Biomass Cookstoves: an Empirical Study into the Relationship between Thermal Efficiency and Tending Practices for the Developing World

More than 2 billion people in the world use biomass stoves for cooking and heating their homes. Due to incomplete combustion, toxic byproducts such as soot, nitrous oxides and carbon monoxide gasses form. These toxic substances contribute to pollution and can lead to serious health issues over time if inhaled leading to approximately 4 million premature deaths each year. The formation of these toxic substances can be mitigated, in part, through the introduction of increased turbulence intensity allowing for the so-called “well-stirred combustion regime”. Here we will be exploring the health, environmental, and social effects of biomass combustion in the developing world, the benefits of “rocket” technology for cooking and agricultural purposes, the potential implementation of well-stirred combustion regimes to further improve upon this technology, and how improved tending practices can increase thermal efficiency for both 3 stone cookstove and clean cookstove use