Experimental Comparison of a Hybrid Solar Cooker and a Conventional Solar Cooker Under Algerian Sahara Conditions

Abstract

Abstract. The integration of thermal energy storage (TES) into solar systems plays a vital role in improving their efficiency, particularly in solar cooking applications. The present study introduces a novel experimental evaluation of a hybrid solar cooker (HSC) that incorporates both sensible and latent heat storage mechanisms. To assess its performance, comparative experiments were conducted between the hybrid solar cooker and a conventional box solar cooker (CBSC) in Ghardaïa, Algeria. Two configurations of the HSC were examined: one equipped with phase change material (HSC-with PCM) and another without it (HSC-without PCM). Real-world tests under varying load conditions demonstrated that the HSC-with PCM significantly outperformed both the HSC-without PCM and the CBSC, achieving higher maximum temperatures, shorter cooking times, and improved thermal efficiency. Specifically, the HSC-with PCM achieved a 59.36% enhancement in thermal efficiency, a 100.16 W/m2 °C increase in the heat transfer coefficient, and a 13.32 W/m2 °C reduction in the overall heat loss coefficient. Economic analysis further indicated a levelized cost of cooking a meal (LCCM) of 0.034$, with an estimated payback period of 2.7 years, underscoring the system's cost-effectiveness and practical viability for widespread solar cooking applications.