Design development and performance studies of a novel Single Family Solar Cooker

This paper presents the design development and, thermal and cooking performance studies of a novel solar cooker; it is named as Single Family Solar Cooker (SFSC). Small size, convenient design, inexpensive lightweight hybrid insulation and specially designed lightweight polymeric glaze are the main features of this cooker. A complete theoretical consideration for the fabrication of SFSC has been presented. The thermal profiles of various components of SFSC on different days under different conditions have been measured. During testing, the highest plate stagnation temperature, under no-load condition, approached 144 °C. The two figures of merits F1 and F2 are found to be 0.116 °C m2/W and 0.466, respectively, which are according to the Bureau of Indian Standards. The cooking power regression curve is fairly linear with the regression coefficient R2 = 0.948. Initial cooking power 103.5 W and the heat loss level 1.474 W/°C, place it in the region of small cooker with good insulation, as per International Standard. Cooking tests of several food items performed during 2009 confirm year round good performance of this cooker.

► Authors have developed a Single Family Solar Cooker (SFSC), which has cost 1385, weight 8 kg only. ► On the basis of different properties new materials are selected and used to fabricate various components of SFSC. ► Thermal performance parameters suggested for evaluation of a solar cooker are measured for it. ► Values of the parameters are compared and found better than many developed models. ► It is capable to cook two meals food requirement of two persons on a clear sunny day.