DESIGN, FABRICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF AN AUTOMATED INCLINED BOX-TYPE SOLAR COOKER EMPLOYING TRACKING REFLECTORS

An inclined box-type solar cooker employing tracking reflectors with dimensions 700mm x 440mm x 280mm, has been successfully designed and fabricated. The detachable reflectors, which were mounted on the box cooker, were suitably positioned in an east-west configuration on an inclined framework. This automatically tracks the apparent motion of the sun within 15 minutes time interval so as to align with the earth’s rotation when displayed under the sun. Thermal performance of the inclined box-type solar cooker has also been compared with that of a conventional box-type solar cooker whose dimensions and make are identical to the inclined box cooker. Testing of the tracking box type solar cooker has been carried out with load and without load conditions at Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State, located at Latitude 5oN, Longitude 7oE, Altitude 156m (Altitude 511ft) and 12km south of Owerri capital territory. Experimental results obtained from the field test show that the inclined box-type solar cooker with tracking reflectors attained temperature of 94oC, with efficiency of 93% and boiled water for 1hour 28 minutes. The conventional box-type solar cooker attained a temperature of 91oC, with efficiency of 90.9% and boiled water for 1hour 36 minutes. The tracking box cooker was found to be more efficient and effective than the conventional box cooker. Meteorological variables like Air Temperature, Irradiance, Relative Humidity and Wind speed were also obtained to investigate their effects on the performance of the box cookers.