Assessment of the impact of using rice straw derived cooking fuel on the emission of air pollution and climate forcers | |
| Author | Nguyen Nhat huynh Mai |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.EV-15-15 |
| Subject(s) | Straw--Asia Climatic changes--Asia Air--Pollution--Evaluation--Asia Biomass energy--Asia |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering and Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. EV-15-15 |
| Abstract | In Southeast Asian countries, rice (Oryzae sativa) is the main staple crop which is cultivated widely to meet domestic and export demands. A huge amount of rice straw (RS) is generated in each crop cycle and commonly burnt directly in field that releases a large amount of air pollutants including short lived climate pollutants (SLCP) and biogenic greenhouse gases(GHG). There are a few technological options that may be promising alternatives to the field open burning practices. This study conducted experiments to prepare a simple RS derived fuel (roped RS with double density) which was used in traditional and improved cook-stoves (Thai CS). The emission and thermal efficiency of the fuel-stove systems were assessed. The efficiencies of 4 fuel-cookstove systems which were 1) loose RS & tri-pod, 2) roped RS & tri-pod, 3) loose RS& Thai CS and 4) roped RS & Thai CS were in the range of 7.5 –12%. The tests were performed using the hood method and emission of CO, CO₂, CH4, BTEX and PM was measured for the flue gas from the cookstoves. The PM samples were taken using isokinetic method with isokinetic rate of 113 –117% using a cascade impactor. The emission factors for CO, CH4, CO₂, PM2.1, PM10 and BTEX obtained for roped RS & Thai CS were 46±0.6, 3.04±0.06, 1117±86, 5.77±1.14, 7.45±1.29 g/kg and 114.2 ±3.3 mg/kg mg/kg, respectively, which was higher for CO₂ and lower for other pollutants than other systems. In the base case with the RS field burning practice as of 2012, the literature compiled annual emission from this activity in Thailand for PM2.5, PM10, SO₂, CO₂, CO, NOx, CH4, N2O, BC, OC and NMVOC in ktonnes (kt) was respectively 217.5; 238.4; 4.8; 30,840; 2,437; 59.7; 251.3; 2.7; 13.4; 78.3 and 183.4. The corresponding values for Vietnam were 251.2; 275.4; 5.5; 36,804; 5,418; 69; 124.1; 3; 15.4; 90.5; 211.9 kt/year, respectively. If the RS would be converted to fuel and used for cooking using the system with the lowest emission (roped RS & Thai CS), a huge amount of air pollutants and GHG emission from field burning would be prevented. The use of charcoal fuel in Thailand and coal fuel in Vietnam for cooking would be decreased by 66% and 87%, respectively, which would bring in air quality and climate co-benefits. Accordingly, the fossil fuel consumption and the deforestation rate in both countries would be reduced. The total emission of all pollutants under this scenario as compared to the base case would be decreased by 62% and 69 % in Thailand and Vietnam, respectively. The scenario would also reduce the total global warming potential as CO₂-eq (20 year horizon) emission from both elimination of field burning and fossil fuel consumption by of 70% and 62% for 2 countries accordingly. |
| Year | 2015 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Nguyen, Thi Kim Oanh; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Thammarat Koottatep;Salam, Abdul P. ;Hopke, Philip K.; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Scholarship; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2015 |