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HYBRID SOLAR BOX COOKER

Prashant Raj

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Background Contd…..

• India receives 5000 Trillion KWH solar radiation per year with 250–300 sunny

days in a year.

• If we just convert 1% of this solar radiation into energy, We will have enough to

meet our energy needs till 2030 (Source: National Action Plan ,Climate Change).

• Solar energy is in two form Heat and Light. Heat for water heating, Cooking,

drying, water purification, power generation. Light is converted into electricity,

which can be used for lighting, pumping, communications, and power supply in

un-electrified areas.

• Cooking Energy accounts for 90% of household Energy. 1.5 million people per

year die because of smoke from biomass fuels.

• Excessive Demand of biomass fuels exceeds sustainable supply leading to

massive deforestation and land degradation.

Rural Cooking

Firewood Crop residues Cow dung

• Cheap and Easy Availability

• Pollutes Environment and Kitchens

• Unhealthy

• Unhygienic

• Deforestation

Urban Cooking

LPG Kerosene oil Coal

• Pollutes the Environment

• Expensive

• Highly inflammable

• Low Availability

• Maintaining the supplies in far flung areas

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Background

Solar Cooking has been envisaged as a solution to mitigate these problems.

Research

• Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA): The Case of Solar Cookers

– Ravi C Moorthy, IIM-A.

• Special Challenges of solar cooking – Charles, Solar Energy Kenya

• Making the ‘Most of Sunshine :A Handbook of Solar Energy for the

Common Man’ . Author - S. Narayanaswami

• Ministry of Non- Conventional Energy Resources (MNES), Govt. of India.

• Affordable Solar Cookers For The Neediest, Beverly L. Blum, Solar Cookers

International

• ‘India's solar cooking program’ , Dr. A.K. Singhal

What is Solar Cooking ?

Solar cooking is the simplest, safest, most convenient way to cook food through

solar radiations without consuming fuels or heating up the kitchen.

• Types Of Solar Cooker :

PARABOLIC TYPE BOX TYPE

Parabolic Solar Cooker

• It uses a parabolic dish to concentrate the incident solar radiation on the vessel.

• A typical dish solar cooker has an aperture diameter of 1.4 m and a focal length of 0.28 m. The

reflecting material used for fabrication of this cooker is anodized aluminum sheet, which has a

reflectivity of over 80%.

• The dish solar cooker can save up to 10 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders per year upon full

use at small establishments

• They are especially useful for large-scale institutional cooking.

• Parabolic cookers reach high temperatures and cook quickly

• Too Expensive, difficult to construct and too delicate.

• Too much Glare in use. High on maintenance

• Require frequent adjustment and supervision for safe operation.

Box Type Solar Cooker

• It uses a mirror reflector and glass lid to divert the incident solar radiation on the vessels

• A typical box-type solar cooker consists of an outer box , a double glass lid, a mirror reflector,

insulation, and cooking pots.

• The dish solar cooker can save up to 3 - 4 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders per year upon full

use at small establishments

• Domestic Cooking, slow cooker, but retain nutrient in food.

• Cheap and easy to make and maintain,

• More Cooking time as compared to parabolic type.

• Too heavy. Very cumbersome to transfer and operate.

• Vulnerable to climatic conditions

• No Doneness Indicator

Do You Know ?

World’s Largest 38500-meal Solar Kitchen ?

At BrahmaKumari Ashram, Taleti, near Mount Abu.

84 oval parabolic concentrator each having a reflective surface area of 9.2 sqm,

and reflect sunlight on the receivers by special white glass pieces.

Steam is collected in the header pipes, which is then directed via insulated pipes to

cooking vessels in the kitchen.

Solar Cooking

Advantages

• Saves Energy & Time : Solar cooking involves

no recurring expenses on fuel.

• Water & Milk Pasteurizer: Free up bacteria

• No Overcook : There is no fear of scorching

the food.

• Flavor and Retention of Nutrient : Being a

slow process, ensures better and more

nutritious cooked food.

• Pollution free Energy : It does not pollute the

environment, and conserves conventional

energy.

• No maintenance : Solar cookers are durable

and simple to use.

