Table of Contents

1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 4
1.1 Background ................................................................................................................................... 4
1.2 Importance of solar energy usage ................................................................................................. 4
1.3 Advantages of solar energy ........................................................................................................... 5
1.4 Disadvantages of solar energy ...................................................................................................... 5
1.5 Previous designs of solar cooker ................................................................................................... 6
1.6 Problem statement ......................................................................................................................... 6
1.7 Project Aims: ................................................................................................................................ 7
1.8 Project Objectives: ........................................................................................................................ 7
1.9 Use of software for design of solar cooker ................................................................................... 7
1.10 Expected Results: .......................................................................................................................... 7
2 Literature review ................................................................................................................................... 9
2.1 History of solar energy concept .................................................................................................... 9
2.2 Industrial developments in solar energy ....................................................................................... 9
2.3 Current trend in solar cooker industry ........................................................................................ 10
3 Methodology ....................................................................................................................................... 12
3.1 Studying solar cooking methods and technologies ..................................................................... 12
3.2 Hand calculations and design of solar cooker ............................................................................. 12
3.3 Selection of best possible material for cooker ............................................................................ 12
3.4 Using solid works to simulate solar cooker ................................................................................ 13
3.5 Modifying the design to enhance portability .............................................................................. 13
4 Analysis: ............................................................................................................................................. 14
4.1 Box cooker: ................................................................................................................................. 14
4.2 Panel cookers: ............................................................................................................................. 15
4.3 Parabolic cookers: ....................................................................................................................... 15
4.4 Selection Matrix: ......................................................................................................................... 16
4.4.1 Selection Criteria: ............................................................................................................... 16
4.5 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 18
5 Design: ................................................................................................................................................ 19
5.1 Reflector:..................................................................................................................................... 19
5.1.1 Material: .............................................................................................................................. 20
 5.1.2 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 22
5.2 Base:............................................................................................................................................ 22
5.3 Cover ........................................................................................................................................... 24
5.3.1 Material ............................................................................................................................... 26
5.3.2 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 27
5.4 Assembly..................................................................................................................................... 27
6 Conclusions ......................................................................................................................................... 29
7 References .............................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Table of figures
Figure 1:Box Panel Cooker ............................................................................................................................ 4
Figure 2:Box Solar Cooker ........................................................................................................................... 14
Figure 3:Panel Solar Cooker ........................................................................................................................ 15
Figure 4:Parabolic Solar Cooker .................................................................................................................. 16
Figure 5:Isometric view of Reflector ........................................................................................................... 19
Figure 6:Multiview of Reflector .................................................................................................................. 20
Figure 7:Reflector Drawing ......................................................................................................................... 20
Figure 8:Base Sketch ................................................................................................................................... 23
Figure 9:Isometric view of base .................................................................................................................. 23
Figure 10:Multiview of base ....................................................................................................................... 24
Figure 11:Isometric view of Cover .............................................................................................................. 25
Figure 12:Multiview of Cover...................................................................................................................... 25
Figure 13:Cover Sketch ............................................................................................................................... 26
Figure 14:1 pm View ................................................................................................................................... 27
Figure 15:1 pm Multiview ........................................................................................................................... 27
Figure 16:5 pm isometric view .................................................................................................................... 28
Figure 17:5 pm Multiview ........................................................................................................................... 28
Figure 18:Cost Analysis ............................................................................................................................... 29

Tables
Table 1:Pros and cons ................................................................................................................................. 14
Table 2:Pros and Cons ................................................................................................................................. 15
Table 3: Pros and Cons ................................................................................................................................ 16
Table 4:Selection Matrix ............................................................................................................................. 18

Graphs
Graph 1:Comparison between materials .................................................................................................... 22
 1 Introduction
1.1 Background

World is evolving and innovating. Recent years have shown the benefits of solar energy, as SUN is the largest
source of energy in our solar system and is more than enough for all needs and necessities on this planet. The past
decade has had many incidents which were caused by climate change, caused by the energy produced from power
plants and industries which utilize fossil fuels and damage OZONE layer. Thus, due to this effect, catastrophic results
are caused. In this project, solar energy will be used to design a cooker which will be capable to cook food in the
outdoors. It will focus on size as well as efficiency. In this project, solar energy and solar cooking technology will be
studied in depth. The designing of a solar cooker on the basis of those principles will be completed in Mechanical
designing software such as Solid Works. Design of solar cooker will be analyzed to enhance the temperature inside
the cooker area to make it able to cook. Following the analysis and according to the required temperature and
environment, design will be optimized using Solid Works.

