Production of candle using solar thermal technology

Abstract

A beautiful method based on solar energy to heat and melts the paraffin or bees wax has been developed to manufacture the candles by a linear fresnel reflecting solar concentrating collector and a bucket. The solar method has several advantages over the conventional candle making methods. This process is likely to generate the employment particularly in the rural complex areas in Bangladesh. This paper reports a few modifications made on the solar system to enhance the daily candle production. Candles are used by all section of the society for various purposes. Candles are made from paraffin or bees wax which is heated by Fresnel reflecting concentrating collector and method to make candles. A few other materials are also added to make good quality of candles. So far the older methods based on conventional fuels are in practice for candle production. These old manual methods are troublesome, unhygienic and needs continuous attendance and care during the melting of wax besides having other drawbacks. To overcome these drawbacks, a completely new system for candle production has been developed at Solar Energy Research Centre, Department of Physics, Jagannath University, Dhaka in Bangladesh. This system is based on solar energy which accumulates sufficient solar heat by Fresnel reflecting solar concentrating collector to melt wax for making candles. The new solar system, besides saving the fuels, has several advantages over the conventional candle making methods and also obviates the continuous attendance during wax melting. The reports about the solar system and there after the few modifications made over it to improve the candle production. It is shown that in the semi-cloudy day the efficiency of the solar candle production machine is 41.52% and 59.75% for single glazed and double glazed respectively. In the clear day the efficiency of the solar candle machine is 43.135% and 63.775% for single glazed and double glazed system respectively.