S. Mallikarjuna Reddy et al.

/International Energy Journal 17 (2017) 185 – 192 185

Development and Testing of a Solar Cooker with

Thermal Energy Storage System
S. Mallikarjuna Reddy*, V. Sandeep*, M. Sreekanth*, and Joseph Daniel*1
www.rericjournal.ait.ac.th

Abstract – Cooking is the major necessity for people all over the world. It accounts for a major share of energy
consumption in developing countries. Therefore there is a critical need for the development of alternative and
affordable methods of cooking. Solar cooking is a novel and eco friendly method of harnessing sun’s energy. There
are many types of solar cookers like solar panel cookers, solar parabolic cookers and solar box cookers which are
expensive. Solar cookers can be of a great use in saving fuel and enabling in eco friendly cooking of food. In this
work a solar cooker with thermal storage system using phase change material is developed. The size of the cooker is
designed by calculating the energy required to cook food for 2-4 persons. Paraffin is chosen as phase change
material to store the energy, which will be utilized in the absence of sunlight. A solar cooker with phase change
material will be compared with another solar cooker of similar dimensions. The cooker is tested as per the standard
procedure to estimate the figures of merit which was estimated to be 0.3102 for the cooker with thermal storage and
0.2946 for a cooker without thermal storage. The payback of the cooker was 7.87 years reducing a carbon foot print
of 80.541 kg CO2/year.

Keywords – carbon footprint, economics, figures of merit, phase change material, solar cooker.

1
1. INTRODUCTION chemically inert, non toxic, non inflammable,
inexpensive. Of the many options of PCM available, the
Solar energy as it is widely recognized as abundantly
ones that has a latent heat of fusion in the range of 0-
available yet intermittence, unpredictability and
150oC is very apt for solar energy applications. Some
meteorological dependence are the limiting factors that
examples that falls in this category are salt hydrates,
retard its usage extensively. With its availability in the
paraffin waxes, fatty acids, etc. [4]. Of the many variants
range of 5-7 kWh/m2 and 275 days of availability, low
of the solar cookers, the box type solar cooker is the one
cost cooking options and environmentally benign
that had undergone many characteristic modifications
techniques like solar cookers has a good potential in a
due to its simplicity and straightforwardness in its
tropical country like India and has a big market potential
design [5]. The box type solar cooker is a stationary
[1], [2]. The reliability of solar energy can be increased
device that does not require any tracking and can be
by storing its portion of the energy during excess
fabricated with simple materials available.
availability and using the stored energy as and when it is
needed. The mismatches in the demand and supply of
2. AN ALTERNATIVE OF A SOLAR COOKER
thermal energy can be mitigated by incorporating a
suitable storage medium in a device like a solar cooker. A solar box type cooker is basically an insulated box
As solar radiation cannot be stored as such but it can be with a transparent glass cover. The box has a cavity
realized by suitable energy conversion method through which has blackened sides and can hold the cooking
thermal, electrical, mechanical and chemical methods. vessels. Some of these box type cookers have booster
Phase change materials (PCM) in solar cookers uses the mirrors to enhance the sunlight falling on the horizontal
latent heat to change their state from solid to liquid and glass surface [6],[7]. Selection of readily available
in that process stores the heat upon solidification the materials for fabricating the cooker reduces the
heat is released which can prolong the cooking period manufacturing cost of the same and makes it easily
during intermittent availability of solar energy. Various available for common man at affordable price. Hence,
designs of solar cooker with both sensible and latent circular type solar cookers are developed which can be
heat storage materials were reviewed rectangular and easily fabricated with the materials available in the
cylindrical containers were used as heat storage devices market.
in solar cookers and a wide range of organic phase
2.1 Estimation of Area of the Collector and
change materials were used [3]. The ideal phase change
Estimation of Thermal Losses in the Cooker
material must possess certain desirable characteristics
like high sensitive heat capacity and heat of fusion, Table 1 shows the specifications with reference to
stable composition, high density and heat conductivity, cooking rice for 2 people in general for a family. It is
assumed that the rice required is 200 grams and the
*School of Mechanical and Building Sciences, VIT University
density of the rice is assumed to be 812 kg/m3,
Chennai, Vandalur-Kelambakkam Road, Tamilnadu-600127, India. furthermore the water required for the cooking is 2 times
than that of the volume of rice. About 10% of the water
1
Corresponding Author; is lost in evaporation during the cooking process.
Tel: +91-44-39931098; Fax: +91-44-39932555.
Email: [email protected].

