Efficiency analysis of a solar cooker

Here is an efficiency analysis of solar cookers based on the 1st Law of Thermodynamics and the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics, explaining also how to calculate the cooking power of any device.

Based on the 1st Law of Thermodynamics^[1]

Energy input = Energy output + Energy losses

Energy input to the solar cooker can be calculated as follows:

E_{i} = I_{t} \times A_{s c}

Where:

E_i is the energy input in W
I_t = total solar energy incident upon plane of the solar air being heated in W/m²
A_sc is the surface area of the solar cooker in m²

Energy output from the solar cooker can be found as shown below:

E_{o} = \frac{m_{w} c_{p w} (T_{w f} - T_{w i})}{t}

Where:

Energy efficiency of the solar cooker can be found as shown below:

η = \frac{Energy output}{Energy input} = \frac{E_{o}}{E_{i}} = \frac{[m_{w} c_{p w} (T_{w f} - T_{w i})] / t}{I_{t} \times A_{s c}}

Exergy input = Exergy output + Irreversibility

Exergy input to the solar cooker can be calculated as follows:

Ξ_{i} = I_{b} [1 - (T_{o} / T_{s}) (4 / 3)]

Where:

Exergy efficiency of the solar cooker can be calculated as follows:

Ψ = \frac{Exergy output}{Exergy input} = \frac{\dot{Ξ_{o}}}{\dot{Ξ_{i}}} = \frac{m_{w} c_{p w} [(T_{w f} - T_{w i}] - T_{o} \ln (T_{w f} / T_{w i})] / t}{I_{b} [1 - (T_{o} / T_{s}) (4 / 3)] A_{s c}}

Where:

The ability of a solar cooker to collect sunlight is directly related to the projected area of the collector perpendicular to the incident radiation.

The primary reference measurement used by ASAE S580^[3] is the cooking power, which can be calculated as follows over 10 minute intervals:

P = \frac{M C (T_{2} - T_{1})}{600}

Where:

This temperature change is detected over 10 minute intervals, thus the equation above is divided by 600 s.

↑ Ozturk, H. "Second Law Analysis for Solar Cookers", http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/1138067100-85020668/content~db=all~content=a713635696, Accessed April 8, 2010
↑ Ozturk, H. "Second Law Analysis for Solar Cookers", http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/1138067100-85020668/content~db=all~content=a713635696, Accessed April 8, 2010
↑ ASABE Technical Library. "Testing and Reporting Solar Cooker Performance",http://asae.frymulti.com/abstract.asp?aid=24465&t=2, Accessed April 8, 2010

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Authors	Rohanm
License	CC-BY-SA-4.0
Language	English ()
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Created	August 4, 2022 by Pedro Kracht
Last edit	January 8, 2026 by MetadescriptionsBot
Cite as	Rohanm (2022–2026). "Efficiency analysis of a solar cooker". Appropedia. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
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