State of the art of solar cooking: An overview

Abstract

Cooking is the prime requirement for people all over the world. It accounts for a major share of energy consumption in developing countries. Solar energy is contributing major energy requirements of the world's population particularly in developing countries. Among the different energy end uses, energy for cooking is one of the basic and dominant end uses in developing countries. There are number of solar energy based cooking appliances has been design, developed and tested for various applications across the globe. In this paper attempt has been made to provide comprehensive view on standard testing approach of solar cooker, energy and exergy analysis approach and economic evolution of different types of solar cooker. Thermal performance of box type and concentration type solar cookers in both laboratories and actual field conditions also rigorously reviewed and presented in this paper.

Introduction

Cooking is prime necessity for all people across the world. Owing to fuel scarcity or highly expensive fuel cooking energy switch by renewable is a burning issue and is discussed widely in the literature. In developing countries, cooking energy requirement is meeting through fuelwood which resulted in deforestation, fuel-wood shortage, increased costs of fuels and adverse environmental effects. Many researchers work out the environmental effects of fossil fuels, sustainable energy consumption, energy efficiency, conservation, and renewable energy sources in rural areas of developing countries [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9] and concluded that renewable energy resources are important with respect to environmental effects [10].

Many households that depend on fuel-wood have shifted to modern energy carriers like liquefied petroleum gas [11]. In India particularly about, 70% population still residing in rural areas, there is tremendous demand on resources such as fuel wood, agricultural residues and dung cake to meet the fuel requirements for cooking, water heating and space heating (during winter). Dependence on bio-resource to meet the daily requirement of fuel, fodder in rural areas is more than 85% in many rural districts in India [12]. Presently most of states of India are facing serious problems in availability of essential energy sources, i.e., bio-resource at rural area on account of acute drought.

The suitability of solar energy for decentralized applications makes it an attractive option to supplement or substitute the energy supply from other sources. Solar cooking is the most direct and promising application of solar energy. Solar energy is a promising option capable of being one of the leading energy sources for cooking [13], [14].

The sun has become a potentially viable substitute for fuelwood in food preparation in much of the developing world [15]. Solar cooking systems essentially work on a simple rule of converting the light energy into heat energy. Solar cooking can be done by solar cooker and it is the simplest, safest, most convenient way to cook food without consuming fuels or heating up the kitchen. It is practical due to their inherent simplicity and consequent lower cost. Also the food is physically protected from contamination [16]. The use of solar cookers results in appreciable fuel and time savings as well as increased energy security for rural households using commercial fuels [17].

This is the best options to meet cooking energy requirement during holy pilgrimage of HAJJ where several million Muslims from all over the world meet annually in the tent-covered valleys of Arafat and Mina, where they spend about 4 days [17]. This concept inspire for community cooking where considerable amount of fuel can be easily saved. In account of this world largest solar cooker was established at Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya at Mount Abu, Rajasthan (Fig. 1). This installed solar cooker is in position to cook 38,500 meals per day [18].

The adaptation of solar cooker in an urban area depends on various factors specific to a city. But introduction of solar cooking in refugee camps have no difficulties in adapting to the solar cooker [19]. Solar Cooking International claims solar cooking has been or is being introduced in 107 countries [20].

In this paper, comprehensive review on different type of solar cooker has been made. Deign consideration, theoretical and experimental performance, it's energetic and exergetic analysis and economics performance also discussed.