Thermal Performance of a Developed Solar Box Cooker for AWKA Metropolis

Abstract

The predominant use of fossil and wood energy sources in Nigeria has contributed immensely to environmental pollution and related health challenges; this has prompted an increasing demand for other cleaner and sustainable energy sources such as solar cookers. In this study, design and thermal evaluation of solar box using cheap locally available waste materials was carried out. The experimental investigations were carried out in Aroma, Awka, Anambra State with geographical coordinates of Latitude 6°122511N and 7°0410411East, South Eastern Nigeria on 31st March and 1st April, 2016. Mullick Figures of Merit was used to test for the thermal performance of the cookers. The first figure of merit 𝐹1 calculated for the constructed box cooker was 0.123, which is within the recommended range of 0.12–0.16 m2oC/W for a functional cooker. The second figure of merit 𝐹2 was calculated for the constructed solar box cooker as 0.285 which is also within the prescribed range of 0.254-0.490m2oC/W, while delay observed in cooking time is attributable to the roughness in the foil, dirt and myth of overcast skies. The delay in boiling time was due to poor weather and instability in solar radiation.