Abstract
This paper presents the feasibility of using solar photovoltaics (Solar PV) as the energy source for cooking with special focus on the loss mechanisms and possible remedial measures. If the heat loss is minimized, to reduce the temperature losses, it is possible to cook with a low power source less than 500 W. A slogan has been adopted by the researchers—‘It is temperature that cooks food not heat’, meaning that it is not the flow of energy that cooks food, but rather, that food is cooked when held at a key temperature for a time. The slogan draws attention to the core concept that if heat loss is minimized, maintaining the temperature inside the cooker and the cooking pan, then the cooking process becomes very energy efficient. The paper considers ways to maintain temperature, but with due reference to the ‘art of cooking’, those all-important cultural processes that determine how meals are made. A prototype solar home system e-cooker was designed, fabricated and tested for cooking different foods in Bangladesh. Experimental results are presented to show that cooking is possible using much less power and energy than is commonly thought. A cost analysis is also presented to show that such a cooker can be cost effective in off-grid areas if connected to a properly designed Solar Home System.
Highlights
IntroductionThe main objective of this paper is to study the feasibility of using solar photovoltaic panels (solar PV) for cooking in off-grid rural areas (which is becoming known as e-cooking, or e-Cook).The design that is proposed is adaptable to the grid connected areas, but the main interest of this study is to look at its feasibility in the off-grid areas
The main objective of this paper is to study the feasibility of using solar photovoltaic panels for cooking in off-grid rural areas.The design that is proposed is adaptable to the grid connected areas, but the main interest of this study is to look at its feasibility in the off-grid areas
The temperature of 300 W was chosen as a target for a solar panel of that power rating, which would retrofit to most Solar Home Systems in Bangladesh
Summary
The main objective of this paper is to study the feasibility of using solar photovoltaic panels (solar PV) for cooking in off-grid rural areas (which is becoming known as e-cooking, or e-Cook).The design that is proposed is adaptable to the grid connected areas, but the main interest of this study is to look at its feasibility in the off-grid areas. Almost half of the world population depends on biomass and coal for their cooking [1,2], and Bangladesh is no exception [3]. In such areas the cost of cooking is not a major issue in the developed world, the picture is quite different in developing or under-developed countries. In such cases the cost of cooking the basic foods can exceed USD 10 per month and forms a significant part of the household budget [4,5]
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