A comprehensive review and a systematic approach to enhance the performance of improved cookstove (ICS)

The biomass has been the choice of the heat source for cooking purposes since ancient times. The inefficient combustion process in traditional cookstoves has its shortcomings in the form of adverse consequences on human health and pollution of the environment. Research and development of improved cookstove, for those who are yet to adopt the cleaner fuels for the cooking, has occupied the scientific community and social workers alike to improve the conditions of these people. Most people who live in urban settings are using natural/petroleum gas or electricity for cooking. On the other hand, a large section of the people living in the hinterlands continue to use traditional cookstoves, which are of low efficiency and create indoor air pollution, which leads to severe health issues. To overcome these issues, many researchers have proposed various designs for improved cookstoves. This paper summarizes the available literature related to different cookstove designs, performance and emissions. The review covers detailed discussion on various parameters to enhance the performance of biomass cookstoves. In addition to that a comparison of different types of cookstoves, different fuels used in them, their efficiency and particulate matter emissions are studied. This paper also explores the possibility of the implementation of additional accessories such as thermoelectric generators.