A CONCEPTUAL MODEL ON HEAT TRANSFER EFFICIENCY IN THE DESIGN OF A SOLAR COOKER FOR DEVELOPING COMMUNITIES

A detailed conceptual study has been carried out to investigate the characteristics of a solar cooker to maximize the solar energy exchange efficiency. Emphasis was placed on the long-term sustainability of the solar cooker for developing/rural populations, minimizing manufacturing costs while retaining structural strength, and ease of use for the operator. Using a solar cooker as a means for cooking food is an eco-friendly alternative compared to conventional methods (kerosene, wood, petroleum gas, or electricity), therefore, allowing a healthy avenue of growth for rural communities. However, many commercially available solar cookers are impractical, either due to large, bulky designs, or excessive cooking times. By modeling and optimizing the core mechanism of heat transfer and the physical properties of typical solar cookers, a more practical and efficient product can be constructed. Furthermore, multiple variations of solar cookers exist (i.e., box & reflectors) and the drawbacks and advantages of each model will be analyzed. In this investigation, the tools of stochastic mechanics, lognormal distribution, and mechanism of heat transfer were used to model and optimize the design performance of a solar cooker. The derived models were simulated using MATLAB and theoretical validation was performed using the engineering equation solver software. It was shown that the final optimization factor that was improved upon was the geometry of the absorption plate. Initial calculations indicate an overall system performance increase of 1.2% with the removal of the pot as shown in the findings. The proposed system demonstrated a general enhancement in all indicators of thermal performance when compared to a standard solar box cooker.