DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF A REGENERATIVE RECHARGEABLE SOLAR STOVE SYSTEM

To be able to use solar energy for cooking purposes, a radically different solution has been used wherein the heat liberated by the reaction of quicklime with water would be utilized and the subsequent conversion of hydrated lime back to quicklime by the usage of solar radiation in a paraboloid concentrator. The other salient feature of this stove is that it can be used for cooking Ethiopian staple diet, INJERA, inside one’s own kitchen. This paper reports the development, production and test results of this regenerative, rechargeable solar stove system. All the stove components have been manufactured, assembled, tested and their performance characterized. The solar concentrator forms part of the community facility that can be jointly shared by a number of families. Heat retention, heat liberation rates, cooking pan surface temperature and efficiency of the stove have all been exhaustively assessed and encouraging results have been obtained. This stove has the potential to significantly contribute towards environmental protection through smokeless cooking, conservation of precious forest resources, improvement of economic and health standards of the rural, people leading to sustainable development