Experimental analysis of a solar cooker with a parabolic trough enhanced with PCM based thermal storage

Abstract

Experiments are conducted on solar cooker using solar energy. Heat collected by a fluid from the Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC) with the manual Tracking Mechanism(TM) is passed through the Storage Tank (ST). A Phase Change Materials (PCM) in the ST products absorbed the heat in the irregular sunlight and is released constantly for cooking purposes. Based on the observation of PTC and ST, a heat transfer analysis of the Solar Cooker (SC) is carried out considering 0.035, 0.045 and 0.065 kg/sec Mass Flow Rate (MFR) of the heat transfer fluid. At 1 pm, themaximum Heat Gain (HG) of PTC receiver at the Rim Angle (RA) of 82° is found to be 2095 W, 13 KW in ST with a medium of Wastage Engine Oils (WEO). The heat output of the WEO found to be 16% more than that of the water. The efficiency of the newly designed the solar cooker is tested at the MFR 0.035, 0.045 and 0.065 kg/sec along with storage medium. The results of the MFR of 0.035 kg/sec are seen as better than 0.045 and 0.065 kg/sec for the water and WEO medium. Hence the energy extracted is greater. The WEO is seen as more stable with smaller energy losses than the water. Stearic acid (SA) is used for PCM materials.