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Video Course on Laboratory Testing of Cookstoves

LBNL’s Free Video Course on Laboratory Testing of Cookstoves

To promote robust data collection in cookstove research and testing centers around the world, Berkeley Lab has created a series of free training videos for building, calibrating, and validating a cookstove testing facility. We made this video series in response to the significant number of inquiries LBNL receives from research groups and testing centers worldwide who want to build or improve their own testing facility. These training videos series include knowledge gained from building and conducting experiments in LBNL’s cookstoves research testing facility as well as test and validation procedures included in the ISO/TC 285 Harmonized Laboratory Testing standard.

Introduction

In this video we discuss why it is important to build a network of high-quality cookstove testing facilities.

Designing the Hood for the Total Capture Method

A high-quality emissions hood is the foundation of a cookstove testing laboratory. In this video you will learn how to design a high-quality hood for capturing emissions in your cookstove testing laboratory.

Designing the Ducting System

In laboratory cookstove testing, the ducting system acts as the primary dilution system for cookstove emissions. In this video, you will learn how to design your ducting system so that your emissions stream is fully-mixed for emissions sampling.

Measuring Fuel and Water to Calculate Cookstove Performance

Most cookstove testing protocols have some focus on measuring the proportion of energy in fuel that was delivered to the cooking pot. In order to perform the calculations required for these tests, it is important to measure several properties of the fuel and water used in laboratory cookstove testing. In this video, you will learn how to measure the most important properties of the fuel and water you will use in your laboratory.

Sampling Gaseous Emissions

While in operation, cookstoves emit several gas species that are relevant to laboratory testing of cookstoves. In this video, you will learn how to measure gaseous emissions of cookstoves reliably and accurately.

Sampling Aerosol Emissions

Aerosols emitted from cooking are harmful to health and the environment. Taking high-quality measurements of PM2.5 is paramount to running a cookstove testing laboratory. In this video, you will learn how to sample aerosols in your laboratory using the gravimetric filter method.

Weighing Filters for Gravimetric Aerosol Sampling

Before and after taking gravimetric aerosol samples in your laboratory, it is critical to accurately weigh your filters. In this video, you will learn how to select, condition, and weigh filters.

Commissioning and Calibrating Your Laboratory Facility

In order to ensure your measurements are accurate, there are several key parameters of the laboratory setup that must be measured and verified. In this video, you will learn how to verify mixing and flow in the primary dilution system.

Advanced Lab Topics and Real-Time Measurements of Size-Resolved Aerosols

In some circumstances, established international testing facilities may be interested in advancing their basic setup to measure additional real-time parameters, such as size-resolved aerosol number concentration, to better understand the health implications from PM emissions associated with the cookstoves being tested. This video covers topics that are beyond the scope of most cookstove testing centers’ core needs for equipment and processes, but offers a view into the requirements of building a more advanced lab.

Getting Repeatable and Reliably Results with a Quality Assurance Plan (QAP) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)

Operating a high-quality cookstove testing laboratory requires strict practices in terms of laboratory protocol and procedure. In this video, you will learn how LBNL keeps its laboratory facilities running reliably even as staff and circumstances change.