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186 S. Mallikarjuna Reddy et al. /International Energy Journal 17 (2017) 185 – 192

Table 1. Specification with reference to pre and post cooking of rice.

Pre cooking Number of people 2
Rice required 200 gm
Volume of Rice 2.46 x 10-4m3
Volume of Water 4.926 x 10-4m3
Volume of food to be cooked (Rice + Water) 7.386 x 10-4m3
Mass of water required 0.4911 kg
Total mass of food to be cooked 0.691 kg
Post cooking Mass of water lost 0.04911 kg
Mass of cooked food 0.642 kg

Table 2. Energy requirements for cooking.

Thermal energy required to cook the rice 321.36 kJ
Power required for cooking 35.706 W
Cooking time 150 min
Losses 73.96 W
Total power required 100.706 W
Aperture area of the cooker 0.359 m2
Diameter of the cooker 0.33 m

Table 2 shows the thermal energy requirements for support cooking vessels since it absorbs the useful
cooking food (rice and water). The thermal energy energy from sun to be able to succeed cooking process.
required is the sum of the sensible and latent heat part. Three aluminum trays of diameter 680 mm were used
The losses are the sum of the top and side losses along out of which two trays were used for cooker with
with the losses from the vessel based on standard thermal storage system and one for cooker without
assumptions like 7% of the incoming solar radiation on thermal storage system. As the trays are single
the cooker glass surface top and side losses for a glass components, radiation and convective heat losses
wool (k = 0.034 W/m-K) insulated cooker. through gaps are nullified. Leakage, which is a main
problem while using liquid PCM has been overcome by
2.2 Material Selection for the Fabrication of Solar
using trays.
Cooker
2.4 Cooker Insulation (Glass wool)
Outer casing (GI sheet and wood): Outer casing is
necessary so that the box will retain a given shape and Glass wool is a thermal insulation that consists of
form, and remain durable over time. Outer casing intertwined and flexible glass fibers, which causes it to
materials include cardboard, wood, plywood, metal, "package" air, resulting in a low density that can be
cement, bricks, fiberglass, woven reeds, plastic, clay, varied through compression and binder content.
rammed earth or other material. As it holds the Insulation is one of most crucial key points for a box
components of the cooker it should have good structural type solar cooker to be able to provide an efficient
strength [8]. Many materials that perform well cooking. All materials with low thermal conductivity
structurally are too dense to be good insulators. To may be used as an insulation material in solar cookers.
provide both structural integrity and good insulation However, the main purpose for material selection should
qualities, it is usually necessary to use separate structural be minimizing heat loss from the solar cooker to the
and insulating materials. Hence a galvanized sheet of environment with minimal cost. In order for the box to
sufficient thickness is used for covering the body of the reach interior temperatures high enough for cooking, the
cooker which weighs less and easy to work. sides and bottom of the box must have good insulation.
For the solar cooker, it is important that the insulating
2. Inner Cooker Box (Aluminium Trays)
material surround the interior cooking cavity of the solar
Aluminium is remarkable for its low density and for its box on all the sides except the top side. Lower the heat
ability to resist corrosion due to the phenomenon of losses, higher will be the cooking temperatures.
passivation. Because of its high thermal conductivity
2.5 Glazing Surface (Clear Window Glass)
(237 W/m-K) i.e., 59% of the conductivity of copper,
both thermal and electrical, while having only 30% of Glazing material covers the absorber plate and allows
copper's density, it finds its use in solar cooking and heat sunlight to reach the absorber plate while preventing
transfer. Aluminum trays are the major components that wind and cold from reaching the plate surface that will

