Development and Evaluation of a Multi-Reflector Double Exposure Box-Type Solar Cooker

B.O. Adetifa; A.K. Aremu

B.O. Adetifa Department of Agricultural and Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Environmental Studies, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ibogun, Nigeria
A.K. Aremu Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

Keywords: Stagnation, water heating, heating power, heat efficiency, double exposure

Abstract

Solar cookers are known to present an alternative energy source for cooking but, there is need for new designs to overcome some of its setbacks. A multi-reflector double exposure box-type solar cooker was developed with a surface dimension of 670 mm × 670 mm and a collector area of 0.264 m2. It comprised an outer and inner box; a double glazing; an absorber plate (painted black); aluminium foil reflectors; saw dust (insulator) and aluminium pots (with reed-like protrusions added to the inner surface of the pot cover). The cooker was subjected to stagnation, water heating and cooking tests. The cooker’s thermal performance was analysed by estimating the heating power and the sensible heat efficiency. Results reveal a maximum stagnation temperature of 102 oC, rising at an average rate of 5.0 oC per 15 min. The maximum water temperature attained while heating 1 and 2 kg of water was 92.3 oC and 80.0 oC respectively. A maximum heating power of 32.4 W and 26.0 W was observed for 1 and 2 kg of water, respectively while their respective maximum heat efficiencies were; 14.0% and 21.2% respectively. This study reiterates the usability and suitability of solar cookers in a tropical region.

Author Biographies

B.O. Adetifa, Department of Agricultural and Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Environmental Studies, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ibogun, Nigeria

Department of Agricultural and Mechanical Engineering,
College of Engineering and Environmental Studies,
Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ibogun, Nigeria

A.K. Aremu, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering,
Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

References

Adedipe, O. and Abolarin, M.S. "Design and Implementation of a Novel Solar Cooker". Innovations in Science and Engineering. 1:97-103, 2011.
Akinwale, F.P. "Development of an Asynchronous Solar-Powered Cooker". Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MSc. Thesis. Unpublished, 2006.
Al-Azab, T.A., Al-Odat, M.Q. and AlEssa, F.M. "Experimental Investigation of the Thermal Performance of a Box-Type Solar Cooker with Finned Pot in Jordan". Dirasat Engineering Sciences. 36(2):145-63, 2009
Anonymous. "Mahogany". Microsoft® Encarta® 2009 [DVD]. Microsoft Corporation, 2008.
Arabacigil, B., Yuksel, N. and Avci, A. "The Use of Paraffin Wax in a new Solar Cooker with Inner and Outer Reflecctors". Thermal Science, doi: 10.2298/TSCI121022031A., 2014.
Aremu, A.K. "The Development, Evaluation and Parametric Modelling of a Box-Type Solar Cooker". PhD Thesis. Ibadan: University of Ibadan, 2004.
Aremu, A.K. and Akinoso, R. "Potential Use of Box-Type Solar Cooker in Developing Countries". The Journal of the Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago. 41(1):11-17, 2013
CCOHS. "Working in a Standing Position". [Online] Available at: www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/ergonomics/standing/standing_basic.html [Accessed 18 July 2014], 2008.
Çengel, Y.A. "Heat transfer: A Practical Approach". 2nd ed. New York: Mcgraw-Hill, 2004.
Chapin, C., Leigh, J., Petronello, P., Tivabinsky, I. and Stewart, B. Capstone Design Project with Climate Healers. [Online] Available at: https://www.google.com.ng/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CC8QFjAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.engineeringforchange.org%2Fuploads%2Factivity%2F22%2F22%2F450%2F1325007607292%2Fsol_r_final_report.pdf&ei=JHz7U7WyNIPaaOGPgqgB&usg=AFQjCN [Accessed 23 June 2014], 2011.
Ekechukwu, O.V. and Ugwuoke, N.T. "Design and Measured Performance of a Plane Reflector Augmented Box-Type Solar Energy Cooker". Renewable Energy. 28:1935- 1952, 2003.
Jiofack, T.R.B. "Cordia millenii Baker". In R.H.M.J. Lemmens, D. Louppe & A.A. Oteng-Amoako, eds. Prota 7(2). Wageningen, Netherlands: PROTA, 2010.
Kundapur, "A. Review of Solar Cooker Designs". TIDE. 8(1):1-37, 1998.
Martin, R., Bond, T., Erickson, J., Rog, M., Crowley, C. et al. "Design of Solar Ovens for Use in the Developing World". International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering. 2(1):78-91, 2006.
Mohammed, I.L., Rumah, U.J. and Abdulrahim, A.T. "Performance Testing Of a Truncated Pyramid Solar Thermal Cooker". IJERA. 3(4):11 74-78, 2013.
Mohurle, N. "Problem Statement". [Online] Climate Healers Available at: https://www.engineeringforchange.org/uploads/activity/22/22/446/1325006933380/NitinMohurle.pdf [Accessed 23 June 2014], 2011.
Nahar, N.M. "Design and Development of a Large Size Non-Tracking Solar Cooker". Journal of Engineering Science and Technology. 4(3):2 64-71, 2009.
Nofziger, M.J. "Approaches to Designing a Solar Oven". [Online] College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona Available at: azmesa.arizona.edu/sites/azmesa.arizona.edu/files/Solar%20Oven%20Design.pdf [Accessed 22 June 2003], 2008.
Rikoto, I.I. and Garba, I. "Comparative Analysis on Solar Cooking Using Box Type Solar Cooker with Finned Cooking Pot". International Journal of Modern Engineering Research (IJMER) 3(3):1290-94, 2013.
Saravanan, K. and Janarathanan, B. "Comparative study of single and double exposure Box-type solar cooker". International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research. 5(5):620-24, 2014a.
Saravanan, K. and Janarthanan, B. "Energy and Exergy Analysis of Double Exposure Box-Type Solar Cooker". IJIRSET. 3(6):13104-13, 2014b.
Sedighi, M. and Zakariapour, M. "A Review of Direct and Indirect Solar Cookers". Sustainable Energy. 2(2):44-51, 2014.
SGV. "Food Safety when Cooking". [Online] Available at: www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/mskpages/Food_safety_when_cooking?open [Accessed 7 November 2014], 2014.
Uhuegbu, C.C. "Design and Construction of a Wooden Solar Box Cookerwith Performance". Journal of Basic and Applied Science Research. 1(7):533-38, 2011.