Solar Cooker

The Ovenachievers: Max Chen, Ben Evans, Hailey Jackson, Rylie Siegfried, and Ivan Wongso

Materials

• Cardboard box (23”x23”x16”)
• Two small cardboard boxes (8”x14”x12”)
• Shiny side of aluminum foil
• Scissors
• Tape
• Ruler
• Black spray paint
• Green fiber cellulose insulation R13

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• 10” pot lid
• 10” pot
• 16.5”x23.4” A2 picture frame
• 9” baking pan
• Large white paper
• Canola oil (250g)
• One bright, sunshiny day :)

Equipment

• Multi-meter & Logger (OMRH511 Temp/RH/IR/TC)
• Pyranometer (Pyrheliometer 7179-3)
• Ohaus mass scale for weighing paper

Sketch and Features

Procedure

1. Cut box to the correct dimensions-Big box (16”x23”x23”x12”) with a slant. Small box (16”x18”x18”x12”)
2. Line smaller box, lower tray, and reflectors with aluminum foil.
3. Place smaller box within larger box and fill with insulation in between. Line insulation on the bottom of small box. Then place cardboard tray lined with aluminum on top of insulation at an angle.
4. Place baking pan with oil and lid in the center of the smaller box with thermocouple resting inside the oil. Cover with picture frame.
5. Tape aluminum lined reflectors around the edge of the smaller box for maximum light.
6. Record data.

INSULATION 1

INSULATION 2

LARGE REFLECTOR

MINIMALIST DESIGN

Operation and Improvements

Improvements

• Adjustable angle beneath oven
• Clear cover material that has higher solar heat gain
• Double pane cover to minimize heat loss
• Silver instead of aluminum foil (more reflective)
• Adjustable reflectors
• Sealed oven and pan cover

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Operation

• Lots of insulation
• Clear plastic cover + glass lid
• Lots of aluminum foil on the shiny side
• Using pan to angle oven

Summary Results for oil Test

input solar energy and shadow area

Total Weight of Shadow Paper

= 60.3g

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Ratio of 16in² to weight

= 16in²/0.8g

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Total Shadow Area

60.3g * (16in²/0.8g) = 1206in²

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in² -> m²: 1206in²/1550.003in²/m²

A_m= 0.778063 m²

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Input Solar Energy

E_s = ∑G₀ * dt

= 2,154,958 J /m²

E_i = A_mE_s

= 1676693.09 J

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Oil Temperature

Irradiation over time

Extra Credit - STEADY STATE CONDITION

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Tf=386.3434 K = 113.19 ^OC

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Math and Assumptions for extra credit

T(i+1)=deltat*((A/(m*c))*(alpha*G-eps*sigma*((T(i))^4-Tsky^4)+(L/(k*A))))+T(i);

• No convection because no air velocity
• Temperature of the sky was 23 degrees celsius
• No conduction through the box because of our insulation