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S. Mallikarjuna Reddy et al. /International Energy Journal 17 (2017) 185 – 192 187

cause loss of heat. The glazing traps the solar energy and For these properties of the paraffin, system using
increases the cooking efficiency. Glass is a good glazing paraffin usually have very long freeze–melt cycle. Apart
material for solar cookers The ideal glazing material for from some several favorable characteristic of paraffin,
solar cookers must have good transmittance, longer life, such as congruent melting and good nucleating
good impact resistance, light weight, opaque to long properties, they show some undesirable properties such
wave radiation and easily affordable tempered glass can as low thermal conductivity, non compatible with the
be used for this purpose, since it is more durable and plastic container and moderately flammable. Since the
heat resistant and will not break off easily. Tempered availability of solar energy is intermittent, it must be
glass- though, is more expensive than regular window ensured during off peak hours by some means of storage
plane glass. So plane window glass is being used for this in a device like solar cookers. Latent heat storage (LHS)
purpose. is based on the heat absorption or release when a storage
material undergoes a phase change from solid to liquid
2.6 Paraffin Wax
or liquid to gas or vice versa. A total quantity of 2.9 kg
Paraffin qualifies as heat of fusion storage materials due of paraffin wax (latent heat of 210 kJ/kg), is used as a
to their availability in a large temperature ranges. Due to thermal storage medium in the proposed solar cooker for
cost consideration, however, only technical grade storing 50 W of heat which is equivalent to that of what
paraffins may be used as PCMs in latent heat storage is lost through the top surface of the cooker. The
systems. Paraffin is safe, reliable, predictable, less dimensions of the cooker are fixed based on the
expensive and non-corrosive. They are chemically inert availability of commonly used materials with a
and stable below 500oC, show little volume changes on requirement to hold two medium sized vessels inside.
melting and have low vapor pressure in the melt form.

Table 3. Specifications and standards of the materials.

Material Specifications Standard
inner diameter = 680 mm
Aluminium outer diameter = 780 mm IS 1660
height = 98 mm
Glass wool NA NA
diameter = 780 mm
Clear window glass NA
thickness = 4 mm
Paraffin wax 2.9 kgs- IS 4654
Galvanized iron sheet sheet thickness = 0.2 mm IS277

Fig. 1. Cooker with PCM storage with top and bottom trays.

The details and standards of the materials that are Multiphysics. The behaviour of melting front could thus
used for the fabrication of the cooker is shown in Table be understood. In this way heat transfer by conduction
3 above. The materials chosen are of Indian standards. and phase change are considered to be present in the
The above Figure 1 shows the sectional view of the proposed solar cooker. The PCM medium is semi-
double circular tray solar cooker with phase change infinite, initially solid at its melting temperature Tm, and
material between the trays. Space between the two trays at t = 0, the wall temperature is raised to Tw ≥ Tm,
has to be filled with paraffin wax granules with fin prompting the PCM to start melting in a linear fashion
arrangement so that heat transfers from top absorber starting at x = 0 from pure conduction in the liquid phase.
plate to bottom wax surface uniformly. Paraffin wax An initial height of 10 mm between the two trays are
being a solid has different temperature regions fixed for this study.
throughout its mass. A numerical analysis based on the Figures 2, 3 and 4 shows the temperature
Stefan's problem is done which is useful to determine distribution in the paraffin wax contained in the 10 mm
the temperature distribution of a homogeneous medium space between the trays. The wall temperature is set at
like paraffin wax undergoing phase change using the 75oC which is much higher than the melting point of the
finite element method, through the software COMSOL phase change material. The phase change material is
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188 S. Mallikarjuna Reddy et al. /International Energy Journal 17 (2017) 185 – 192

expected to melt in a linear fashion. As seen from Figure above study, it was concluded that the space between the
2 the paraffin wax medium starts melting when the trays to be adjusted to about 5 mm to facilitate the
heated wall temperature was sufficiently higher than the complete change of phase of the paraffin wax in the
melting point of paraffin at 50 to 55oC, from Figures 3 latent heat storage process. The mushy region where the
and 4, the melting front reaches midway at 5 mm to phase change material melts over a temperature range is
represent the liquid phase at 585 seconds and further observed in Figure 2 and later moves down at increasing
penetrates the solid phase at 1800 seconds. From the time steps at 585 and 1800 seconds.

Fig. 2. Temperature distribution at 75 seconds. Fig. 3. Temperature distribution at 585 seconds.

Fig. 4. Temperature distribution at 1800 seconds. Fig. 5. Solar cooker with phase change storage system.

