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The effects of using different thermal storage materials and their mixtures on the performance of a solar cooker

Die Auswirkungen der Verwendung verschiedener Wärmespeichermaterialien und ihrer Mischungen auf die Leistung eines Solarkochers

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Abstract

Solar cooking is one of the cost-effective ways to reduce deforestation. The major goal of current study is to examine the thermal performance of a solar cooker using low-cost heat storage material. The cooker has an angled surface called a reflector to collect the maximum solar energy. Various low-cost heat materials, such as water, ethylene glycol, desert sand, charcoal, and copper grits, and their mixtures were prepared and tested for optimal performance as thermal heat storage material inside insulated and uninsulated solar-cooker. The experiments were performed under climatic conditions of Karachi, Pakistan. Results showed that the cooker provided suitable temperatures for healthy food preparation. Insulation improves the performance of the cooker. The use of copper grits as a heat storing material allows for a maximum temperature of 110 °C within the insulated cooker. After solar noon, the temperature measurements reached their highest and stabilized. Additionally, it was found that the performance of the copper, sand, and charcoal mixture was diminished when ethylene glycol was added. The performance of the copper, sand, and charcoal mixture was reduced when ethylene glycol was added. The performance of the mixture of sand, charcoal, and copper grits was found to be insignificant.

Zusammenfassung

Solarkochen ist eine der kostengünstigen Möglichkeiten, die Entwaldung zu reduzieren. Das Hauptziel der aktuellen Studie besteht darin, die thermische Leistung eines Solarkochers mit kostengünstigem Wärmespeichermaterial zu untersuchen. Der Herd verfügt über eine abgewinkelte Oberfläche, die als Reflektor bezeichnet wird, um die maximale Sonnenenergie zu sammeln. Verschiedene kostengünstige Wärmematerialien wie Wasser, Ethylenglykol, Wüstensand, Holzkohle und Kupfergrieß sowie deren Mischungen wurden vorbereitet und auf optimale Leistung als Wärmespeichermaterial in isolierten und nicht isolierten Solarkochern getestet. Die Experimente wurden unter den klimatischen Bedingungen von Karachi, Pakistan, durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass der Herd geeignete Temperaturen für eine gesunde Lebensmittelzubereitung lieferte. Die Isolierung verbessert die Leistung des Herdes. Die Verwendung von Kupferspänen als Wärmespeichermaterial ermöglicht eine maximale Temperatur von 110 °C im isolierten Kocher. Nach dem Sonnenmittag erreichten die Temperaturmessungen ihren Höchststand und stabilisierten sich. Darüber hinaus wurde festgestellt, dass die Leistung der Kupfer-, Sand- und Holzkohlemischung durch die Zugabe von Ethylenglykol beeinträchtigt wurde. Die Leistung der Kupfer-, Sand- und Holzkohlemischung wurde durch die Zugabe von Ethylenglykol verringert. Die Leistung der Mischung aus Sand, Holzkohle und Kupfergrieß erwies sich als unbedeutend.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, Pakistan

    Syed Aun Ali Rizvi, Muhammad Uzair & Mubashir Ali Siddiqui

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  1. Syed Aun Ali Rizvi
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  2. Muhammad Uzair
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  3. Mubashir Ali Siddiqui
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Correspondence to Muhammad Uzair.

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S.A. Ali Rizvi, M. Uzair and M.A. Siddiqui declare that they have no competing interests.

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Ali Rizvi, S.A., Uzair, M. & Siddiqui, M.A. The effects of using different thermal storage materials and their mixtures on the performance of a solar cooker. Forsch Ingenieurwes 87, 1285–1295 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10010-023-00714-2

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