Evaluating the performance and emission reductions of a coal-derived low-smoke fuel in a conventional household stove

A low-smoke fuel (LSF) produced via the devolatilisation of coal lumps is proposed as an option to combat the health-damaging effects of domestic coal combustion. This study investigates the effect of the LSF particle size on its performance in a conventional domestic coal stove. Three size groups, 15mm, 40mm, and a mixed size LSF were tested against their coal counterpart for reduction in CO and PM emissions; two practical parameters, ignition time and combustion efficiency, were also considered. On a practical level, smaller particles, despite having difficulty igniting, showed the most promise. These particles achieved higher temperatures, provided heating for longer and, had higher combustion efficiency than their larger counterparts. Larger PM reductions were observed for smaller particles when comparing LSFs to coals.