A solar cooker is a device which uses the energy and direct
sunlight to heat, cook or pasteurise food or drink. Many solar cookers are
presently in use and are relatively inexpensive, low-technology devices,
although some are as powerful and as expensive as traditional stoves. This
study aimed to showcase the design, construction and performance of a solar
cooker. According to a survey, each
family utilises two fully grown trees in a year. For this study, the design of
solar cooking is strictly based on cost efficiency, easy availability and
workability. The solar cooker was constructed using different materials. Each
material served a specific function. A solar cooker box was constructed using
rectangular panels and aluminium foil. The geometry of the cooker includes the
simplest form of an angled panel surrounded by reflectors for enhanced
efficiency. The cooker is surrounded by an insulating cardboard box with
material which, when heated, retains heat so that it can be used when the sun
is low. It is painted black on the outside so as to absorb all the radiation
and emit none. The efficiency of this cooker is 89% when there is enough
sunlight. The cooker can boil water up to 89℃ which is also a sufficient
temperature to cook light foodstuffs and boil tea. Solar cookers operate by
converting sunlight into heat through concentration, absorption, and heat
trapping (greenhouse effect), and their performance is measured via
standardised temperature studies to ensure efficient, clean, and sustainable
cooking. The general methodology for solar cooking systems involves harnessing
solar radiation and transferring that energy to food in an insulated
environment. The specific methods vary by cooker type, such as Box Cookers,
Panel Cookers, Concentrating Cookers (Parabolic/Dish), and Indirect Cookers.
These decide the specific temperature values, duration, and materials used more
precisely. The broader significance of the study is its contribution to
sustainable energy or environmental protection. The solar cooker was
constructed and tested for its performance by temperature-achievement
measurements. It is potentially strong for reducing firewood dependency and
environmental deforestation.
Author(s) Details
Yusuf Ismail Koleleni
Physics Department, Muslim University of Morogoro, P.O. Box 1031, Morogoro,
Tanzania.
Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/mono/978-93-47485-78-7/CH2