The above Figure 5 shows the complete assembly in Table 3. An identical cooker without the paraffin wax
of the cooker with a storage medium. The internal based thermal storage is fabricated for comparison.
surface of the cooker is painted black to ensure
maximum absorptivity of solar energy. The advantage of
this cooker lies in the fact that it could be fabricated with
commonly available materials in the market as indicated

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3. TESTING OF THE SOLAR COOKERS The thermal evaluation experiment to determine

the stagnation temperature of the box-type solar cooker
A procedure for testing the solar cookers was developed
was carried out on 20th April 2015. The stagnation
based on IS 13429-3. Based on the standards the tests
temperature test that is, no load test was started at 11.00
that were performed on the cookers are:
am local time till the maximum plate temperature
i. The stagnation temperature test (the stagnation
(120oC), which occurred at 14:00 pm, was achieved. The
temperature test was conducted for the evaluation
following measurements were taken: solar radiation,
of first figure of merit F1).
ambient air temperature, and base plate temperatures at a
ii. Thermal load test, heat up condition test (the
regular interval. This test was performed in order to
thermal load test was conducted to determine the
determine the first figure of merit of the cooker and
second figure of merit and it was evaluated under
compare it with the standard. The solar radiation was
full-load condition.
measured using a Pyranometer (LP 02 – Hukseflux
3.1. First Figure of Merit (F1) make).
The first figure of merit (F1) is defined as the ratio of Without thermal storage (𝐹1):
optical efficiency, ( η0 ), and the overall heat loss
𝑇𝑎 = 38oC, 𝑇𝑝 = 120 oC, H𝑠 = 852.77 W/m2.
coefficient, (UL). A quasi-steady state (stagnation test
condition) is achieved when the stagnation temperature With thermal storage (𝐹1):
is attained. High optical efficiency and low heat loss are
𝑇𝑎 = 38oC, 𝑇𝑝 = 120 oC, H𝑠 = 852.77 W/m2.
desirable for efficient cooker performance. Thus the
𝛈
ratio ( 𝑈0 ) which is a unique cooker parameter can serve
𝐿
as a performance criterion. Higher values of F1 would
indicate better cooker performance:

T p − Ta
F1 = (1)
Hs
Where F1 is first figure of merit (Km2w−1), 𝛈0 is optical
efficiency (%), UL is overall heat loss factor (WK−1 m−2),
TP is absorber plate temperature (°C), Ta is ambient
temperature (°C), and Hs is insolation on a horizontal
surface (Wm−2).
3.2. Second Figure of Merit (F2)
The second figure of merit, of box type solar cooker is
evaluated under full-load condition as:

 1  T − Ta   Fig. 6. Experimental values of water temperature at 30 min

 1 −  w1  time interval for with and without thermal storage system,
F1 ( MC ) w  F1  H  
F2 = ln (2) respectively.
At  1  Tw 2 − Ta  
1 −  
 F1  H   Equation 1 was used to compute 𝐹1. However, the
obtained value of 𝐹1 is (0.1009 Km2w−1) is same for
Where:
both cookers as the maximum temperatures reached are
Tp = temperature of the absorber plate
same and at same solar insolation. The allowed standard
(stagnation) in oC
𝐹1 test states that if the value of 𝐹1 is greater than 0.12,
Ta = ambient air temperature in oC
the cooker is marked as A-Grade and if 𝐹1 is less than
Hs = insolation on a horizontal surface (taken at
0.12 the cooker is marked as a B-Grade solar cooker [6].
time of stagnation) in Wm-2
The constructed cookers are to be marked as B-Grade
M = mass of water in kg
solar cookers. The low value of first figure of merit may
C = heat capacity of water in J/kg°C
be an indication that there were higher convection and
A = aperture area in m2
radiation losses from the side walls made glass wool and
t = time in minutes
maybe the side insulator is not thick enough.
Tw1 = water temperature at state 1 (initial) in °C
Water heat up test experiment of the solar cooker
Tw2 = water temperature at state 2 (final) in °C
was conducted in order to determine the second figure of
merit (𝐹2). The test was carried out on 22nd of April
The results of this research work will be discussed
2015. For the full load test water temperatures for 𝑇𝑤1 =
under the following:
65oC and 𝑇𝑤2 = 95oC were chosen. The following values
i. Stagnation temperature test of solar cooker for
were recorded at a regular interval during the
first figure of merit (𝐹1);
experiment: ambient temperature, water temperature,
ii. Water heat up test of solar cooker for second
insolation, wind speed, and time for the water
figure of merit (𝐹2).
temperature to increase from 𝑇𝑤1 to 𝑇𝑤2 as shown in
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190 S. Mallikarjuna Reddy et al. /International Energy Journal 17 (2017) 185 – 192

