A mathematical model for solar cookstoves: The relation between thermal and optical parameters

Abstract

The article presents a mathematical model that relates the thermal properties of a concentration solar cooker with some optical properties of several of the materials used in its elaboration. Solar cookers are studied from the point of view of its functionality through their thermal performance, in terms of calculating the standard cooking power and thermal efficiency with field tests. Some of the materials characteristics that are important to make concentrating solar stoves are: The reflectance of the surface of the concentrator, the transmittance of the cover and the absorbance of the surface of the food container. Through an analysis of heat transfer, it is built a model for calculating thermal parameters depending on the optical parameters. A comparison of the model is made by varying the absorbance and reflectance of the coating that covers the food container. The results of the model agree with those found experimentally.