REVIEW OF SOLAR COOKER DESIGNS
MGM College, Udupi 576 102, INDIA
This is a HTML version of the article which appeared in TIDE, Vol 8, No. 1, March 1998 Page 1-37. This paper is now presented here in 6 parts.
This review presents about 56 major designs , 59 variations and 66 drawings of solar cookers. Test data published by other researcher is compiled and a new set of parameters is suggested for testing solar cookers, reflectors, and insulating material. This compilation recommends do it-yourself box-type solar cookers incorporated in the house for the rural areas (type BDM 2, concept IX). For urban areas, the best suited design would be Prof. Bowmans design with slight modifications (Type MP 3a, Concept IV). Another design for small towns, where smaller houses are more in number, is the roof-top water lens whose focus is suitably deflected to the bottom of the cooking vessel (Type LCA 3a, Concept VI).Of other viable designs Bernards 'COOKIT' appears to be the best suited, other designs are also discussed. ( 6 more new designs have been added since this site was launched in June 1999, for details see at the end of this part and also in the respective sections )
Same article appears in Geocities too under URL http://www.geocities.com/ashok_kundapur/index.html