Tables 3. For the computation of 𝐹2 the following values one without heat storage as high as 17oC towards the
are obtained from Table 3. end of the day at 6:30 pm. This indicates that the food
can be kept warm even during the lean sunshine hours.
3.3. Calculated Values of the Figures of Merit for both
Cookers 3.4. Economics of the Solar Cooker
The measurement of ambient temperature, water Table 4 indicates the cost break up of various
temperature, plate temperature for both cases and the components that make up the solar cooker with thermal
global solar radiation were used to calculate the first and storage, in the case of the cooker without the thermal
second figures of merit as shown below: storage only the cost of the insulation is negated. The
total cost of the cooker us around US$ 52.5 inclusive of
Without thermal storage system the labor cost. If a 20 % margin is considered for the
𝐹1 = 0.1009 Km2w−1 (computed) selling price the cost of the cooker is around US$ 70.9
𝑀 = 0.7 kg which is competitive to any such available model in the
𝑐 = 4186 J/kgoC market.
𝑡2−𝑡1 = 1980 sec Payback and carbon footprints avoided
A = 1.036 m2
𝑇𝑤1 = 65oC Payback period is the period of time required to recoup
𝑇𝑤2 = 95oC the funds expended in an investment [9].
H = 852.77 W/m2 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑒𝑟
𝑇ave = 33.2 oC 𝑃𝑎𝑦𝑏𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑑 = 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑠𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑑 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑏𝑦 𝐿𝑃𝐺
𝐹2 = 0.1157 (3)
With thermal storage system The payback period has to be calculated based on
𝐹1 = 0.1009 Km2w−1 (computed) the replacement of a known technology that is used for
𝑀 = 0.7 kg cooking the food for a small family in a conventional
𝑐 = 4186 J/kgoC way. When the total availability of energy from a single
𝑡2−𝑡1 = 3300 sec cylinder is 612.360 MJ/cylinder (considering the
A = 1.036 m2 calorific value of the cylinder to be 12.6 kWh/kg which
𝑇𝑤1 = 65oC has a mass of 13.5 kg of gas). If 60 % of the cylinder’s
𝑇𝑤2 = 95oC energy is used for burning then 367.416 MJ/cylinder is
H = 852.77 W/m2 the final available energy from the cylinder. If cooking
𝑇ave = 33.2oC for 2 people, 2 meals a day, 40% by the cooker and 900
𝐹2 = 0.0693 kJ for cooking as per the standard estimates indicates
about 1440 kJ/day. There will be a saving of roughly 2
Using Equation 2 second figure of merit was cylinders per year if 255 days are required by the solar
computed to be 0.1157 and 0.0693, respectively for cooker to produce energy equivalent to that of a cylinder.
cooker without and with thermal storage which is less If a single cylinder would cost US$ 9 (without subsidies)
than recommended standard value of greater than 0.40 [9]. The payback period for the cooker based on (3)
[6]. The F2 of cooker without PCM show higher value of indicates that the money on investment towards a cooker
second figure of merit showing gradual temperature is retrievable in 7.8 years.
changes. The possible reason behind this is due to the Based on GHG protocol the liquefied petroleum
heat from the solar radiation is utilized for cooking and gas (LPG) has an emission potential of 2.983 kg CO2 per
simultaneous storage in the heat storage medium. It is kilogram [10]. If 2 cylinders are saved and considering
observed from Figure 6 that the cooker with heat storage the weight of the gas in the cylinder as 13.5 kg the
has the ability to sustain higher temperatures than the emissions avoided would be 80.541 kg/year.

Table 4. Cost report for cooker with thermal storage system.

S. No. Component Quantity Cost (US$)
1 Aluminium tray 2 21.4
2 Glass 1 9.2
3 Paraffin wax 3 kg 5.4
4 Glasswool 4 kg 3.8
5 Cooking vessel with lid 1 1.9
6 Sheet metal(GI) 2 kg 3.8
7 Aluminium handle 1 0.3
8 Hinge 1 0.2
9 Black paint 1 0.4
Total 46.4

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