Figure 1:Box Panel Cooker

1.2 Importance of solar energy usage

The importance of any renewable source of energy could never be denied. This type of energy source ensures
that the energy requirements of the world would always be met. As far as fossil fuels such as coal and gas are
concerned, researchers have expressed their fear that they would soon diminish. In this scenario, it is most important
that some new source of energy is taken into account which is present abundantly. Renewable energy such as that
provided by wind or sun is available in abundance. This form of energy could be used for a variety of residential as
well as industrial purposes.
Owing to this reason, the focus of the world has largely shifted towards solar energy. Now a day, there are
numerous functions being performed as a result of generation of solar energy. Previously, heating and cooling of
houses was carried out due to electricity. However, as a result of advancement in technology, solar energy is being
used for this purpose. Even cars are being run on solar energy for saving the fuel. This is a revolution which is bringing
numerous advancements and innovations in all fields of life.
Although it is normally speculated that solar energy is more expensive than other forms of energy, however,
this is not true at all. The initial costs associated with installation of solar plate may be higher than other forms of
energy, however, this form of energy is less costly. Therefore, we need to look at the bigger picture before making
any decision.

1.3 Advantages of solar energy

This form of energy has numerous advantages and offers such solutions which are not provided by any other
form of energy. The following are some advantages of solar energy:
 First, solar energy does not produce any type of pollution, particularly air pollution as is produced by thermal
or hybrid energy. This is due to the fact that greenhouse fumes are given out in atmosphere as a result of
thermal power generation. However, solar energy does not play any role.
 The dependency of whole world on fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources of energy is expected to
decrease as a result of solar energy generation. This would be beneficial in longer term in this regard.
 Once the solar panel is installed, there are no maintenance costs spent at all. This form of energy has
installation costs only, however, there would be no costs required for repair for around 30 years.
 It is possible to install such solar panels on any building since it does not require a lot of expertise at all. It is
often speculated that solar energy could not be used at night time, however, this is not true. The solar panel
stores solar energy to such an extent that it could be used quite efficiently at night time as well.
 The efficiency of this form of energy is also higher than other forms of energy such as electrical or thermal
source of energy. This is due to newer design and strategies being used for solar energy panel.

1.4 Disadvantages of solar energy

This form of energy also has some disadvantages which are as follows:
 Installation costs are so high that they could not be afforded by majority of individuals. It is true that there
are no maintenance costs, however, the initial costs are much more than expected.
 In case clouds are present on any day, it would mean that solar panel would not be able to store any solar
energy at all. In this scenario, some secondary storage would be required to continue the functions of daily
life.
 There is an issue with efficiency provided by solar energy. Theoretically, the efficiency is about 100% but
practically this has not been achieved till now.
 Currently there is no advanced technology present which could start the mass production ofsolar energy
panel. The material required for making efficient solar energy panel is also not present at many places which
depicts that the production cost could not be lowered.
 Although these disadvantages show financial and other setbacks involved with the use of solar energy, however,
the advantages associated with this energy are much more than these disadvantages. This renewable source of energy
is much more beneficial than other non-renewable sources of energy.

1.5 Previous designs of solar cooker

Over the past few years, there have been numerous efforts to make such solar cookers which could be
provided at lower costs. Since cooker is a daily use item, it should not be costly in order to remove the dependency on
fossil fuels. There are numerous constraints which are faced by researchers owing to technological constraints and
sturdiness problems. First of all, a parabolic strategy came forward in which solar panel was in the form of petals. The
reflective Mylar used for coating the petals stores solar energy which is provided to cooker for cooking. The problem
with this design was that it could not control the solar energy provided to cooker. The cooker became intensely hot
and could not be handled by anyone. The energy could not be lowered which was the biggest disadvantage of this
design. Another problem with this design was that the solar energy could only be provided directly and it could not
be stored by panel. Therefore, people were not able to cook food at night which became a huge issue in winter season.
Another design, commonly known as blazing cooker, came forward to allow people cook food on solar
energy. The reflective panel is in form of trough to heat up oil and provide it to cooker. This oil is present in a tube
present along with trough. However, there were efficiency issues with this design since oil cooled down immediately
after leaving trough. Therefore, food could not be cooked at all as a result of less temperature of oil. In 2011, there
was a design which tried to resolve all the previous issues efficiently. This design consisted of a parabolic shaped
reflector which was able to store solar energy. The parabola which was used was made of aluminum since it is a
conductive material. The problem which was found in the initial design was that aluminum did not have enough
thermal conductivity ratio to provide sufficient solar energy to solar cooker. Another issue which was discovered in
this design was that the unit used for storing solar energy was so big, it could not be transferred from one place to
another conveniently.
In order to resolve this issue, Mylar was coated over aluminum to enhance the thermal conductivity of
material. However, this problem was still not resolved and more conductive material was required. A solution was
presented to improve the stability as well as reflective property of reflector. Some mirrors were attached on reflector
ends to allow it to store more solar energy. In this way, numerous solutions were found including the suggestion to
use Fresnel lens or solar dish. In this study, the focus is towards improvement of efficiency of solar cooker by
improving its design and material being used in it.

