Study of phase change materials and its application in solar cooker

Abstract

In many parts of the world, direct solar radiation is considered to be one of the most prospective sources of energy. Among the different energy end uses, energy for cooking is one of the basic and dominant end uses in developing countries. Thermal energy storage is essential whenever there is a mismatch between the supply and consumption of energy. Latent heat storage in a phase change material (PCM) is very attractive because of its high storage density with small temperature fluctuate. Phase change materials (PCMs) are utilized effectively for the purpose of storage of thermal energy and it provides high energy storage density. The desirable and undesirable qualities of different types of PCM and Solar cookers with PCM are reviewed and discussed in this paper to give an insight into what qualities are required in a PCM to be useful for solar cooker.