EFECTO DE LA TECNOLOGÍA DE ESTUFA RESIDENCIAL EN LAS EMISIONES GASEOSAS DE LA COMBUSTIÓN DE BIOMASA

The growing use of biomass for cooking and heating raises environmental concerns about atmospheric air pollution from flue gases emitting during its combustion. In this work, the gaseous emissions from two residential wood stoves were examined. Emissions from conventional single-stage and triple-stage combustion low pollutant wood stoves were compared using Eucalyptus grandis (EUG) and Pinus elliottii (PIE) woods as fuels. Temperature, humidity, CO, CO₂, total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) and formaldehyde (HCHO) content of the release gases were determined at the outlet of each chimney. Carbon monoxide emissions were reduced in 102% and 240%, when PIE and EUG wood logs were burned in triple-stage combustion stove. The triple combustion system showed total volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde emissions higher than obtained in conventional system possibly due to the mixture of both gaseous emissions with water vapor releasing during combustion. The results indicated that the utilization of triple combustion stove with some adjustments would be beneficial to local air quality, individual health and reduced global climate change.