Solar cooker is a device, which uses solar energy for cooking, and thus saving fossil fuels, fuel wood and electrical energy to a large extent. However, it can only supplement the cooking fuel, and not replace it totally.
It is a simple cooking unit, ideal for domestic cooking during most of the year except during the monsoon season, cloudy days and winter months.
Types of solar cookers :
1) Parabolic concentrating solar cooker :
A parabolic solar concentrator comprises of sturdy Fibre Reinforced
Plastic (FRP) shell lined with Stainless Steel (SS) reflector foil or
aluminised polyester film. It can accommodate a cooking vessel at its
focal point. This cooker is designed to direct the solar heat to a
secondary reflector inside the kitchen, which focuses the heat to the
bottom of a cooking pot. It is also possible to actually fry, bake and
roast food. This system generates 500 kg of steam, which is enough to
cook two meals for 500 people (see Figure 12.3). This cooker costs
upward of Rs.50,000. Positioning of solar panels or collectors can
greatly influence the system output, efficiency and payback. Tilting
mechanisms provided to the collectors need to be adjusted according to
seasons (summer and winter) to maximise the collector efficiency.
The period four to five hours in late morning and early afternoon
(between 9 am to 3pm) is commonly called the "Solar Window". During
this time, 80% of the total collectable energy for the day falls on a solar
collector. Therefore, the collector should be free from shade during this
solar window throughout the year - Shading, may arise from buildings or
trees to the south of the location
.
2)Box type solar cookers:
The box type solar cookers with a single
reflecting mirror are the most popular in India. These cookers have
proved immensely popular in rural areas where women spend
considerable time for collecting firewood. A family size solar cooker is
sufficient for 4 to 5 members and saves about 3 to 4 cylinders of LPG
every year. The life of this cooker is upto 15 years. This cooker costs
around Rs.1000 after allowing for subsidy. Solar cookers.
It is a simple cooking unit, ideal for domestic cooking during most of the year except during the monsoon season, cloudy days and winter months.
Types of solar cookers :
1) Parabolic concentrating solar cooker :
A parabolic solar concentrator comprises of sturdy Fibre Reinforced
Plastic (FRP) shell lined with Stainless Steel (SS) reflector foil or
aluminised polyester film. It can accommodate a cooking vessel at its
focal point. This cooker is designed to direct the solar heat to a
secondary reflector inside the kitchen, which focuses the heat to the
bottom of a cooking pot. It is also possible to actually fry, bake and
roast food. This system generates 500 kg of steam, which is enough to
cook two meals for 500 people (see Figure 12.3). This cooker costs
upward of Rs.50,000. Positioning of solar panels or collectors can
greatly influence the system output, efficiency and payback. Tilting
mechanisms provided to the collectors need to be adjusted according to
seasons (summer and winter) to maximise the collector efficiency.
The period four to five hours in late morning and early afternoon
(between 9 am to 3pm) is commonly called the "Solar Window". During
this time, 80% of the total collectable energy for the day falls on a solar
collector. Therefore, the collector should be free from shade during this
solar window throughout the year - Shading, may arise from buildings or
trees to the south of the location
.
2)Box type solar cookers:
The box type solar cookers with a single
reflecting mirror are the most popular in India. These cookers have
proved immensely popular in rural areas where women spend
considerable time for collecting firewood. A family size solar cooker is
sufficient for 4 to 5 members and saves about 3 to 4 cylinders of LPG
every year. The life of this cooker is upto 15 years. This cooker costs
around Rs.1000 after allowing for subsidy. Solar cookers.
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