International Journal of Applied Engineering Research.

ISSN 0973-4562, Volume 8, Number 15 (2013) pp. 1809-1816

Research India Publications
http://www.ripublication.com/ijaer.htm



Design of Cost Effective Parabolic Solar Cooker


Jayesh.R
1
, Kumaresh.V
2
, Saravana Prabu.R,
Vivek. L. G and Yuvaraj Lourdu.T

Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Amrita University,
Amritanagar, Coimbatore, India


Abstract

Cooking is one of the essential activities that consume a lot of fossil
fuels. Solar cooker is an innovative way of utilizing the solar energy to
cook food. This paper focuses on design of a parabolic solar cooker
which can be used for domestic solar cooking. The proposed solar
cooker is paraboloidal in shape and has cheap, light weighted and
highly reflective aluminum foil as reflector. The smaller shape and
light weight of the solar cooker makes it portable and appropriate for
house hold applications. The energy harnessed from sun using this
solar cooker is adequate for house hold cooking.

Keywords: Renewable; aluminum foil; acrylic sheet; black vessel; low
cost.

1. Introduction
The evolution for the need of renewable energy resources is raising these days. Also
the availability of conventional resources is drying up. The idea of utilizing renewable
energy in our day to day life is popular now.
In a tropical country like India there is sunshine for nearly 9 months in a year. This
kindled the idea, that if a cost efficient solar cooker is used in a house for most of the
domestic purposes, replacing gas-stoves, it not only benefits the household but also
reduces the cooking fuel demand.
Several models of solar cookers have been proposed in the past but, though they
were efficient in use, could not be cost effective. The main hindrance for cost-
effectiveness in most of the models were the use of high cost mirrors for reflection.
The above problem is addressed in this paper.
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The proposed design is to embed the inner side of the cooker with Aluminium foil
instead of placing a number of reflective mirrors, for reflection. This innovative idea
makes the proposed design cost effective. The canopy of the solar cooker has been
carved out of quality acrylic sheet which enhances cost effectiveness more, without
compromising for its efficiency.
Many articles were reviewed and the most effective ones were selected, then
design was made as per the requirements. Implementation is done on a smaller scale
and cost benefit analysis is performed with respect to conventional pressure cooker in
this paper.

2. Literature Survey and Background Study
The Parabolic square dish cooker has been introduced by M.M. El-Kassaby in 1991
[1]. The simulation model for transient state is introduced to predict the pot, fluid, air
gap and cover temperature. The impact of wind on cooking time is discussed.
H. Nemati et al optimized the dimension of parabolic solar cooker using 400
different materials [2]. A correlation is also proposed to determine the optimum
temperature. The parameters affecting efficiency of solar cooker is also discussed.
Temperature profiling of parabolic concentrator on different climatic conditions is
graphically explained by A. Claude et al [3]. The parabolic concentrator has been
included with its base darkened for maximum absorption. The cooker is designed to
increase the retention ratio and quantum efficiency. The efficiency of cooker with and
without parabolic concentrator is also discussed.
Two parabolic reflectors were used in the solar cooker designed by Yogesh R
Suple et al [4]. The primary reflector is used for concentrating solar radiation and the
secondary reflector is used for focusing the solar radiation on the point of interest. The
proposed design uses biaxial sun tracking. This cooker is ideal for in-house cooking.
An asymmetrical compound parabolic concentrator is used in the proposed cooker
as booster reflector [5]. Mathematical model of heat transfer process for cooker with
pot (containing water) has been proposed. Various parameters such as solar radiation,
clouds dynamic behavior has been included in the modelling.
The overall heat loss factor (FUL) of a paraboloidal solar cooker is discussed by
S.R. Kalbande et al [6]. The cooker also includes a windshield to minimize the heat
loss. The thermal efficiency of the cooker is determined and the optical efficiency
factor was deduced from sensible heating and cooling curves.
The low cost parabolic type solar cooker has been designed by Hasan Huseyin
Ozturk [7]. Galvanized stainless steel is used for the reflection of solar radiation. The
energy and exergy efficiency of the solar cooker is experimentally evaluated. The
international standard for testing solar cooker is used.
The performance of a paraboloidal solar cooker under no load, water heating and
rice cooing is discussed by S.R. Kalbande et al [8]. The thermal efficiency of the solar
cooker has been calculated.


