures.…”

High-temperature CO / HC gas sensors to optimize firewood combustion in low-power fireplaces

“…Further, an improvement in combustion quality can be achieved with catalytic support to the post-combustion process, even in the phases of lower combustion temperatures (Butschbach et al, 2009). It was reported that operational conditions, like the ignition technique (upside-down or bottom-up), fuel type and use of split or non-split firewood, also have a strong influence on the combustion quality (Vicente et al, 2015).…”

“…After the reloading of firewood on the glue bed (t Re ∼ 67 min and 52 min for the hand-and automatically controlled stoves, respectively), the firing process is completely different compared to the previous process. This is because now the burning proceeds from the bottom of the wood (Vicente et al, 2015). With controlled airstreams well adapted to this new firing situation, the Tc can be maintained rather high (about 400 • C) and stable for a longer time, and the CO concentration is typically reduced to values below 700 ppm for more than 20 min (Fig.…”

Characterization of the wood combustion process based on the TG analysis, numerical modelling and measurements performed on the experimental stand

“…Vincente et al [6] describe wood combustion experiments. The goal of study was to determine the effect of ignition technique, fuel load and cleavage as well as secondary air supply on carbon monoxide, total hydrocarbon, particulate matter (PM10) and particle number emissions from a wood stove.…”