Toward a cleaner domestic wood heating by the optimization of firewood stoves

Abstract This study aims to determine the evolution of many pollutants, especially the particles and their precursors, by four generations of wood-burning domestic heating appliances between 2000 and 2015. As the particles emissions issue remains relevant, the second part of this work concerns the simulation of the firewood fleet emissions evolution. Many characteristics of the particles were measured: mass, number, size distribution, Organic and Elemental Carbon composition, SEM imaging … We also followed the emissions of NOx, Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). The particles emissions, in mass or number, has decreased drastically overall size fractions. All the technologies that increase the turbulence in the combustion chamber increase impaction mechanisms and therefore limit the flying ashes/coal. The secondary airflow introduction reduces the amount of pollutants emitted. Organic Carbon emissions decrease by the chamber insulation, sealing and the design of the device. Optimizing combustion drastically reduces the amount of PAHs emitted, but the emissions profile remains stable. The simulation results are that with the actual firewood stove renewal rate, the emissions will considerably decrease in the next decade: −14% for the TVOC, −50% for the PAH16, -42% for the TSP and −26% for the OC.