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Development and performance evaluation of tube-type direct solar oven for baking bread
Yonael Tesfaye Aragaw1,2, Kamil Dino Adem1
1School of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Addis Ababa Institute of Technology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Heliyon
|November 21, 2022
Summary
This study developed a low-cost, tube-type direct solar oven for baking bread in developing regions. The solar oven demonstrated good thermal efficiency, even in low sunlight, making it a viable option for rural communities.
Area of Science:
- Renewable Energy Engineering
- Sustainable Technology Development
- Solar Thermal Applications
Background:
- Solar ovens offer a sustainable alternative for cooking and baking, but widespread adoption is limited.
- Developing cost-effective and easily producible solar ovens is crucial for energy access in developing regions.
- Previous solar baking attempts show promise, highlighting the need for efficient designs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and test a tube-type direct solar oven for bread baking.
- To ensure the solar oven is easily fabricated and low-cost for local production in developing countries.
- To evaluate the oven's thermal performance and bread baking capabilities.
Main Methods:
- Designed and simulated a tube-type direct solar oven using SOLTRACE and COMSOL software.
- Constructed and tested a prototype solar oven, measuring stagnation temperature and thermal efficiency.
- Conducted bread baking tests to assess overall utilization efficiency and baking time.
Main Results:
- The solar oven reached a stagnation temperature of 127°C with an F1 of 0.32.
- Achieved overall thermal efficiencies of 43.9%, 42.1%, and 38.3% under varying solar isolation.
- Demonstrated an overall utilization efficiency of 35.0% for bread baking, with a slight increase in baking time compared to simulation.
Conclusions:
- The developed tube-type direct solar oven exhibits high thermal efficiency and good performance in low solar isolation.
- The oven's design, particularly the airtight cover, minimizes thermal loss, enhancing its efficiency.
- The low-cost, easily fabricated solar oven has significant potential for dissemination in rural developing communities.