Disadvantages• Social Awareness & Acceptance : Low level

of social awareness about solar cooking

technology among masses.

• Non-Commercial : Solar cooking is still a non-

commercial, evolving Technology. It is mostly

promoted by development & non-commercial

organization, which are mostly not ‘cut out’ for

the task.

• Climate Dependence : A solar cooker works

well only on a clear sunny day.

• High Cooking Time : As compared to

conventional cooking.

Do You Know? Solar Cooking was a major help in Bhuj Earthquake & Bihar Flood Victims

Market Opportunity Contd……

• It should be profitable for a business to be manufactured on a permanent basis.

• Focus on energy efficient design to minimize heat loss.

• Target Urban as well as Rural Market. Advanced Hybrid Cooker for Urban Market. Simple

Energy Efficient cooker for rural market.

• It’s a New Market that’s needs to be setup, advertise and publicize.

• Cooker should be Handy and portable. Cooking Time should get reduced

• Cooker should be made Weather – proof.

• Estimated potential demand for a solar cookers in India is 10 million.

• Subsidized Rural Market through Urban Channel for Self Supporting Business.

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Demographic Study – Solar radiation

TARGET AREAS

My Concept HYBRID COOKER

Reflector

Detachable Cord

Flexi-Handle

Plexi - Glass

Battery

Stacked Container

Heating Element

Strolley Wheel

Hybrid Cooker Operation

• Strolley wheel design for Easy handling and transport.

• Flexi-Handle to Incline the cooker for Maximum Solar radiation.

• Black Stacked Container for Compact Design.

• Plexi - glass for cheap and Light-weight design.

• Two Heating Element to support Hybrid Mode (Solar/Electric).

• First Heating Element (Half Capacity) will operate on battery during solar

cooking to Reduce Cooking Time.

• Second Heating Element (Full Capacity) will operate on direct supply during bad

climate to make it Weather-Proof .

Product Variants

Urban Model

• Strolley Design

• Black Stacked Container.

• Compact Design.

• High thermal Insulation.

• Two Heating Element

• Thermo Sensor for Doneness Indicator.

• Detachable cord for easy storage.

• Rechargeable Battery (Electrical /

Thermo-Generator).

• .

Rural Model

• Strolley Design

• Black Stacked Container.

• Compact Design.

• High thermal Insulation.

• No Electrical option

• No Doneness Indicator

Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

• Energy Efficient Design

• Compact Design

• Strolley Wheel Design

• Weather-Proof Feature

• Doneness Indicator

• Our Brand Value and Quality Assurance will be a added Advantage

over competitors.

Competition Survey

• Existing manufacturers are very small scale players with no sufficient

funds to promote and advertise solar cooker.

• Under MNES , Govt. has established ‘Aditya Solar Shop’, which serves

as a convenient consumer point for sales, service & repair of renewable

energy devices.

• Many Designs and Technologies are available but nobody is

manufacturing in a mass-scale.(Hobby skill)

• Everybody is targeting the rural and poor market, Urban market is

untouched by solar cooking concept.

• Potential Competitor can be regional player or Aditya Solar Shops, But

Quality and Aesthetic are poor.

SWOT Analysis

STRENGTHS

Leading Brand Value

First Mover

Good Quality Assurance

New Design Concept

Weather Proof

WEAKNESS

Cost Factor

Limited Application

Easy Avail. Of LPG

OPPORTUNITIES

Unexploited Urban Market

Self Supporting Subsidy

High Market Potential

THREATS

New Market

Social Acceptance

Front up Payment

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Marketing Plan

Urban

• Reduce usage of ghee & oil

• Weather-proof & Less Cooking Time

• Solar recipe cook book, Live

Demonstration

• Solar food cooking Contest

• Focus on fuel saving, Zero running cost

• Natural & Healthy Product

• Focus on Aesthetic & Technology

• Roof-top, Garden or Balcony Cooking

Rural

• No smoke, No health problems

• No fuel for its entire life

• Can cook several items together

• Easy Storage & operation

• Live Demonstration

• User- Friendly.

• Govt. and NGO’s help can be taken.

Q & A