1.6 Problem statement

The problem of energy conservation is an ongoing issue for all countries around the globe. Owing to scarcity
of available resources and the quickly diminishing assets, the focus has shifted towards renewable sources of energy.
Due to this reason, I have chosen solar energy for this thesis. Cooker has been used since cooking is a daily house
chore which requires burning of fossil fuels. If this outdoor cooking experiment becomes successful, then cooking
would also become an energy efficient process, thereby saving billion dollars’ worth of fossil fuel reserves.
1.7 Project Aims:

The aim of this project is to redesign a solar cooker to enhance efficiency. The focus will be on designing of a solar
cooker which will be small in size and effective in means of cooking and with enhanced performance for outdoor
utilization.

1.8 Project Objectives:

The objectives that will be covered in this project are enlisted as follows;
 To study the solar cooking methodologies
 To design the solar cooker with compact geometry and elegant design
 To design the solar cooker as a portable solution
 To analyse the performance of the solar cooker using Solid Works simulation
 To optimize the design parameters to design an optimized geometry with effective performance
 To optimize the design parameters to design an optimize geometry with weight of the solar cooker

1.9 Use of software for design of solar cooker

For this project, Solid works will be the primary tool of design, analysis and optimization. Cambridge
engineering selector software (CES) will be used for the materials selection of each part of the solar cooker. This case
requires special requirements of achieving high temperature without causing fumes, biodegradable with less weight
and low cost. After designing of solar cooker, the materials simulation of heat transfer will be simulated in Solid
Works to find the effectiveness of the design. Solid works design studies allow the optimization of the design in an
easy manner, which will be an effective way to improve the performance of the Solar Cooker.

1.10 Expected Results:

Solar cooker will be mainly focused for outdoor applications which becomes effective in camps in outdoor.
The simulation analysis predicts the environment whether it would be enough for cooking the food with required
efficiency and performance in a reasonable time. As the results, may require further modifications, solid works design
studies provide the option of optimization in which desired properties are inserted in the system to obtain the optimum
dimensions of the system.
As it would be used for camping, user will need to carry it for the tour, it must be compact in size to enable
the user to carry for the whole journey easily. Following design, analysis and optimization of the design of the solar
cooker, it would be a great product idea which can help most of the developing countries where energy crisis can be
minimized by replacing the cooking appliances with solar cooker, and this will be a low cost and a safe solution for
all.
Therefore, this project aims to redesign a solar cooker, as there are many available solar cookers, but the
effectiveness, mobility of design, cost of design and performance shows a vast gap and these issues will be addressed
in this project. Solar cooker as shown by its name will be powered by solar power which is the cheapest energy source
on the planet and the safest possible energy solution. The enhancement in performance, which will be key point of
this project, will be focused throughout with the geometry to ensure the mobility of the design since the large size
solar cooker can’t be packed and taken outdoor. The design must be light weight and easy to back making it a portable
solution so the tourists can enjoy the fresh cooked food.
 2 Literature review
2.1 History of solar energy concept

The concept of solar energy came forward due to many benefits associated with this form of renewable
energy. Since 7th century, human beings are trying to come forward with numerous technological ways in which this
energy could be used to carry out daily tasks. Initially, this form of energy was only used to light up some fires for
performing daily tasks. In this century, the use of magnifying glass was quite common with the help of which fires
were commonly lit. After this, the use of solar light for burning fires came in the knowledge of Romans who required
fire for their worship. Therefore, these individuals started using fire for religious use.
There were numerous other uses of sunlight in Roman era. These individuals used this source of energy for
heating up their houses and bath houses. Long windows were built just for letting in the sunlight so as to heat up the
area since there was no other source of energy for doing so as that time. Chinese also learnt the use of solar energy
from Romans and used it for lighting fires just as their ancestors. From these examples, it could be seen that people
have been trying to conserve and use solar energy even before Christ.

