Finite Element Modeling of a Solar Box Cooker: Temperature and Fluid Velocity Distributions
- 1 Assane Seck University, Ziguinchor, Senegal
- 2 Assane Seck University, Ziguinchor, Senegal
- 3 Ibar Der Thiam University, Thies, Senegal
Abstract
We studied the temperature distribution and fluid velocity in a box-type solar cooker by using the Finite Element Method (FEM) in Ziguinchor southern of Senegal. Indeed, this is one of the sunniest countries in the world: more than 3000 hours of sunshine per year with an average temperature of around 30 ˚ C. This abundant and exploitable solar energy contributes to the development of more efficient, profitable and clean sources of energy. This will help to satisfy the increasing demand of energy. This numerical model was validated by comparing the numerical results with those of the experiment carried out on a single day. The relative error obtained is below 3%. The model results confirmed the performance of this cooker as its cooking temperature is available for more than seven hours. They have shown that the temperature and internal fluid velocity fields are not homogeneous. The results, although preliminary and encouraging, are a first step towards the complete simulation of a solar cooker integrated into a drying column.
- International Energy Outlook 2020. https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/ieo
- Cuce, E. and Cuce, P.M. (2013) A Comprehensive Review on Solar Cookers. Applied Energy, 102, 1399-1421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2012.09.002
- Bello, A.M.A., Makinde, V. and Sulu, H.T. (2010) Performance Tests and Thermal Efficiency Evaluation of a Constructed Solar Box Cooker at a Guinea Savannah Station (Ilorin, Nigeria). Journal of American Science, 6, 32-38.
- Kahsay, M.B., Paintin, J., Mustefa, A., Haileselassie, A., Tesfay, M. and Gebray, B. (2014) Theoretical and Experimental Comparison of Box Solar Cookers with and without Internal Reflector. Energy Procedia, 57, 1613-1622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2014.10.153
- Patel, N.V. and Philip, S.K. (2000) Performance Evaluation of Three Solar Concentrating Cookers. Renewable Energy, 20, 347-355. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0960-1481(99)00055-5
- Vengadesan, E. and Senthil, R. (2021) Experimental Investigation of the Thermal Performance of a Box Type Solar Cooker Using a Finned Cooking Vessel. Renewable Energy, 171, 431-446. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2021.02.130
- Harmim, A., Boukar, M. and Amar, M. (2008) Experimental Study of a Double Exposure Solar Cooker with Finned Cooking Vessel. Solar Energy, 82, 287-289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2007.10.008
- Thulasi Das, T.C., Karmakar, S. and Rao, D.P. (1994) Solar Box-Cooker: Part I—Modeling. Solar Energy, 52, 265-272. https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-092X(94)90493-6
- Nayak, J., Agrawal, M., Mishra, S., Sahoo, S.S., Swain, R.K. and Mishra, A. (2018) Combined Heat Loss Analysis of Trapezoidal Shaped Solar Cooker Cavity Using Computational Approach. Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, 12, 94-103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2018.03.009
- Soria-Verdugo, A. (2015) Experimental Analysis and Simulation of the Performance of a Box-Type Solar Cooker. Energy for Sustainable Development, 29, 65-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2015.09.006
- Ambarita, H. (2017) Study on the Characteristics and Thermal Performance of a Simple Solar Box Cooker for Boiling Water. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 12, Article No. 19.
- Guidara, Z., Souissi, M., Morgenstern, A. and Maalej, A. (2017) Thermal Performance of a Solar Box Cooker with Outer Reflectors: Numerical Study and Experimental Investigation. Solar Energy, 158, 347-359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2017.09.054