Design theory and performance analysis of paraboloidal solar cooker

A paraboloidal collector having aperture diameter 1.3 m, depth 0.30 m, and focal length 0.35 m was designed and fabricated. The paraboloidal solar cooker was tested under no-load conditions at a recorded maximum temperature of 326°C. The analysis was made from the sensible heating and cooling curves. The values of the overall heat loss factor (FUL) obtained from the sensible cooling curve were smaller on different days. The minimal heat loss was due to the wind shield provided at the paraboloidal receiver. Analysis of the sensible heating curve gave the values of the optical efficiency factor (F η 0). The performance of the paraboloidal collector was determined, and the thermal efficiency was found to be 26%. The performance curve was plotted to predict the approximate time required to boil a known amount of water under given climatic conditions. The solar cooker was found to be useful in cooking a variety of foods. © 2008 Allerton Press, Inc.