Experimental investigation of a solar cooking system inhibiting closed airtight cooking pot and evacuated tube collector for the preparation of Indian cuisine items

The cooking of Indian cuisine articles like cracked wheat, red lentils, chickpeas and rice is performed using the closed airtight cooking pot (CATCP). Evacuated tube collector is utilized to provide the heat for cooking with the help of thermic oil which flows in the lower part of CATCP. Cooking load of 1 L for all four articles is considered for before noon cooking, 2 L for afternoon as well as evening hours cooking and 3 L for the before noon and evening hours cooking. The cooking performed at afternoon with 2 L of load takes least time. The maximum value of the temperature of thermic oil at the inlet of CATCP is noted as 149.3 °C, and the maximum value of instantaneous energy of thermal oil in CATCP is observed as 337.1 kJ. Moreover, the system demonstrates a simple design of cooking vessel and feasibility of cooking in the evening hours without the use of phase change material.