GREEN COOKER CHALLENGE (GCC)
Penang Free School (PFS)
TEAM CODE
TEAM MEMBERS’ FULL NAME
SENTOASH NAIDU A/L BALACHANDER NAIDU
HEAVENDRAN A/L THAMIL SELVAN
AARON A/L SANTHANASAMY
SECTOR
ENERGY
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GREEN COOKER CHALLENGE (GCC)
ABSTRACT
Aim of the project
Thesedays, we rely on fossil fuels way too much. Even when it comes to cooking
food, more than 80% of food is cooked with some kind of fossil fuel. This causes an
overdependancy on fossil fuels and as the availability of fossil fuels is on a steady
decrease, alternatives like our, solar cooker, should be more widely used. The solar
cooker was invented to be not only environmental friendsly but also economical
because it uses solar energy. Solar energy is a free and unlimited renewable resource.
The aim of our project is to create a portable, efficient, 3R based Solar Cooker.
Hypothesis
If the surface area of the solar reflector increases, then the 500ml of water boils
faster.
The larger the surface area of the pan used to keep the water, the faster the 500ml
of water heats up.
Methodology
• Scientific Theory application. The accumulation of heat. To prevent heat loss. For
example, polystyrene which is a heat insulator while the aluminum sheet is placed at
the bottom of the box as a conductor of heat to the pot.
• The using of aluminum foil to conduct heat.
• The triangular shape which is perfect for focusing the sunlight.
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GREEN COOKER CHALLENGE (GCC)
• Reflector cookers use various concentrating geometries [dish, trough and Fresnel
mirrors] to focus light on a cooking container.
Results
Based on several attempts,
When only the top aluminium reflector is used, the maximum temperature the water
can reach after 60 minutes is 42oc. However, when al the side and top aluminium reflectors
are open and angled towards the water the water reached a maximum temperature of 50 oc
after 60 minutes.
When the deeper bowl with smaller surface area is used, the water reaches a peak
temperature of 35oc. However, when a shallow pan with a wider surface area is used, the
water reaches a peak temperature of 48oc.
Analysis
Based on several attempts,
The more the aluminum reflectors open and angled at the water, the water is able to
reach a higher maximum temperature.
The pan which is shallow and has a larger surface area, is able to heat the water
with a higher peak temperature of 48oc when compared to the deep bowl, with smaller
surface area.
Conclusion about the project
The project worked fairly well as it was able to heat the water beyond its room
temperature of 29oc to 50oc when the weather was not optimal. Moreover, this project is
also portable, made out of 3R materials to prevent wastage of natural resources.
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GREEN COOKER CHALLENGE (GCC)
INTRODUCTION
Project Background
People in under-developed countries, mostly in Africa, do not have access to basic
stoves to boil water, for safe consumption. However, there is an abundance of sun light in
the world. The question we had now is how to use the sunlight (solar energy) to make a
cooker that is easily accesible to them?
Problem Statement
How to create a durable and efficient solar cooker?
How to maximize the gaining of the sunlight to heat the water inside the solar box
cooker?
How to prevent the heat inside the solar box cooker from being loss to the
surroundings?
How to keep the heat that has been absorbed into the box for a longer time?
Objective
Make a portable solar cooker.
Make a solar cooker out of mostly 90% 3R materials.
Make an efficient solar cooker that utilises all available solar energy.
To minimize fuel consumption because the supply is limited but widely used all over
the world.
To reduce air pollution caused by combustion of fuel.
To slow down the deforestation and desertification caused by gathering firewood for
cooking.
To reduce fuel costs especially for people in low-income groups.
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GREEN COOKER CHALLENGE (GCC)
SCIENCE CONCEPTS APPLIED
CONVERTING SUNLIGHT INTO HEAT ENERGY
Dark surfaces get very hot in sunlight, whereas light surfaces don’t.
Water boils best in dark, shallow, thin metal pots with dark, tight-fitting lids to hold in
heat and moisture.
For example, solar cookers concentrate sunlight onto a receiver such as a cooking
pan. The interaction between the light energy and the receiver material converts light
to heat. This conversion is maximized by using materials that conduct and retain
heat. Pots and pans used on solar cookers should be matte black in color to
maximize the absorption. Thus, heat energy is formed from sunlight.
HEAT
Heat Gain
Greenhouse effect
The heating of enclosed spaces into which the sun shines through a transparent
material such as glass or plastic. Visible light easily passes through the glass and is
absorbed and reflected by materials within the enclosed space. The black box absorbs the
light and converts it into a larger wavelength, producing heat energy.
Reflectors
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GREEN COOKER CHALLENGE (GCC)
One or more reflectors made of shiny surfaces are employed to bounce additional
light into the box in order to increase cooking temperature. So, we use shiny surface on the
reflectors which are provided at 3 sides of the box to maximize the reflection of sunlight.
