Gas prices are rising, and it is not getting any cheaper. Considering its weight and dimensions, it does not present any mobility in terms of portability. In response to this challenge, researchers have developed SOLARTHER, an innovative solar-powered portable cooking device designed for efficient and eco-friendly cooking. SOLARTHER utilizes solar energy from the sun, storing it in a battery to power a heating coil. The device incorporates portable solar panels and a solar thermal collector to capture and convert sunlight into usable heat energy, offering a potential solution to the limitations of traditional gas stoves.

 

SOLARTHER benefits communities lacking access to reliable and affordable cooking alternatives. It features a solar-powered electric stove with an excess heat recovery system. In addition, the device utilizes a Peltier module to convert unused energy back into electricity, which can be used to power other mobile devices.

 

The creation process of SOLARTHER involves gathering materials, completing, and assembling the device's mechanism, constructing its frame, conducting tests, and gathering and interpreting data. An experimental design was employed for the device's development.

 

The study's findings indicate that the rate of charge and discharge cycles significantly influences the battery's performance. On average, the SOLARTHER device successfully generated and stored 12.54 units of solar energy, meeting the desired energy generation and storage range. With an average daily energy generation of 0.01256 watt-hours, the SOLARTHER device demonstrates its efficiency and effectiveness in energy production and storage. It consistently increases the battery's ampere level over multiple trials and time.

 

Trained professionals from the fields of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering evaluated and accepted the SOLARTHER device. The results showcase the device's ability to effectively harness solar energy for cooking, with high thermal efficiency and coil-heating capabilities. This establishes SOLARTHER as a viable alternative to traditional cooking devices. Based on these findings, the researchers recommend upgrading the device's capacity to higher output, incorporating more heat-resistant materials, and conducting further experiments to explore its scope and limitations.

 

Keywords: SOLARTHER, Solar Panel, Excess Heat Recovery System, Stove