Novel Application of a Fresnel Lens for a Solar Cooker

Abstract

The more conventional forms of energy, the fossil fuels received their solar energy input eons ago and possesses the energy in a greatly concentrated form. These highly concentrated solar energy sources are being used as such at a rapid rate that they will be depleted in future. A novel design and the prototype solar cooker has been developed which uses a large Fresnel lens for the concentration of sunlight. The technology demonstrates high safety and efficiency of solar cooking using Fresnel lenses which are low cost and available from off the shelf. The Fresnel lens concentrate sunlight to a fixed small heat absorbing vessel, relatively low heat loss and high energy efficiency is made possible. The heat absorbing vessel has been kept at the focal point of the Fresnel lens. Heat absorbing vessel orientation is change along with the Fresnel lens in order to keep it at the focal point of the lens. With the concentrated solar energy the oil temperature in the heat absorbing vessel has been reached up to 255ºC at no load condition. Fresnel lens has been used for cooking applications to reduce cooking time using solar energy and to do it in a very safe, user-friendly, and convenient manner. The oil heated in the absorbing vessel is used to heat the water in the cooking vessel. The concept of using Fresnel lens for cooking has been demonstrated by cooking rice in the solar cooker developed.