Experimental investigation of the solar cooker during sunshine and off-sunshine hours using the thermal energy storage unit based on a parabolic trough collector

A solar cooker based on a parabolic trough collector with thermal energy storage (TES) was investigated. In this experimental set-up, solar radiations were focused on the absorber tube and the collected heat was transferred to the solar cooker by natural circulation (thermosiphon) of the working fluid. The water and thermal oil (engine oil) were used separately as working fluids. Acetanilide was used as the TES material in the solar cooker. In day time, the phase change material (PCM) stored heat as well as transferred it to the cooking pot. In evening time, the stored energy by PCM was used to cook the food. The cooking process was carried out with different foods and with variation in the quantity of food. It was found that the temperature of thermal oil was 10–24°C higher than water as the working fluid. The system was able to cook the food twice a day and the rate of evening cooking was higher as compared with noon cooking. Using thermal oil as the working fluid, the quantity of heat stored by PCM was increased by an amount of 19.45–30.38% as compared with water.