The cooker has been designed by Wolfgong
Scheffler, associated with Solar Brucke of Germany and is
being promoted by local manufactures & a few NGOs in India
for the last few years. The unique feature of this cooker
is that it is possible to cook using solar energy within the
kitchen itself. The large reflector of minimum 7 sq. m. area
standing outside the kitchen reflects the solar rays into
the kitchen through an opening in its North wall while a secondary
reflector further concentrates the rays on to the bottom of
the pot / frying pan painted black. The temperature attained
is so high (400 C) that the food could be cooked in a shorter
time unlike box solar cooker. It therefore acts like a conventional
cooking device with the difference that instead of conventional
cooking fuel like gas, electricity or firewood, the food is
cooked with the help of solar energy.
Salient Features
Community cooking: Cooking for about 40
to 50 persons is possible with this cooker. Same is not possible
with other types of solar cookers. One dish may take around
1 to 1 1/2 hours depending on the type of dish and solar insolation
available. The cooker, however, works nicely in areas where
solar insolation is good during most part of the year. It
is possible to cook two meals with the cooker in those areas.
Indoor Cooking
: Since the solar rays are directed into the kitchen,
it enables cooking indoors. The cook, therefore, does not
have to go outside in the sun to load and unload the cooking
pots as being done in Box Solar Cooker.
Fast cooking :
Due to high temperature and power at focal point, the cooking
rate is significantly higher compared to other solar cookers.
Cooking of traditional
food : Due to high temperature it is possible to cook
almost all traditional dishes including making chapatis, purees,
dhosa etc. as well as doing `Vaghar'/`Tadka' before adding
the vegetables, dal etc. With box-type cookers many of these
traditional dishes which requires frying are not possible.
Automatic tracking
:There is a mechanical
clockwork arrangement which rotates the outside primary reflector
to track the sun automatically. The cook has to set this reflector
in focus only once a day in the morning and thereafter for
rest of the time the clockwork keeps on rotating the reflector
automatically.
Seasonal adjustment
: With shifting of two arms provided in the reflector
frame it is possible to change the curvature of the parabolic
reflector for seasonal adjustment; thus keeping it fully tracked
with the sun during all seasons.
Multiple Use :
During the period when cooker is not in use for cooking, it
can be used for hot water production.
Potential users
The cooker could be useful to residential
schools, institutional kitchens such as industrial and administrative
canteens, religious ashrams, hotels, hospitals, police and
armed forces kitchens, etc. One cooker can serve for 40 to
50 people. For larger number of people, more cookers could
be installed.
Fuel Saving :Around 35 to 40 LPG cyl./ yr on full use in community
kitchens
Cost :
Rs. 40,000 to 50,000/- approx. depending on the type of reflectors
used & salient features provided by the manufacturers.
This excludes the cost of transportation, civil work &
pressure cooker (Installation cost is included)
Contact:
Ministry of Non-Conventonal Energy
Sources,
Govt. of India
Block-14, CGO Complex, Lodi Road
New Delhi – 110 003
Tel: 91 11 2436 0707/ 2436 0404
Fax: 91 11 2436 1298