2.2 Industrial developments in solar energy

The uses which have been discussed previously were used at individual level by different nations. However,
the industrial developments also started owing to the importance of solar energy. The initial solar energy collector
was initiated and developed in 1767. This solar collector was tested by the Swedish researcher and his friend in cooking
food. Later, in 1816, Robert Sterling came up with the idea of using heat engines for lighting up equipment in
classrooms or residential areas. The heat engines made by him managed to capture the solar energy and then converted
it into thermal energy so that it could be used to run all the required appliances. This was a great invention of his time
and managed to aid a lot of students during their studies.
The renowned photovoltaic effect was also introduced during the same era when new inventions related to
solar energy technology were coming in market. This effect was observed accidently when a French heritage scientist
tried to keep a conducting electrical circuit in sunlight just to examine it. To his astonishment, the current increased
by many amperes only due to presence of sunlight which was confirmed by apparatus used in measuring current. In
1860s, this solar energy was also used to run the train engines. These solar engines were constructed very effectively
and efficiently. The concept of solar cells was introduced quite late. According to this concept, selenium along with
sunlight could produce electric energy quite efficiently. In 1876, these cells came forward with a very unique purpose
of storing solar energy. The major drawback of these cells was that the thermal energy could not be generated at all
with the help of solar energy. Owing to this reason, this type of energy could not be used directly due to which the
electric appliances could not use the solar energy generated by selenium cells.
The initial solar heater was initiated in 1891 which proved to be the first commercial heater of this form.
During 1900s, there were numerous developments noted in solar energy department. Scientists and researchers went
for official proof of photoelectric cell which was used in many appliances afterwards. During this era, Einstein tried
to explain this theory on the basis of his own concepts and was awarded a Nobel Prize owing to his success in depicting
this phenomenon. It was during this era that the discussion of efficiency related to inclusion of different materials was
started. Initially researchers never thought that more efficient material could come up with more effective solar energy
for various appliances. However, in 1953, Dr. Dan tried and succeeded with calculating the efficiency of different
materials with regards to collection of solar energy. If efficiency is greater, this means that appliances could be run in
a more effective manner than before.
Now a day, there are numerous ways in which solar energy is being used in a variety of ways so as to use
energy in an optimized manner. Cars are being run on solar energy instead of hybrid energy. Efforts are being put in
coming up with the concept of solar energy for running aircraft. There is a continuous struggle to reduce the size of
solar cells so that it could be used in small appliances as well. With the help of new technology and devices, the solar
cells are being used in clothes as well so as to conserve solar energy efficiently. Therefore, the solar technology is
latest technology which is coming forward with numerous innovative ways.

2.3 Current trend in solar cooker industry

The development of solar cooker was initiated in 1990s and numerous new technologies have been introduced
so as to improve its functioning. All over the world, there are more than one researches which are taking place so as
to increase efficiency of solar cookers. In 2006, a scientist came forward with his idea of using no insolation in building
solar cookers. This cooker, named as William cooker, could attain the maximum and minimum temperature required
to cook or heat up food. Lithium nitrate cells were used to store ample sunlight to use for various purposed later on.
This also resolved the issue of absence of sunlight during night time or cloudy days. The only problem with this design
was that it is a very slow and time consuming process. In order to make food for about 6 people, it took more than 6
hours for cooker to heat up adequately and cook proper food. During this time, if thermal energy is used along with
solar energy, then food could be cooked more properly and efficiently.
Apart from time consumption, there is another issue which was faced by researchers. Lithium nitrate being
used in this design was very expensive, thereby increasing the costs associated with design and not satisfying design
constraints. Even a small amount of lithium nitrate would require financing of more than $500 which make this design
unfeasible for majority of population. This design was initially made for third world countries to provide them a cost-
efficient solution for shortage of resources. Therefore, only designing is costing such nations too much and is
completely inadequate for them. Apart from that, such design was also made in order to meet the requirements of
armed forces going to under developed areas for their missions as well as people affected by lack of electricity.
However, these shortcomings depicted that it could not be used for any such purpose. Therefore, this design is
completely unfeasible for such nations, thereby undermining one of the major objectives behind such energy efficient
projects.
In 2009, another attempt was made on designing such solar cooker with the help of Fresnel lens. The
advantage of this lens was that not only it was available at affordable cost, it was also available at many places. The
safety and security of this solar cooker was also improved as a result of this modification to the design. The energy
stored by lens was programmed to be directed at a single point in solar cooker. This allowed the cooker to receive
required energy only so that it did not increase more than safety limits. The most unique and amazing feature of this
design was its sophistication in nature. Due to this, this type of cooker could be used for cooking food in both external
and internal mode.
 In this design, as well, there were some restrictions found. The first restriction found was that of mineral oil
which did not allow the outdoor food to be cooked at allocated temperature. Another issue was the sophistication of
its design which had a tracker of lens. The presence of this lens limited the design of cooker. Another major drawback
found in this design of solar cooker was that the thermal energy available as a substitute had no proper storage unit at
all.
Another design which was found was that of Scheffler dish. This dish employed use of aluminum material
along with mirror to reflect the solar energy. This unit is not yet made practically and all calculations have been done
theoretically. The insulation would be done with the help of concrete stuffed on the outer side of solar cooker. The
storage unit of thermal energy was perfect for storing the thermal energy required to run solar cooker. Other than that,
the tracking system of dish did not complicate the situation like in previous situations. The temperature acquired with
the help of this design was around 375ο which is enough for cooking food adequately. As a result of strong insolation,
it could be ensured that food was cooked more quickly than before.
Therefore, all of these designs were a good effort in this regard which allowed the efficiency of this device
to increase. There were some drawbacks in all designs, however, these problems were all solvable. The latest design
appears to be a new hope in this regard which may lead to most efficient solar cooker.
 3 Methodology
Research methodology is a very important aspect of thesis since it depicts a methodical approach. Through
this approach, a research problem could be solved in a systematic manner which ensures that results could be achieved
in a more concise manner. As in past decades, the increasing entropy of the universe is causing catastrophic impact
not only on weather but all life on Earth. Thus, many countries are innovating the products to make them
environmental friendly along with converting some products to solar based, which are safe and also the best solutions
for a safe environment. Cooking is a basic element in daily life routine at home, which requires fossil fuels to be burnt.
Thus, the solar cookers are designed. They are contemporary but not much of an effective solution. Normally on tour,
tourists prefer such equipment which doesn’t require extra power source and as a result this will allow them to cook
food. As, the energy provided will be radiation from the sun, it would be a safe and easy solution. In order to make it
effective a vast research gap in this field is present which will be focused in this project to design, analyze and optimize
the solar cooker. For this research, the research methodology consists of the following steps:

