Comparative study on the combustion characteristics of an atmospheric induction stove in the plateau and plain regions of China

Heat input, thermal efficiency, and emissions behaviour are the key performance characteristics of domestic gas appliances, which considerably depend on altitude. Because of the low atmospheric pressure and oxygen contents on the Tibetan Plateau, atmospheric induction stoves designed for plain areas tend to exhibit poor combustion performances when operated on a plateau, where poor energy utilization and indoor-air pollution are specific issues. In this study, a comparative study was conducted in a plateau and plain region of China to investigate the influence of altitude on a natural gas stove's combustion characteristics. The experimental results indicated that: (1) enhancing the gas supply pressure can eliminate the effect of altitude on the heat input; (2) there is a larger heat loss and higher thermal efficiency during incomplete combustion in Lhasa; and (3) oxygen-lacking conditions promote the formation of carbon monoxide and the lower flame temperatures reduce the emission of nitrogen oxides.