Solar Photovoltaic Cooker with No Electronics or Battery

Antonio Lecuona-Neumann (), José I. Nogueira-Goriba, Antonio Famiglietti, María del Carmen Rodríguez-Hidalgo and Jean Boubour
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Antonio Lecuona-Neumann: Departamento de Ingeniería Térmica y de Fluidos, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Avda. De la Universidad 30, 28911 Leganés, Spain
José I. Nogueira-Goriba: Instituto de Investigación Aplicada a la Industria Aeronáutica, Universidad de Castilla La Mancha, Avenida Carlos III, s/n, 45071 Toledo, Spain
Antonio Famiglietti: Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Indusriales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, C/José Gutiérrez Abascal-2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
María del Carmen Rodríguez-Hidalgo: Departamento de Arquitectura, Construcciones Sistemas Oceánicos y Navales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Avda. de la Memoria 4, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Jean Boubour: Independent Researcher, 12 rue Le Guennec, 29200 Brest, France

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-21

Abstract: The paper offers innovative cooking utensil designs for remote, isolated, and even peri-urban communities at a low price, with high reliability and simple construction. It can alleviate energy poverty and improve food security. This utensil uses only local solar energy directly and allows comfortable indoor cooking. This paper provides the design principles of a solar cooker/frying pan or generic heater, based on a PV panel or a plurality of them, which are directly connected to a plurality of Positive Thermal Coefficient (PTC) resistors to match the power. PTCs are nowadays produced in massive quantities and are widely available at low cost. The proposed device does not require an electronic controller or a battery for its operation. The aim is for family use, although the design can be easily scaled to a larger size or power, maintaining its simplicity. Electric heating inside or attached to the cooking pot, plus the temperature self-limiting effect of PTCs, allows for thermally insulating the cooking pot from its outside using ordinary materials. Insulation enhances energy efficiency during cooking and keeps cooked food warm for a long time. Clean development would receive a significant impulse with its application. A simple mathematical model describes its functioning and states guidelines for adequate design. Its results indicate a successful proof of concept and high efficiency both for water and oil as representatives of cooking.

Keywords: solar e-cooking; photovoltaics; PTC heater; sustainable development; appropriate technology; energy poverty; clean cooking (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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