3.1 Studying solar cooking methods and technologies

In order to ensure that best possible technique has been chosen for this project, a detailed analysis would be
undertaken beforehand. The techniques which could be used for building up a solar cooker would be decided at this
step. There are a number of ways in which solar cooker has been made previously. The most efficient would be chosen
for redesigning solar cooker. During this analysis, the problems and limitations of current model would be studied in
order to overcome them through proper research.
During research, it was observed that currently the solar cookers face numerous limitations. First of all, there
is an issue of proper conduction of heat to cooker. Since temperature is important parameter for cooking, therefore
this is most important limitation to be resolved. Other than this, the time consumption makes it very inconvenient to
use. Cooking in solar cooker requires 4 to 5 hours which is not possible in fast paced lifestyle of today. Cost of this
solar cooker should also be kept minimum so that everyone could afford it conveniently. All of these problems are
kept in mind while redesigning the cooker.

3.2 Hand calculations and design of solar cooker

After the initial research, all calculations had to be completed by hand so that optimal design of solar cooker
could be made. All parameters of solar cooker were calculated beforehand. These parameters included the
circumference of cooker, size of solar panel and size of reflector. All of these calculations play an important role in
knowing the concentration of heat acquired by cooker. Other than this, the absorption of heat in cooker as well as
retention of this form of energy are significant factors to be considered before finalizing the design of solar cooker.
All of these calculations were done while keeping in mind the universal standards related to solar technology.

3.3 Selection of best possible material for cooker

At this stage, best possible material is selected for cooker in order to ensure efficiency of final design.
Cambridge Engineering Selector (CES) would be used to explore through the properties of all available materials and
make an efficient design. This software is being used for this purpose as it is a complete package. Through this
software, compatible material could be chosen for redesigning solar cooker. This case requires special requirements
of achieving high temperature without causing fumes, biodegradable with less weight and low cost.
This software is basically used for material selection which not only ensures optimal performance but also
minimizes the costs associated. Through this proper, the materials having goof thermal conductivity would be chosen
in order to ensure that cooker is able to attain required temperature. The weight of material would also be kept under
consideration while working on CES. The basic method revolves around graphs made between different properties of
a material. These graphs depict strength, viscosity, density and other properties of material which is necessary before
moving forward with basic design. Although there are other numerous other options available for material selection,
this software has been chosen owing to the ease of use as well as user friendly interface.

3.4 Using solid works to simulate solar cooker

For this project, Solid works will be the primary tool of design, analysis and optimization. After designing
of solar cooker, the materials simulation of heat transfer will be simulated in Solid Works to find the effectiveness of
the design. Solid works design studies allow the optimization of the design in an easy manner, which will be an
effective way to improve the performance of the solar cooker. Through solid works, a systematic approach would be
used in order to design and analyze cooker based on solar technology.

3.5 Modifying the design to enhance portability

As heating is involved in this project, plastics as well as many other materials produce toxic fumes when they
face high temperatures, so in the case of solar cooker the material selection would be an important part. Secondly,
special reflectors will be used for covers and walls to minimize the associated heat losses. The manufacturability is a
key part of every design, the design will be a modular one which will be designed in order to allow for different modes
where temperature can be set by applying the reflecting mirrors.
 4 Analysis:
Solar cookers are generally of three types. They will each be individually analyzed and finally the appropriate
one on the basis of its merit will be used as a base for further study and will be optimized as to make it more efficient.

Solar cookers mainly are of three types.

a) Box cookers
b) Panel cookers
c) Parabolic cookers

4.1 Box cooker:

Box cooker consists of an insulated box (the insulating material can vary between variants) which has a transparent
glass or plastic cover at the front and reflectors to help heat the box.

Figure 2:Box Solar Cooker

The pros and cons of box cooker are as follows:

Table 1:Pros and cons

Pros
It can cook more than one pot at a time.
It is simple to use.
It is safe to use and requires low supervision
They are more stable due to their shape and weight.
They have a high rate of insulation.
The temperature can reach up to 400 F.
They are easy to maintain and repair.
They have low cost.
Cons
They are not portable.
They take considerably more time to heat up.
The temperature is low.
It is unable to store the heat provided by the sun.
It requires direct sunshine to operate.
It is ideal for general baking needs.
4.2 Panel cookers:

The panel cookers consist of a pot or a fan which is placed upon three or five-sided reflector panel for better
concentration of sun light.

