Design and evaluation of a solar cooker with reused evacuated tube: enhancing thermal efficiency for food cooking

Abstract

This study presents the design and performance evaluation of a solar cooker utilizing a reused evacuated tube as its primary cooking element. The cooker’s design prioritizes enhancing thermal efficiency through the incorporation of a parabolic reflective surface and high-conductivity materials, aiming to reduce environmental impact by repurposing discarded components. Experimental tests demonstrated that the prototype outperformed alternative designs, including a parabolic dish and a replica of the commercial Haines® parabolic cooker. This represents an approximate 65% improvement in thermal performance, making the proposed design suitable even under cloudy weather conditions. Moreover, the prototype successfully baked a wheat-flour cookie, indicating its viability for practical food preparation. The findings suggest that such solar cookers could serve as an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative in areas where fossil fuels are expensive or scarce. Limitations, including non-uniform temperature distribution inside the evacuated tube and the durability of reused materials, are discussed. Recommendations for future research include integrating phase-change materials to enhance heat retention and expanding comparative studies to other types of solar cookers.