College - Author 1
College of Engineering
Department - Author 1
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Mechanical Engineering
College - Author 2
College of Engineering
Department - Author 2
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 2
BS in Mechanical Engineering
College - Author 3
College of Engineering
Department - Author 3
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 3
BS in Mechanical Engineering
College - Author 4
College of Engineering
Department - Author 4
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 4
BS in Mechanical Engineering
Date
6-2021
Primary Advisor
Eltahry Elghandour, College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Department
Additional Advisors
Peter Schwartz, College of Science and Mathematics, Physics Department
Abstract/Summary
An insulated solar electric cooker, or ISEC, converts solar energy into electricity to cook food, boil water, provide heat or even help charge batteries. In this project, the focus is an ISEC with a phase change material (PCM) that helps store heat when the solar energy input is minimal, such as after the sun has set. Although a successful ISEC already exists that utilizes PCM, this product can be improved in many ways. The specific revisions investigated in this report are the improvement of the thermal efficiency with the implementation of a vacuum-sealed outer pot, the reduction of the overall manufacturing costs, and a more user-friendly consumer experience. These revisions can help millions worldwide by providing a safe and inexpensive alternative to biomass fuel cooking which is inefficient and unsafe without proper ventilation. The ISEC can alleviate this problem with an environmentally conscious and easy-to-use solar-powered cooker. The final product is thermally efficient, intuitive to use, and low-cost so that it can be easily manufactured and deployed in its final iteration. There are several areas in which the former ISEC was improved, and the group focused on bolstering these functions to create a highly functional and efficient operating system. This Final Design Report documents the team’s efforts towards designing, manufacturing, and testing a new and improved iteration of the Insulated Solar Electric Cooker.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/mesp/587
Included in
Electro-Mechanical Systems Commons, Energy Systems Commons, Heat Transfer, Combustion Commons