Figure 3:Panel Solar Cooker

The pros and cons of panel cooker are as follows:

Table 2:Pros and Cons

Pros
It is cheaper as compared other solar cookers.
It is ideal for cooking material with higher moisture
content.
It is considerably easier to repair and use it.
The temperature can reach up to 250 F. which is
sufficient to cook food.
It is more portable.
It is simpler to use.
It is difficult to overcook and burn the food.
Cons
It is considerably less safe to use than box solar
cooker.
Wind can affect the cooking temperature.
It is less stable and can tip over easily as compared to
box solar cooker.
It takes even longer to heat up as compared to box
panel solar cooker.
The insulation rate is less as compared to box panel
solar cooker.
It requires direct sunshine to operate.
It can accommodate one pot at a time.

4.3 Parabolic cookers:

The parabolic cookers consist of a pan or a pot fixed on a holder coupled with parabolic shaped reflector
panel to effectively focus the sun light.
 Figure 4:Parabolic Solar Cooker

The Pros and Cons of parabolic solar cooker are as follows:

Table 3: Pros and Cons

Pros
The temperature can reach above 400 F.
It can also be used for grilling and frying.
It is faster as compared to other solar cookers.
It is simple to use.
It is smaller and lighter as compared to box panel
cooker.
It is more stable than other solar panels.
It is reasonably safe to use.
Cons
It is comparatively more expensive than other solar
cookers.
It is unable to store and save solar energy
It is effected by wind.
It requires direct sunlight to work effectively.
It is comparatively expensive as compared to other
solar cookers.
it requires more supervision as more chances to burn
or overheat the food.

We will make a selection matrix to select the most appropriate kind of solar cooker which will then we used improved
by redesign or modification and optimization of the current design.

4.4 Selection Matrix:

The categories of the solar cookers will be evaluated according to appropriate selection criteria and the total score will
determine the kind of solar cooker selected. Which will then be improved.

4.4.1 Selection Criteria:

The selection matrix was constructed on the basis of desired properties a customer will look while purchasing a solar
cooker.
The desired properties are as given below:

a) Temperature
b) Weight
c) Stability
d) Durability
e) Dimensions
f) Portability
g) Cost of production

4.4.1.1 Temperature:
The most desirable characteristics for a solar cooker is Temperature. Solar cooker is to be utilized for cooking
while saving the natural resources available to us. Temperature is the property which will aid us in achieving the task
of cooking. Tourists, travelers and people in third world countries will be the prime users and for such purpose they
require a solar cooker which will be provide more temperature in less time. Due to this reason in selection matrix the
Temperature was given the most weightage.

4.4.1.2 Weight:
The solar cooker is to be used by tourists and travelers. Due to this reason, it is desirable that the weight of
the solar cooker be as minimum as possible and portability will be appreciated by users. Due to this reason the weight
of solar cooker in comparison to weightage is only second to temperature which is the most desirable attribute in a
solar cooker.

4.4.1.3 Durability:
The solar cooker needs to be as durable as possible. No one would want to buy a solar cooker again and again
if it’s not durable no matter how attractive its qualities are. While taking the third world countries into account. It
would be beneficial if a solar cooker is durable but relatively it is the least desired property in our design.

4.4.1.4 Dimensions:
The dimensions are directly controlling the size of a solar cooker and it is desired characteristic for a solar
cooker to be of optimum size.so, that it will be small and easy to carry.

4.4.1.5 Portability:
The solar cooker should be easy to carry.so, that the mobility of the user is not forsaken. A good solar cooker
design will take this characteristic into account. The importance of this attribute is depicted in the weightage.
4.4.1.6 Cost of production:
The cost of production is the parameter that will determine its cost in the market and the amount to which
the cost is minimized will determine the attractive of the product in the market. If the solar cooker is too expensive
compared to other types of solar cookers available in the market, then people will not be able to benefit from it.

Table 4:Selection Matrix

Box Solar Cooker Panel Solar Cooker Parabolic Solar Cooker

SELECTION WEIGHTAG RATIN WEIGHTE RATIN WEIGHTE RATIN WEIGHTE
CRITERIA E G D SCORE G D SCORE G D SCORE
TEMPERATUR
E 20 3 0.6 2.5 0.5 4.5 0.9
WEIGHT 10 2 0.2 3.5 0.35 3 0.3
STABILITY 10 4 0.4 2.5 0.25 4.5 0.45
DURABLE 5 3.5 0.175 3 0.15 3.5 0.175
DIMENSIONS 10 2 0.2 3.5 0.35 3.5 0.35
PORTABILITY 5 2 0.1 4 0.2 3 0.15
COST OF
PRODUCTION 15 3.5 0.525 4 0.6 3 0.45

