Analysis and Dimensioning of a Large Scale Solar Cooking System : A solution for the Base of the Pyramid Market

This thesis introduces an analysis and dimensioning of a solar powered solution for enabling clean and sustainable cooking in developing areas. Access to clean cooking is a great challenge hindering human development, with significant health, environmental, and economic implications. The proposed solution is analysed and modelled in this work. Recommendations are given on the development of the project, reviewing the critical factors for its success. The solution is a novel approach for providing power for cooking through solar energy. Targeted market segment is institutional cooking, where current cooking fuels are commonly based on firewood and charcoal. The system integrates a solar trough collector array, an oil heat storage, a heating unit for the cooking recipient, and two thermosiphons for transporting the heat between each component. The technology is under development, requiring an accurate analysis and further work in the design. The work presented analyses the solution and its implementation in a specific case study. A modelling software was built as a tool for dimensioning the technology and observing its behaviour. Moreover, specific values were obtained on the dimensions for the case study. A structured critic of the system through a deep review allowed for observations on risks, future work, and additional recommendations. Simulations for the case study enabled the first values on the dimensions of the system. Flexibility of the model was provided to repeat this exercise for future case studies. The analysis unexpected critical factors for the solution such as user behaviour and reviewed expected ones such as the insulation or the size of the heat storage. There are still many challenges to overcome for the success of the analyzed project. This thesis gives a basis for future work and strong guidance for the development of the solution