Abstract
The extraordinary air pollution in Ulaanbaatar (up to
4 200 μg m-3) was monitored using Nucleopore® filters
and particle counters. Particle analysis confirmed low
temperature coal combustion as the major air quality
problem in poor districts. High time-resolution PM 2.5
data showed particles are emitted during the ignition of
lignite fires. Over 50% of all PM comes from the
ignition phase of stoves lighted in the morning and in
the late afternoon after people arrive home from work.
A laboratory (modelled on the SeTAR Centre
Laboratory, University of Johannesburg) was
established to quantify domestic stove emissions.
Measured particulate matter was as much as 12 g m-3 of
flue gases. Data analysis uses the SeTAR Centre
Heterogeneous Testing Protocols and analytical
methods. A combustor testing programme led rapidly
to the development of an extremely clean-burning
cooking and space heating stove that has been
developed and brought to market within a single year.
An acceptable 9 kW low-emission (up to 99% reduction
of PM 2.5) and high efficiency (50% fuel savings) crossdraft
cooking and space heating stove was developed
and is being piloted for large scale production in
Ulaanbaatar at this time.