Solar Cookers INTRODUCTION VIDEO

Background Information A solar cooker is a device that uses solar power to cook food. The first known solar cooker was built by Horace de Saussure in 1767. There are two types of solar cookers: Concentrating solar cookers Solar Box Cookers (solar ovens) A solar box cooker is an insulated box with a transparent top and a reflective lid. The top can usually be removed to allow dark pots containing food to be placed inside. The solar panel cooker is the simplest form of solar cooker yet developed. Solar panel cookers have multiple simple reflectors arranged to focus solar radiation onto a covered black pot enclosed in a clear heat-resistant plastic bag or other clear enclosure. These are often used in refugee camps. Why do we use solar cookers? Solar ovens allow you to do it all, without contributing to global warming or heating up the kitchen and placing additional demands on cooling systems. Solar ovens prevent deforestation (people don’t have to cut down trees to heat water or to cook) and are provided by relief and humanitarian organizations to refugee camps and villages. The World Health Organization reports that cooking with fuel wood is the equivalent of smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. Inhalation of smoke from cooking fires causes respiratory diseases and death. One of the solutions advocated to address this problem is solar cooking which makes no smoke at all. It just uses free and abundant solar energy.

YOUR TASK: In teams of two or three you will research, design and participate in a solar oven cook-off Goal: Pasteurize water (65˚C or 149˚F) Cook a food item of your choice (egg, hotdog, s’mores, quesadilla, hot chocolate, etc.) Criteria: Must be a device of your own device and manufacturer, made from second-use/recycled parts (you may research design ideas of the internet) Do not spend more than $10 Your structure must allow for a thermometer to monitor temperature The Timetable: Day 1: Introduction and design drawing, materials list Day 2: Construction (bring all materials to class), Pasteurize water, and make any changes/final touches to your design Day 3: Cook food item of your choice All materials/food can be dropped off in Blough’s room before school

Solar Cooker write up Problem/Purpose: Why are we investigating solar cookers? Materials: List what materials you used. Procedure: Write out a detailed procedure of how your design and construction could be repeated by someone else… in other words, an instruction manual to be used by a civilization that is in dire need of this process! A drawing or photo of your cooker. Data Tables and Graph Analysis: Which design (in the class) was the most effective at heating water? What variables can affect how fast water is heated? Do you think solar cooking is an effective method to cook food? Why or why not? Why are solar cookers important in developing countries? Compare the use of the sun as an energy source to other sources such as wood (biomass), fossil fuels, nuclear power and wind. Conclusion: Real or Possible sources of error. Summarize this experience. What did you learn?

Table you will use for the water pasteurization

examples