Solar Oven

Introduction

People around the world are using solar ovens to reduce reliance on firewood and coal. Even if you have electricity, a solar oven can be an effective, energy-saving way to cook your food. If you select this project, you are going to make a lightweight solar oven out of a cardboard box, which would be a portable oven for camping or your backyard.

Design

There are numerous designs of a solar oven. You could check some designs here. You could also design your own solar oven.

Procedure

The procedure of making a solar oven depends on the design you choose. Here, we provide an example.

Materials you might need

• Cardboard boxes of different sizes
• Aluminum Foil Roll
• Flat Black Paint or Black Construction Paper
• Cotton Balls (used for insulation)
• Duct Tape/Glue
• Sunglasses (to protect your eyes)

You're free to choose the materials for your design. The above are suggestions.

Measurements to consider

• Use a thermocouple to measure temperature change and calculate the power
• Estimate of the solar power input using solar resource data
• Calculate thermal efficiency
• See how well you're able to maintain an elevated temperature in the oven; how well does it work overnight?