IPASJ International Journal of Mechanical Engineering (IIJME)

Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJME/IIJME.htm

A Publisher for Research Motivation ........ Email:editoriijme@ipasj.org
Volume 5, Issue 4, April 2017 ISSN 2321-6441

EXPERIMENTAL COMPARISON OF SOLAR

COOKER USING BLACK COATED AND
ALUMINIUM COATED BOX
Tariku Achamyeleh1, S.Ramu2, BantelaySintayehu3 and R.Srinivasan4
1,2
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Amhara Region, Ethiopia.
3
Department of Chemical Engineering, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Amhara Region, Ethiopia.
4
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Muthukumaran Institute of Technology, Mangadu, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Abstract
Two different methods of solar cooker hasbeen designed to improve thermal performance of the solar cooker. We have
committed to analyze the technical measurements such as cooker parameters, materials and energies. Two major solar cookers,
aluminium plated and black coated boxes, are currently used to be tested both in load test. Thermocouples were used to
measure the temperature of the two cookers at different parts of the cookers. Based on the input and output energy the two
solar box cookers were compared on their efficiency. Theoretical and practical comparison was conducted to choose which
cooker was the best in efficiency with the same working environment. These techniques are used to compute the solar cooker
for betterment performance and comparison achievement on the studies and finally the experiment results are given by the
maximum thermal performance at the aluminiumlaminated coated box.
Keywords: Solar Cooker, Aluminium coated, Black coated, Thermal Performance.

1. INTRODUCTION
Increasing environmental awareness and the growing global need for alternative cooking fuels has spurred solar cooker
research and development. Solar cookers represent a simple, low cost, practical and effective application of solar
energy. In many developing countries, such as Ethiopia, they can play an important role in improving living conditions
among low-income households by lowering exposure to wood-smoke and reducing pressure on firewood resources.It
was reviewed on black coated solar cooker box previously and collected details about the parametric testing, thermal
performance, insolation tracking system and designs to improve the thermal energies. Based on the environment and
suitability of weather conditions the researchers have decided to make the experiments. This paper main objectives
protrude on the concentration of solar radiation diffuses along the system without heat loss. So the articles [1], [2], [3],
[4] and [5] reviewed for the research focusing on which area. But, I have learned above that papers associated on the
environmental conditions were planned.This articles represented on testing and comparisons of solar cookers on their
efficiency for betterment. Much of the discussion in the project will focus on the aluminium and black solar box cooker.
The testing was conducted with eight thermocouples and one pynarometer.
This research article aimed on evaluating energy and exergy efficiency of box type cooker. These box type cookers
made by different insulated materials. They are maize cob, air (control), maize husk, coconut coir and polyurethane
foam. The five type of cooker were evaluated and determined energy and exergy analysis using ANOVA. The
experimental results were concluded about coconut coir reached highest energy and exergy efficiency (37.35 and 3.90%
respectively). (Ademola K Aremu) [6]
This article represented and focused about structure of solar cooker. The detailed studies associated with the
comparison, efficiency and economy in production. So they selected Parabolic solar cooker SK-14. The SK-14 modelled
favour of sufficient temperature and the technical concepts also involved such as sun tracking mechanism, stuff warmer
and parabolic cooker instead of box type. Finally they achieved performance of solar cooker SK-14 with higher thermal
efficiency for parametric effects of mechanism in heat transfer. (Adil Ahmed.S) [7]. The researchers are found different
profiles suitable for development of design and construction. This project main objective concluded that development of
solar cooking and drying in northern Argentina. They proposed literature review on cost and durability of solar dryers
and cookers. So, the design and fabrication of solar dryer and cooker have decided as a prototype model for analytic to
ensure that optimal performance and measurements. (Victor Jos Passamai) [8]. The performance of the solar cooker

