Solar box-cooker. I. Modeling

Thermal models for the solar box-cookers loaded with one, two, or four vessels have been presented. The method of Taha and Eldiglidy has been utilized to estimate the enhanced solar irradiance on the cooker due to the flat reflector fitted to the cooker. The coupling of the Taha and Eldighidy method with the thermal models yielded the models for the box-cookers. A great many transfer coefficients and view factors are required as the model inputs. The methods for their estimation are given. Analysis of the transfer processes, computer simulation of the cooker, and experimental data on some of the coefficients, which are peculiar to the cooker and not available in the literature are presented in the companion paper. The cooker consists of a rectangular aluminium tray encased in a fibreglass box.