Improved estimation of rural residential coal emissions considering coal-stove combinations and combustion modes

Ying Zhou; Dawei Huang; Jianlei Lang; Teng Zi; Dongsheng Chen; Yuying Zhang; Shengyue Li; Yufang Jiao; Shuiyuan Cheng

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115558

Improved estimation of rural residential coal emissions considering coal-stove combinations and combustion modes

Environ Pollut. 2021 Mar 1:272:115558. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115558. Epub 2020 Sep 6.

Authors

Ying Zhou¹, Dawei Huang², Jianlei Lang², Teng Zi², Dongsheng Chen², Yuying Zhang², Shengyue Li², Yufang Jiao², Shuiyuan Cheng²

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Beijing on Regional Air Pollution Control, College of Environmental & Energy Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China. Electronic address: y.zhou@bjut.edu.cn.
² Key Laboratory of Beijing on Regional Air Pollution Control, College of Environmental & Energy Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China.

PMID: 33223337
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115558

Abstract

Rural residential coal combustion (RRCC) has detrimental effects on air quality, climate, and human health. There are large uncertainties regarding emissions from RRCC owing to the lack of consideration of several key factors (e.g. combination modes of coal and stoves, combustion modes, and high temporal resolution). In this study, we provided a new estimation framework for RRCC emissions through a case study in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region, China. The emission estimations were improved according to four aspects, namely (1) coal-specific and stove-specific coal consumption was calculated based on face-to-face field interviews of 6700 valid volunteers/households covering 288 villages in 50 counties; (2) the influences of combustion modes (flaming and smoldering modes) on emissions were considered; (3) emissions of different fuel-stove combinations were estimated based on coal, stove, and combustion mode-specific RRCC consumption and localised emission factors; and (4) a method for emission estimation with high temporal resolution (1 h) was developed. The results indicated that RRCC emitted 413.6 kt SO₂, 55.7 kt NO_x, 5717.3 kt CO, 149.4 kt VOCs, 167.1 kt PM_2.5, 18.2 kt EC, 32.5 kt OC, and 8.2 kt NH₃ in 2016. The combination of bituminous coal and an advanced coal stove was the most significant contributor (20.7-71.8%) to various pollutant emissions. Coal combusted under the flaming mode contributed to most (81.9%) of the total coal consumption, and thus emitted the majority (50.8-99.8%) of pollutants, except for VOCs. Meanwhile, that under the smoldering mode only accounted for 18.1% of the total consumption, but contributed 49.2% and 74.7% of the CO and VOCs emissions, respectively. Two clear emission peaks occurred at approximately 7:00-9:00 and 18:00-20:00. The detailed coal consumption and emissions with high temporal and spatial resolution can provide sound data for further research on rural environmental issues and scientific support to pollution control strategies.

Keywords: Advanced coal stove; Coal-stove combination; Combustion modes; Emission factors; Rural coal emissions.

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants* / analysis
Air Pollution* / analysis
Beijing
China
Coal / analysis
Household Articles*
Humans
Particulate Matter / analysis

Substances

Air Pollutants
Coal
Particulate Matter