Volume 5, Issue 4, April 2017 Page 7

 IPASJ International Journal of Mechanical Engineering (IIJME)
Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJME/IIJME.htm
A Publisher for Research Motivation ........ Email:editoriijme@ipasj.org
Volume 5, Issue 4, April 2017 ISSN 2321-6441

based on concentrating collector and its increases the temperature. Parabolic trough cooker was constructed in a way
allowing cooking to be done indoors, which the cooking section were placed indoor while the collector parts out door
with soya bean oil conveying the energy from the observer to the cooking stove. They were followed by thermosyphone
principle, the heat transferring fluid arranged in circulated method by natural convection. The low temperature fluid by
virtue of its high density moves down and high temperature moved on upward direction. For optimization and
utilization of solar energy resource, they concentrated on parabolic through in important parameter in the system
design, Since, Ethiopia is on the northern hemisphere the collector face south for maximum total energy collection.
Another important angle for the collector is tilt some angle. Hence, the collector is tilted approximately 14 which is
equal to the latitude of Mekelle (Haftom Asmelash) [9].
The performance analysing on night cooking and concentrated on compound parabolic collector type of solar cooker. It
has planned to design, fabrication and analyze a type of cooker like CPC, which is not subjected to tracking, it can
make harness maximum on the solar cooker throughout the entire day. The experiment design and analyse on solar
radiation recorder and thermometer measurement were made. This system also kept on south zone and both solar
radiation and thermometer readings were taken for many days. The thermal performance of solar cooker depends on
the dimensions of inclined heat exchanger and the heat transfer fluid medium also inclined on the column. (Arunachala
U. C) [10] & (VVS Murty) [11].

2. TEST EQUIPMENTS AND THEIR ACCURACY

Two solar box cookers were identified for the experiment. The two boxes have an approximately the same exterior
dimensions. Two water cups, eight thermocouples and a multimeter were also used for conducting the load test. The
solar radiation was recorded by a pynorometer. Volume of the water was measured with labelled flask. Lab view
software was used along with National Instruments data logger. The accuracy of the instruments is presented below.
Table 1:Instruments with their accuracy

Instrument Accuracy

Pyranometer data logger 0.1%

Graduated cylinder 25mm or 0.025kg

Thermocouple 1.5oc

Steel rule 0.5mm

Stopwatch 0.5min

3. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY

Initial Reading was taken for all the thermocouples before setting up the cookers for measurement to calibrate the
reading of the thermocouples against with the reading of the ambient thermocouples, i.e. TC7 and TC8.

TC1 ----- 22.2 TC2-----22.7

TC3 ----- 23.4 TC5-----24.6
TC6 ----- 24.1 TC7-----27
TC8 ----- 28 TC12 ---- 23

As we can see it from the above data, the thermocouples have certain deviation when compared to TC7 and TC8. By
taking the average of the two ambient thermocouple reading, TC1, TC2, TC3, TC5, TC6, and TC12 have a difference
of 5.3, 4.8, 4.1, 2.9, 3.4, and 4.5, respectively. These differences should be added on the readings of the thermocouples
whenever we use the values later in the analysis part.

Two solar box cookers were set up at Mechanical Solar demonstration lab. Measurement of solar irradiance was
obtained using Pyranometer.

Volume 5, Issue 4, April 2017 Page 8

 IPASJ International Journal of Mechanical Engineering (IIJME)
Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJME/IIJME.htm
A Publisher for Research Motivation ........ Email:editoriijme@ipasj.org
Volume 5, Issue 4, April 2017 ISSN 2321-6441

Figure 1 Picture of the test layout

The aperture windows and mirrors of the two cooker units were thoroughly cleaned before testing. The cookers were
positioned facing South (Figure).
In each test, the cooking cups were filled with 250 grams of water. One type-k thermocouple was immersed centrally in
each cup and secured around 40mm below the water level.
Tests were conducted in accordance with the International Standard for Testing Solar Cookers and Reporting
Performance.
1. Testing was conducted between 12:50PM and 1:50PM solar time.
2. Ambient temperature was recorded using multi-meter and ambient thermocouples.
3. Wind speed was not measured.

