Experimental investigation of solar cooker with dual sensible heat storage unit for evening cooking

Abstract

In this article, the thermal performance of dual sensible heat storage unit in a solar cooker based on parabolic dish collector for evening cooking is experimentally investigated. In the experimental setup, solar cooker with dual sensible heat storage unit was placed on absorbing plate of parabolic dish collector. During sunshine hours, the dual sensible heat storage unit stores solar heat and in the evening time, firstly the solar cooker with sensible heat storage unit is transferred to an insulator box and then loaded with cooking food. Inner sensible heat storage material transfers its stored heat to the cooking pot while the outer sensible heat storage material helps in compensating the heat loss during the transfer of solar cooker from absorber plate to insulator. It has been found that, food was cooked when transfer time is 05 minutes, partially cooked when transfer time is 10 minutes and not cooked when transfer time is 15 minutes.