Design of Cost Effective Parabolic Solar Cooker 1811

3. The Proposed Approach
The property of parabola to focus the solar radiation as shown in figure 1 is used for
the construction of the solar cooker. The reflector is constructed paraboloidal in shape.
The vessel having the food to be cooked is placed at the focus of the parabola. The
vessel should be painted black in colour to increase the absorption. Aluminium foils
can be used as reflection of solar radiation.


Figure 1: The parabolic reflector concentrating the solar radiation at reflectors
focal point. This photograph appears courtesy of [[online] Available :
http://www.met.reading.ac.uk/~gd900856/PPLATO/h-flap/p6_4.html].

4. Implementation
4.1 Planning
The proposed model of solar cooker mainly focuses for meeting domestic requirements
and hence the planned model should satisfy the size constraints and cost. The proposed
solar cooker is to be designed for 4 members. The solar cooker is designed with
principle that the dimension of the solar cooker should be smaller. Hence the height
and aperture diameter of the solar cooker is arbitrarily fixed as 55 cm and 90cm
respectively.
The parabolic reflectors equation is given in equation 1.
X
2
=4aY
(1)

Where a is the focal length of the parabola. Y and X are coordinates of reflector of
solar cooker with apex as origin. With 55cm as height and 90cm as aperture diameter,
on substituting the values for X and Y coordinates as X=45, Y=55, the focal length of
the paraboloid is found to be 9 centimeters.
On much analysis for the various structural shapes for the proposed model it was
found that paraboloidal structure gave to be the most expected outcome that satisfies
the domestic requirements. Framing the model with integrations of many smaller
sheets which make up for the entire model was found to be easier than modelling with
a single large sheet. The partition of the model must results with depth ratio of upper to
lower part to be 3:2, when horizontally separated. In order to have optimum reflection
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the depth of the upper part is three times as that of the lower part. When focused on the
concentration of solar radiations on the vessel the design of upper part with respect to
lower part form an important criterion. The higher depth of upper portion gave higher
reflection ratio. Hence the radiation utility factor of the vessel also increased which
results in effective cooking. Due consideration must also given while framing the
depth of lower portion since its microscopic values results in lack of effective gap
between the base and vessel which hinders the normal operation. Hence the model has
been structured with two portions, one upper and the other lower, each comprising of
12 small sheets which when combined found effective and is been shown in Figure 2.


Figure 2: Represents the 12 piece integrated lower and upper part (left side:
shows the upper part, right side: shows the lower part).

The outer diameter of parabolic is 90cm. Hence the circumference of the circle in
the upper side is 282.5cm. Let the upper part be ABCD as shown in figure 3.


Figure 3: Represents a single piece in the upper part.

As there are 12 upper parts the length AB is approximately 23cm. Similarly the
circumference of lower circle of upper part is 176.8 cm. Hence the length CD is 14cm
approximately. Based on Pythagoras theorem, the height of the upper part is found to
be 36.85cm.The dimensions of each upper and lower part are shown in Figure 4.
Design of Cost Effective Parabolic Solar Cooker 1813


Figure 4: Represents the dimensions of the small single sheets of upper and
lower part (left side: Dimensions of upper parts single sheet,
right side: Dimensions of lower parts single sheet).

The design of lower part follows in par with the dimensional analysis as that of the
upper part except that it is framed as per the above mentioned height. When the above
mentioned calculations for upper part was followed the values corresponding to the
lower part was found to be having a upper length of 14cm, the height was found to be
21cm, base diameter of 6.5cm. In addition to this a small extension of base of height
2cm and diameter 5cm has been framed which enables to bolt the lower part with the
adjoining wooden base.

