Probe-based measurements of moisture in dung fuel for emissions measurements
2016
Gautam, Sneha | Edwards, Rufus | Yadav, Ankit | Weltman, Robert | Pillarsetti, Ajay | Arora, Narendra K. | Smith, Kirk R.
Measurement of the moisture content of biomass fuels is critical for the measurement of emission factors and accounting for differences in stove performance results from standardized tests such as the water boiling test. Moisture probe measurements have been used systematically for the assessment of moisture content of woody fuels, as it is more convenient than laboratory-based oven-drying methods because multiple measurements can be rapidly performed on-site as the fuel for the cooking task is selected for use. Current protocols, however, state that the probes used to measure moisture content in wood cannot be used with dung, crop residues, or other non-wood fuels. The averages from 5 replicate moisture probe measurements on each of 35 cow and buffalo dung patties from Haryana, India, were compared to oven drying moisture measurement at 103±2°C. Dung patties were selected ranging in moisture content from 5% to 65% on a dry basis based on probe measurements with 5 unique patties in each 10% increment. The results showed good linearity between moisture probe ≤55% and oven drying methods (r²=0.76). Results were then used to adjust uncontrolled measurements of dung moisture taken prior to cooking for 17 homes in 4 villages in rural Haryana, India, which demonstrate that the commonly used moisture probe, when calibrated against oven-based methods, can be used to assess moisture content of dung patties over the range of dung moisture typically found and used in villages for cooking purposes.
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