Glazing material
A transparent material (glazing) is needed to allow the absorption of sunlight for
heating an enclosed space (solar cooker). So, we put used textbook wrappers at the top
surface of the box to face the sunlight.
Heat retention
Insulating materials : it should be installed so that they allow minimal conduction of
heat from the inner box structural materials to the outer box structural materials.
So, we use aluminum foil as radiant reflector at the walls and the bottom of the box.
Besides, we use a few black - painted aluminium balls to absorb heat and they were
placed around the box.
Heat loss
To avoid radiation of heat to the surroundings, we use shiny surfaces at the interior
of the box. Besides, we doubled the transparent glazing to trap most of the radiant heat.
SHAPE AND DESIGN
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GREEN COOKER CHALLENGE (GCC)
We chose this design for our solar cooker because it uses 3R materials, which fulfills
one of our main objectives of making it out of 3R materials and making it affordable. The
zippers put against the side reflectors fulfill an aesthetical and practical use. Not only does
it make our solar cooker stand out but it also enables us to open and close the reflectors
while maintaining a small look, making it portable. The box shape of our solar cooker
enables us to trap heat more effectively.
SELECTION OF COLOURS
At the exterior of the box, we paint it black because it is a good heat absorber. At the
interior of the box, we use shiny surface to reflect the heat from being radiated to the
surroundings. We use a black-painted box to maximize the absorption of heat. We placed a
black-painted aluminum balls under the pan because they will absorb and retain the heat
best.
SELECTION OF MATERIALS
We used mainly 3R materials such as boxes, reused plastic textbook wraps, and old
zippers. These materials help with the trapping of heat, as the base of the project and as an
aesthetical decoration.
SELECTION OF SHAPE
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GREEN COOKER CHALLENGE (GCC)
We used a box as our base shape because a box is a more portable. Making our
solar cooker around a box enabled us to fulfil one of our objectives, which was to make the
solar cooker portable.
USAGE OF 3R MATERIALS
90% of our solar cooker is made from 3R materials. We used an old A4 paper box
as the base of our solar cooker. We also reused aluminium foil as the reflectors. Old plastic
textbook wraps were also used as a glaze wrapping to trap heat. The magnifying glass lens
used is from a broken magnifying glass.
sRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OUR PROJECT AND GREEN TECHNOLOGY
ENERGY. Our solar cooker uses the readily available sunlight to get heat energy
that is used in cooking in a solar cooker. This is a form of green technology because no
pollution is made and there is no wastage when producing heat energy. This is because the
sunlight is transformed into heat energy by the plastic film that converts the wavelength of
the sunlight into heat energy. That heat energy is immediately diverged by the magnifying
glass lens to the water (or what is trying to be cooked).
HOW WE BUILT OUR SOLAR COOKER
1. Spray paint a A4 box black.
2. Attach 2 extra flaps on the top reflectors panel.
3. Cut open 3 sides from the sides of the box. Use a string system to keep it in place.
4. Wrap all the reflector panels with aluminium foil.
5. Glue a zipper to each of the cut sides.
6. Stick a textbook plastic wrapper on all the openings.
7. Roll aluminium foil balls and spray paint them.
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GREEN COOKER CHALLENGE (GCC)
8. Put a used black pan in side the solar cooker and surround the pan with the black
aluminium foil balls.
COMMERCIAL VALUE
Our project has many aspects that people look for when looking at a solar cooker.
First of all, our solar cooker more than 90% made from 3R materials. Im sure when using
our product, buyers will feel good because they are not polluting the environment at all by
buying our product. Moreover, our solar cooker is 100% portable as it comes with a holding
handle and because it is black, it looks sleek when carrying it. Our solar cooker is also very
marketable because it is very efficient as it utilises all available sunlight to best use.
TEST RESULTS
Test results trial 1
Time (min) Temperature (C)
10 29
20 32
30 36
40 40
50 42
60 45
Test results trial 2
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GREEN COOKER CHALLENGE (GCC)
Time (min) Temperature(C)
10 32
20 35
30 40
40 45
50 52
60 57
CONCLUSION
Solar energy is free and unlimited.
Solar energy produces no pollution, does not require high capital and uses recycled
materials.
In Malaysia, we receive 5 hours of sunlight per day throughout the year. Therefore,
solar energy has a great potential to be used in Malaysia.
The use of solar cooker can reduce the emission of carbon dioxide to the
environment.
This project teaches us to develop the spirit of cooperation.
We should make use of our renewable resources around us to make for a better
future.
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GREEN COOKER CHALLENGE (GCC)
REFERENCES
Solar cooking wikia
http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/Principles_of_Solar_Box_Cooker_Design
Wikipedia Solar Cooker
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cooker#Principles
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