TOTAL SCORE 2.2 2.4 2.775

CONTINUE? NO NO YES

4.5 Conclusion

So, The Parabolic design is selected as it obtained the maximum score on the selection matrix and the parabolic solar
cooker will have used as a base to design a new and more efficient solar cooker which has all the desired
characteristics.
 5 Design:
The baseline design for making a new and improved solar cooker is the parabolic solar cooker. A parabolic
solar cooker generally consists of following parts

a) Reflector
b) Base (to hold the pot)
c) Cover

5.1 Reflector:

The parabolic shape reflector design has a drawback that it needs to be constantly moved so that it points directly
towards the sun but it is a laboring if the interval between the shift is short then it can be bearable. The design of
reflector was changed to help increase the focus of the sun light. The shaped was changed to help increase the focusing
of the sun light. The shaped we have designed is curved that is similar to a parabolic shape and the angle of curve
depicted in the figure is 45 degrees which will help in focusing the light even though the reflector is not directly facing
the sun. This modification of shape will help minimize the short comings of a parabolic shaped reflector and the
performance of solar cooker which is already comparable to a stove will be further increased. The reflector was
designed on solid works. Its isometric view is as shown below

Figure 5:Isometric view of Reflector

The reflector is about 1 meters in diameter and it has clippers on the side.so, that it can hold the cover firmly keeping
the heat trapped inside which will further increase the effectiveness from its baseline design. The parabolic shaped
solar cooker is already comparably fast and provide temperature above 400 F. This reflector is designed to shorten the
time to reach such a temperature range while decreasing the dimensions as to increase its portability,The three views
of the reflector are depicted to help understand the design better.
 Figure 6:Multiview of Reflector

A sketch drawing of the reflector is shown:

Figure 7:Reflector Drawing

5.1.1 Material:
Different materials were considered to be used as the reflector surface and the best material was selected.

The material selected will be on the following criteria

a) Reflectance
b) Light weight
c) Durability
d) Cost
The materials considered are as follows:
a) Metalized polyester (MPET)
b) S-Reflected mirror film
c) ReflecTech mirror film
d) Reflective vinyl with adhesive backing
e) Automobile wrap mirror vinyl

5.1.1.1 Metalized Polyester (MPET)

Metalized polyesters are polymer film which are coated with a thin layer of metal, usually aluminum is used
because of its reflective properties. They offer all the benefits of the metal while reducing weight and cost. They are
widely used for decorative purposes but they also have specialized uses in the field of electronics. The only downfall
to using a metalized polyester film is its flammability. It’s density is less compared to aluminum and in terms of cost
the MPET is outclassing the aluminum foil most widely utilized for reflectors and in terms of durability it’s more
reliable and better.

5.1.1.2 S-Reflected mirror film

S-reflect sheets are coated with high reflection PET film on which aluminum is spread by vaporization
technique and they have a very high reflectance about 90 percent and depth feeling. They do not require a background.
The S-reflected mirror films have an interesting property their reflectance change with incidence angle. This feature
is only seen is these kinds of films and it provides increased reflectance at incidence angle of forty-five degrees and
its reflectance becomes comparable to ReflecTech mirror films but this constraint is not favorable as the sun’s position
is not stationary rather it is moving and determining the incidence angle of light to be at forty-five degrees by a normal
user is not possible. This property can be effectively utilized in solar panels where the movement of panels is computer
controlled.

5.1.1.3 ReflecTech mirror film

The ReflecTech mirror film utilized a silvered polymer which is unbreakable, unscratchable, self-adhesive,
durable and low cost and hence this new innovation has outclassed glass mirrors and hence it is widely utilized in the
parabolic solar cookers. It was thoroughly tested in national renewable energy laboratory and it was found that it was
more resistant to wind-related breakage common in concentrating solar power (CSP) systems and it was also moisture
tested and it proved to be effective against moisture which adds to its durability and flexibility of use and it is lighter
compared to other materials used and hence it reduces transport cost and can overall is better suited than other
materials.

5.1.1.4 Reflective vinyl with adhesive backing

It is a vinyl sheet which is available in rolls and it has a cover after which it sticks on the surface to be used
as a reflector and it has a high reflectance comparable to other material films used. It is cost effective but it is not that
much durable compared to other material films used.
5.1.1.5 Automobile wrap mirror vinyl
The vinyl used on automobiles are also utilized to act as reflector surface to be used in solar cookers with a
shiny mirror coating. It is less effective although in terms of cost. It has an edge but it is not durable and have low
reflectance compared to other materials used.

The plot depicts the comparison between reflectance of different materials considered and on the basis of reflectance
the material was selected.

94
92 (Metalized polyester)MPET
90
88 S-Reflected mirror films
86
Reflectance

84 Reflectech mirror films

82
80 Reflective vinyl with adhesive
78 backing
76 Automobile wrap mirror
74 vinyls
72
Materials

Graph 1:Comparison between materials

5.1.2 Conclusion
On the basis of the Graph 1 shown above the material most suitable to be used as reflector is the ReflecTech
mirror films as it provides the most reflectance while providing the most appropriate cost.

