Thermal Analysis of Self-Powered and Controlled Dual Sourced Hybrid Box-Type Solar Cooker
Authors :- Abhijeet Redekar & Dipankar Deb
Publication :- Heat Transfer Engineering, (T&F), 2025.
A solar cooker is a vital component in renewable energy appliances. While it boasts several advantages, one notable challenge is its prolonged cooking duration, particularly in the morning. This article proposes a novel design of a box-type solar cooker that combines solar radiation with a controlled heating coil. The electric power needed for the heating coil is generated within the cooker by utilizing a Thermoelectric Generator (TEG). The TEG generates electricity based on the natural temperature difference. The objectives encompass determining the temperature difference, the distribution of utensils, and approximate energy flow, from 10:00 to 16:00 in a day. The study includes thermal analysis, and open circuit voltage using Fusion and MATLAB Simulink software. It is observed that the morning temperature range increases from 26–120.9 °C to 96–235.5 °C. The utensils’ surface temperature is within a satisfactory range of 98–180 °C, except for the center of the lid, which requires redesign. The TEG produces an average of 13.02 V, 8 A for 210 min. The cooker can boil 4 liters of water in 30 min during the sunshine period and only 1 liter of water when sunlight is unavailable. A detailed thermal analysis is advised for precise thermal design outcomes and suitable adjustments.