Experimental Analysis of Plane Reflector Augmented Box-Type Solar Energy Cooker

In this paper present a box type solar cooker design philosophy, construction, measured performance, and experimental analysis of plane reflector augmented box type solar energy cooker. The experimental solar cooker consisting of two plane reflector suitable positioned in a north-south configuration on an inclined framework, is mounted of box type solar cooker to reflected solar radiation on the base absorber of the cooker. The top cover (Glazing) is tilted at 23.16° corresponding to the latitude of Jabalpur (the location of the test site). The performance testing and comparison were done experimentally during summer season in the month of May at Jabalpur. Provision is made for four cooking vessels (two different size), each capable of holding 1 kg of water. The experimental result obtained show stagnation absorber plate temperatures of 144°C and 124°C for the with and without plane reflector in place respectively. It show that stagnation temperature 20-30 °C higher than that of the without reflector. Boiling time of water 48 minute and 52 minute for 1 kg of water equally distributed of each vessels, 76 minute and 95minute for 1 kg load with one pot loaded, for the cooker with and without the plane reflector place, respectively were recorded. The solar cooker performance has been rated using the first figure of merit (F1) is 0.1126 & 0.09 with and without plane reflector respectively on the no load test and the second figure of merit (F2) is 0.2380& 0.2764 on sensible heat test with and without plane reflector place respectively. Also calculating the optical efficiency of glass is 59.58%. The boiling time of water and second figure of merit compared to using different quantity of water with and without plane reflector. Thus box type solar cooker with plane reflector place to increased heat collection and faster cooking compared to the without reflector.