4.2 System description
The structure of the prototype is fabricated out of 4mm thick Acrylic Sheet for dual
purpose of cost and weight reduction. The inner periphery of the cooker is glued with
Aluminium foil using Cyano-acrylate*. This layer of foil acts as a reflector and is also
cheap as mentioned earlier. The base of the paraboloidal model is fastened with
plywood, painted pitch black. The vessel in which the food is to be cooked should also
be painted black. This black painting arrangement extracts the maximum amount of
heat falling on it. A metal grid is placed in the plane containing the focal point of the
parabola and the vessel is placed on it.


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*A special type of glue which is compatible and also more adhesive to both,
the acrylic sheet and the Aluminium foil.
Figure 5: The paraboloid solar cooker implemented using the design in section 4.

5. Result
The proposed model was experimented and outcomes were analyzed. Test on the
model was conducted with vessel of water (about 2 Litres) and was found that water
after an hour from its setting up time was sufficient to meet the basic domestic cooking
requirements. The above test proves that the proposed model to be domestic cooking
and cost efficient and the probability of cooking at the earliest depends upon:

Size of the vessel
Reflection co-efficient of the model
Absorptive nature of the vessel
Food to be cooked
Materials used for aiding maximum heat transfer to the vessel

Hence from the above experiment on the model, the outcome proves for the
various constraints for efficient cooking has been overcome. Cost effective analysis of
the proposed model is been tabulated and is been compared with the conventional gas
cookers: table 1 and 2.

Table 1: Tabulation showing comparison of conventional cooker with
proposed solar model.

Conventional
Gas Stoves with
Cooker (INR)
Proposed Solar
Cooker (INR)
Initial Investment 0+ 2250**
Fuel Cost per year 6x400 -
Maintenance Cost 250 100*
Return on investment per year+- 2550
Design of Cost Effective Parabolic Solar Cooker 1815

Table 2: Tabulation showing the cost benefit of proposed solar model.

Materials Cost
Acrylic Sheet (18 Sq. Ft) 1400
Fabrication Cost 600
Iron Mesh 100
Wooden Base 100
Miscellaneous 50
Total 2250

Return on Investment =(2400+250)-(100) =2550. Within 1 year we redeem our initial investment.
+
If a family switches conventional gas stoves to solar cookers or else the initial cost is approx.
Rs.3500.
*If we change the Aluminium foil once a year (optional)
**Detailed in the following table

6. Conclusion
As the solar cooker is pollution free and uses renewable energy, it will become a
valuable asset in near future. The nutrients in the food processed by solar cooker add to
its credits. The usage of solar cooker can enhance sustainability of mankind and
improve their health and lifestyle. Future scope for developing prototype into a tilt able
solar cooker by some small mechanism can be done. This will help to focus the
maximum sunrays at all times in the day.

7. Acknowledgement
We kindly thank Mr. Satyajith and Mr. Pascal Prabuddha Dutertre for their esteemed
guidance. We also thank our faculties Prof. V. Radhamani Pillay and Mr. Krishna
Prakash sir for their invaluable support and guidance.

References

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simulation, Renewable energy vol. 1, No.1, pp. 59-65, 1991.
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cylindrical-parabolic cooker, J. Renewable Sustainable Energy4, 063134,
Dec. 2012.
[3] M. Balakrishnan, A. Claude and D. R. Arun Kumar, Engineering, design and
fabrication of a solar cooker with parabolic concentrator for heating, drying
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1636-1649.
[4] Yogesh R. Suple and N.N. Suraskar, Design and Fabrication Of Manually
Track Parabolic Solar Disc for In-House Cooking, International Journal of
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Dec. 2012.
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[5] A. Harmim et al., Mathematical modeling of a box-type solar cooker
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[6] S.R.Kalbande et al., Design Theory and Performance Analysis of
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[7] Hasan Huseyin Ozturk, Experimental determination of energy and exergy
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