The test began with water at ambient temperature. Cooking temperature was recorded using an NI data acquisition unit
connected to a PC running Lab VIEW software.
1. Irradiance was sampled every 5-minutes and averaged for a 10-minute interval.
2. There were no irradiance values below 450W/m2 and changes greater than 100 W/m between two consecutive
ten-minutes also rendered the test invalid.
3. In the case of the simple box with no reflectors, the energy entering the aperture can be given simply as:
EInput = AapertureIsolart
Where Aperture represents the area of the window of glazing material that is facing the sun (assumed perpendicular
in this equation), t is the change in time, and I solar is the value of the global solar radiation perpendicular to the
collector.
To determine the average cooking power, the total mass of water in each cooker was multiplied by the change in
temperature in each 10-minute interval and the specific heat capacity of the fluid (4186 J/kg.K).

This result was divided by 600 s, and output energy was obtained.
EOutput = (T2 T1)mCp
where: Eoutput = Output energy
T2 = average water or pot contents temperature
T1 = average ambient temperature
m = mass of water
Cp = specific heat capacity of water (4186 J/kg.K)

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

During the experiment, absorber plate temperature of cooker, air inside the cooker, ambient air temperature, water
temperature, and solar radiation were recorded for an hour. The readings of the thermocouples and pynarometer in 10
minutes were averaged and presented in the following figures.

Volume 5, Issue 4, April 2017 Page 9

 IPASJ International Journal of Mechanical Engineering (IIJME)
Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJME/IIJME.htm
A Publisher for Research Motivation ........ Email:editoriijme@ipasj.org
Volume 5, Issue 4, April 2017 ISSN 2321-6441

Figure 2 Temperature profiles of the two cookers

Figure 3Solar Radiation

4.1 Input Energy
The energy entering the solar box cooker can be computed with the following formula:
EInput = AapertureIsolart
AAperture= 0.1626m2
t is 10 minutes or 600s
For average change in time of 600s, the successive energy inputs are:

Table 2:Successive Input Energies

Averaged Solar Radiation

Input Energy, EIn, i
in every 10 minutes(W/m2)
EIn
EIn,1 914.33 89202.36
EIn,2 911 88877.16
EIn,3 898.33 87641.4
EIn,4 885 86340.6
EIn,5 869 84779.64
EIn,6 848.67 82795.92

Volume 5, Issue 4, April 2017 Page 10

 IPASJ International Journal of Mechanical Engineering (IIJME)
Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJME/IIJME.htm
A Publisher for Research Motivation ........ Email:editoriijme@ipasj.org
Volume 5, Issue 4, April 2017 ISSN 2321-6441

4.2 Output Energy

The output energy can be gained using the formula
EOutput = mCpT
m = 0.25kg and Cp= 4186 kJ/kgK
Where, T, the change in temperature, is the difference between water temperature and ambient temperature of the
successive 10 minute readings of the two boxes. The output energy during the experiment can be summarized in the
following table.
Table 3: Output Energies for the two cooker
Aluminum plated solar cooker Black coated solar cooker
Water Water T EOut,i Water Water T EOut,i
temp, T1 temp, T2 temp, T1 temp, T2
EOut,1
26.0234 32.30754 6.28414 6576.353 22.09043 25.93678 3.84635 4025.205
EOut,2
32.30754 38.65954 6.352 6647.368 25.93678 30.21659 4.27981 4478.821
EOut,3
38.65954 44.53765 5.87811 6151.442 30.21659 34.62242 4.40583 4610.701
EOut,4
44.53765 50.15582 5.61817 5879.415 34.62242 39.09893 4.47651 4684.668
EOut,5
50.15582 55.26676 5.11094 5348.599 39.09893 43.21476 4.11583 4307.216

5. CONCLUSION
Results from the testing showed that the temperature of the water reached maximum of 46.2C and 58.3C for black
coated and aluminium laminated solar box cookers, respectively. The maximum average ambient temperature during
testing was 32.7C. Aluminium laminated solar box cooker, resulting in higher final temperatures and cooking powers,
although boiling point was not reached in either of the two, black coated or aluminium laminated, during the test.
The future work will concentrate on the thermal performance of solar cooker, parametric concentration of solar
radiation diffuses on cooker pot and analysis of solar radiation absorption for convection losses.