5.2 Base:

The base is a crucial component in the design of the solar cooker. The base will determine the stability of the
new design of the solar cooker. The base will also hold the pot in which food will be cooked. The size of the pot equal
to the traditional pots available in the market. A scale down sketch of the base is as shown below
 Figure 8:Base Sketch

The legs used to hold the whole solar cooker configuration will be 0.4 meters in length and they will be made of plastic
and will be able to fold so that they can be portable and this will be effective in travelling and for ease of mobility.
The base will be also providing rotation so that the reflector surface in its assembly will be able to rotate to point
towards the sun.

The isometric view of the base is shown to which was drawn in solid works.

Figure 9:Isometric view of base

The Multiview of the base is as shown below:

 Figure 10:Multiview of base

the pot will be attached and coated with a black heat absorbing film so that the heat is absorbed more effectively. The
central bars holding the pan will be coated with insulator so that the whole design will be more compatible. If they are
not insulated, then it can cause the heat to affect the legs which will not be favorable in our design.

5.3 Cover

The cover will help in keeping the heat trapped inside the space of the solar cooker the solar cooker is different
from its baseline design on the basis that the parabolic solar cooker does not have a glass cover to keep the heat trapped
inside. The benefits of a cover are not just keeping the heat trapped inside. The cover will also help in reducing the
affect the wind will have upon the solar cooker. The box panel heater uses the insulating box to trap the heat inside
and to minimize the effect of wind. It will help in minimizing the time to heat the pot and thus will increase the
effectiveness of the solar cooker.

The isometric view of the glass cover is as shown. It was modelled in solid works.
 Figure 11:Isometric view of Cover

The Multiview’s of the cover is shown obtained from solid works.

Figure 12:Multiview of Cover

The sketch of the cover is as shown below

 Figure 13:Cover Sketch

5.3.1 Material
Following three materials were considered from which the covers for the solar cookers will be made

a) Glass
b) Plastic
c) Transparent insulation material

5.3.1.1 Glass
The cover to be made from glass is a viable option as the heat loss coefficient of glass is less as compared to
plastic but it is costlier as compared to plastic. Most of the box panel solar cookers are using the glass to keep the heat
trapped inside and it will be beneficial as it will increase the efficiency of the solar cooker. The glass is heavier as
compared to plastic and it will add weight to the overall design but our objective and a desirable characteristic is to
decrease the weight of the overall design.

5.3.1.2 Plastic
Plastic is also an option available to us to make the cover of the solar cooker. The plastic has heat loss
coefficient less than that of the glass but it is also utilized in the box panel solar cooker. It is considered because of its
light weight and ease of recyclability. Which was one of the main driving force for design of a solar cooker in the first
place. Our world is dying and we are its inhabitants.so, we must do everything in our power to make our world a
happier and a better place to live in.

5.3.1.3 Transparent insulation material

Transparent insulation material also called as TIM is a new material produced from plastic film and it is
noticed to have reduced fifty percent the overall heat loss coefficient in comparison to glazed cover system. Also, it
is more cost effective and lighter and it help in increasing the efficiency of the solar cooker.
5.3.2 Conclusion
Out of the three materials considered the most efficient, lightest and most appropriate in term of cost and heat
loss coefficient is Transparent insulation material (TIM). It will greatly increase the performance of the solar cooker.
TIM will also be used for the cover of the pot in which the food will be cooked. The TIM cover will increase the
efficiency of the pot used for making the food and it will in return add to the performance of the solar cooker. The
contribution of pot on the overall performance of the solar cooker is less but it will be a deciding factor that can be the
deciding factor for obtaining edge over other designs.

5.4 Assembly

The overall assembly was done in solid works. The final overall isometric view with reference to sun is
shown.

Figure 14:1 pm View

The Multiview of 1 pm location of earth is depicted below

Figure 15:1 pm Multiview

The reflector can be rotated according to the position of the sun. The 5 pm isometric view is depicted to show this
feature.

Figure 16:5 pm isometric view

The following is the Multiview’s obtained through solid works with respect to the sun’s position at 5 pm.

Figure 17:5 pm Multiview

 6 Conclusions
The following were the important conclusions drawn from the design of an improved solar cooker

 The curved shape solar cooker is more effective that its baseline parabolic cooker.
 The best material to be used in respective to cost and reflectance is ReflecTech mirror film.
 The most appropriate material to be used for the construction of cover of solar cooker is TIM.
 The overall design is cost effective without forsaking the performance of the solar cooker.
 If performance is forsaken for its cost, then the solar cooker can be made even more less expensive.
 The portability coupled with its ease of rotation adds to the beauty of the design
 The legs of the base and rods are to be made with plastic while being coated with insulation material. So,
that they do not deform due to excessive heat exposure.
 The current design is more stable than its baseline.
 The cost analysis carried out will make it clear that reflectors are the most expensive component of a solar
cooker apart from pan or pot. A raw material cost analysis is shown below

RAW PRICE

MPET TIM COVERS BASE PLASTIC

Figure 18:Cost Analysis

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