Reduction of Carbon Monoxide from Domestic Kerosene Heaters

An experimental investigation was carried out to develop methods or devices for reducing indoor air pollution caused by kerosene heaters. Efforts were mainly directed toward reducing carbon-monoxide concentrations from these heaters. A test chamber serving as a controlled room was constructed and the combustion gases generated by the heater and exhausted into the chamber were measured. A device applying both the idea of thermal reactor and catalysis was developed, which upon testing proved very effective in reducing carbon-monoxide concentrations. In moderate burning capacities of the heater, the carbon-monoxide level was reduced by a factor of 2 due to the use of the device. In a heater equipped with the device and operating at higher burning capacities, the concentration level of carbon-monoxide was reduced by a factor of 6.