Average CO ₂ Concentration Analysis of an Improved Cookstove and a Comparative Study of Experimental Results Carried Out on 4 Biomass Stoves in Cameroon

ABSTRACT Household members relying on wood or charcoal stoves are currently exposed to greenhouse gases like carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), and so on. Measuring CO 2 and CO concentrations helps evaluate the energy efficiency of the charcoal stove and identify opportunities for improvement (it may also help adjust the stove's operation to minimize pollutant emissions and maximize energy efficiency), on the one hand, and helps verify compliance with environmental and safety regulations and standards, on the other hand. We were motivated in this study first of all by the desire to reduce the households' fuel consumption, and to assure the comfort, security, and health of households' members, as well as the desire to preserve fossil resources; and second by the investigation the performance of our cookstove prototype when compared to three (03) other stoves purchased in local market. In this study, we analyzed the carbon dioxide concentration emitted by a more sophisticated improved biomass cookstove, the so called “stove SAG”. Its performances for a Simple Water Heating Test (SWHT) were compared to those of stoves IC, CS and MC available in Cameroonian market. The attractiveness, comfort and security assured by stove SAG as well as its low pollution allows to recommend it for massive use in developing countries in general and particularly in Cameroon.