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Solar cooker
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A solar cooker is also known as a solar oven. As both of these names suggest, it is powered by the energy of the sun. Both food and water are capable of being heated by one without requiring the purchase of fuel.
Many developing countries have benefited from the sharing of solar cooking technology done by various humanitarian organizations. This is because it is an environmentally-friendly option which may be used in areas where deforestation is an issue. It effectively reduces the need for firewood.
There are three main solar cooker categories. These are box cookers, parabolic cookers, and panel cookers. Here is a brief description of each:
•Box cookers – These cook at moderate to high temperatures. The design of this style includes a box with a transparent top. The transparent material may be glass or an oven cooking bag. They commonly can hold multiple pots. These are the most widespread style. In just India, it is estimated that there are several hundred thousand in use.
•Parabolic cookers – These styles reach high temperatures very quickly. They can cook just as well as a conventional oven. Unfortunately, they are very difficult to construct. They are curved and emphasize the concentration of sunlight. This means that their creation requires more exact math than the other styles do. Of course, an effective one also requires extra safety and supervision. They are most commonly used in China.
•Panel cookers – The straight edges of the box as well as the curves of parabolic styles are encompassed in the design of this type of solar oven. They are very simply and easily produced. Some may be created with just cardboard and a reflective surface such as tinfoil.
A forth type of solar cooker is the solar kettle. It is much less common than the other three types. It uses the same technology as solar evacuated tubes. This means that a vacuum space is created between layers of glass. This prevents heat from escaping. It is not as simply designed as box or panel cookers. For that reason, it has less widespread use.
These different styles of solar ovens rely on a few different methods for heating food and water. One method is to concentrate heat. Different shiny materials are used to accomplish this, such as the aluminum foil of some panel cookers.
Another principle is to convert light to heat. To do this, many are use black pots. Dark surfaces attract heat much more than lighter surfaces.
For the cooking vessel in general, it is best to use a dark, thin, shallow pot. A tight-fitting lid is another important feature. This will attract more heat as well as retain more heat. Heat retention is the third way in which solar cookers optimize the heating process.
Many rely on retaining heat with a large, clear plastic bag that is simply wrapped around the pot. This is similar to how some people cook turkeys in their ovens at home. The plastic sheet prevents the heat from escaping and speeds up the overall cooking time.
