Effect of graphene-based paraffin composite on performance enhancement of IoT-integrated box-type solar cooker

This research explores the integration of an enhanced thermal energy storage composite graphene-paraffin phase change material (PCM) into an IoT-enabled box-type solar cooker. The incorporation of this advanced PCM significantly improves the system heat retention capability and effectively extends the cooking duration, demonstrating a promising approach to increase the overall efficiency and usability of solar cookers. The research presents a new cooking pot design consisting of a graphene-paraffin composite (~ x wt. %, x = 1, 3, 5 wt. %) poured into an embedded compartment, providing sustained thermal performance with reduced solar radiation. Graphene, which boasts a remarkable thermal conductivity, makes paraffin heat absorption, retention, and transfer more efficient, thereby overcoming drawbacks found in traditional PCMs when used in solar cooking systems. Experimental results showed that the addition of 5 wt. % graphene within paraffin enhanced the thermal conductivity by 50% relative to pure paraffin, thus more effectively enabling fast energy accumulation when solar radiation is strong, and slow heat release during dim-light environments. The novel cooking pot design optimized the hot plate with the enhanced PCM so stable cooking temperature was retained for longer times, even with intermittent solar insolation. The IoT framework complemented the innovation by constantly tracking and optimizing the cooker temperature using sensors, making sure energy was used efficiently and improving user experience. This innovative approach of employing graphene/paraffin composites for both thermal storage and functional cookware design has never been reported in the as-received literature of improving solar cooking technologies. The innovative approach of combining advanced materials with IoT-based real-time monitoring demonstrated in this research holds promise for the development of sustainable, reliable, and long-duration cooking in solar-powered systems, inspiring future advancements in renewable energy technologies. Scanning electron microscopy with an EDX setup is used for understanding the structure morphology of the developed composite and to find out elements present in it. With the help of FTIR, XRD, and UV spectroscopy, we examined the various properties of the composites to understand their energy storage capability. The results found excellent agreement of composites with solar cooker performance enhancement and stored thermal energy in long durability with high-performance factor.