REFERENCE
1. Tariku Achamyeleh, S. Ramu , Bantelay Sintayehu and R. Srinivasan, Experimental Analysis of Solar Cooker
usingBlack Coated Box: Review Comparisons ofOptimizing Measurements, SSRG International Journal of
Mechanical Engineering (SSRG-IJME) Volume 4 Issue 2February 2017.ISSN: 2348 8360.
2. Rachel Martin, Design of Solar Ovens for Use in the Developing World, Cornell Solar Oven Team Fall 2005 -
Spring 2006, International Journal for Service Learning in Engineering, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 78-91, Fall 2006, ISSN
1555-9033.
3. Dinesh kumar.c.m, box type solar cooker, International journal of scientific research, Volume 3, Issue 11, November
2014, ISSN 2277-8179.
4. C Z M Kimambo,2007, Development and performance testing of solar cookers, Journal of Energy in Southern
Africa, Vol 18 No 3, pp41 -51.
5. Ismail Isa Rikoto, Comparative Analysis on Solar Cooking Using Box Type Solar Cooker with Finned Cooking Pot,
International Journal of Modern Engineering Research (IJMER), Vol.3, Issue.3, May-June. 2013 pp-1290-1294
ISSN: 2249-6645.
6. Ademola K. Aremu, Joseph. C. Igbeka, Energetic and Exergetic Evaluation of Box-Type Solar Cookers Using
Different Insulation Materials, World Academy of Science, Engineering and TechnologyInternational Journal of
Biological, Bio molecular, Agricultural, Food and Biotechnological Engineering Vol:9, No:5, 2015.
7. Adil Ahmed.S, Detail Study of Parabolic Solar cooker SK-14, International Research Journal of Engineering and
Technology (IRJET), Volume: 02 Issue: 04 | July-2015, p-ISSN: 2395-0072.
8. Victor Jose Passamai, Application of sustainable renewable energy in developing countries: Food Drying and Solar
Cookers usage in Northern Argentina, Proceedings of the International Conference on Renewable Energy for
Developing Countries-2006.

Volume 5, Issue 4, April 2017 Page 11

 IPASJ International Journal of Mechanical Engineering (IIJME)
Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJME/IIJME.htm
A Publisher for Research Motivation ........ Email:editoriijme@ipasj.org
Volume 5, Issue 4, April 2017 ISSN 2321-6441

9. Haftom Asmelash, Performance test of parabolic trough solar cooker for indoor cooking, Momona Ethiopian Journal
of Science (MEJS), V6(2)39-54,2014 CNCS, Mekelle University, ISSN:2220-184X, Volume 6(2):39-54, 2014.
10. Arunachala U. C., Design, Fabrication and Performance Analysis of Solar Cooker for Night Cooking, International
Journal of Renewable Energy and Environmental Engineering, ISSN 2348-0157, Vol. 02, No. 04, October 2014.
11. VVS Murty, Evaluation of thermal performance of heat exchanger unit for parabolic solar cooker for off-plate
cooking, Indian journal of pure & Applied Physics, Vol 45, September 2007, pp 745-748.
12. Ibrahim Ladan Mohammed, Design and Development of a Parabolic Dish Solar Thermal Cooker, International
Journal of Engineering Research and Applications, Vol. 3, Issue 4, Jul-Aug 2013, pp.1179-1186, ISSN: 2248-9622.
13. Todd JJ, Miller S, Performance testing of cardboard Solar Box Cookers, Renewable Energy technology Seminar,
Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, 2001.
14. S. Paranthaman, Overcoming the Low Efficiency of Box Type Solar Cookers, Indian Journal of Science and
Technology, Vol 8(S2), 8284, January 2015, ISSN (Online) : 0974-5645.
15.S. Periasamy, Modernised Solar Cooker, International Science Press, IJCTA, 9(2) 2016, pp. 619-624.
16.Arun K. Ghosh, 2007, Introduction to Measurement and Instrumentation, 2nd Edition, Prentice Hall of India, India.

Volume 5, Issue 4, April 2017 Page 12