Thermal Test Procedures for Box

Type Solar Cookers

Calculation of First Figure of Merit, F1

SUBMITTED BY:
B.V. SURYAKIRAN
2016JES2908
 EXPERIMENT

Objective

To find the first figure of merit.

INSTRUMENTS REQUIRED

Solar cooker, Halogen lamp, Thermocouple, Multimeter, Ice as cold junction for 0 C reference,
stop watch.

FORMULAE USED

First Figure of Merit, 1 is defined as the ratio of optical efficiency to the heat loss
coefficient,

1 =

This can be expressed in terms in terms of stagnation plate temperature, and ambient
temperature,

1 =

Where is the insolation in /2 .

Observation Table

Conversion factor of thermocouple for changing the obtained voltage in mV to temperature in

C is 24.56 mV/C.

The value of Insolation, H is 829.287 /2 .

 TABLE: DATA OF VARIATION OF TEMPERATURES WITH RESPECT TO TIME FOR THE
CALCULATION OF F1.

PLATE TEMPERATURE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

(THERMOCOUPLE) (THERMOCOUPLE)
Temperature
S no. TIME Voltage (mV) Temperature (C) Voltage (mV) (C)
(MINS.)
1 0 2.22 54.5232 1.04 25.5424
2 5 2.74 67.2944 1.04 25.5424
3 10 2.98 73.1888 1.04 25.5424
4 15 3.23 79.3288 1.05 25.788
5 20 3.45 84.732 1.07 26.2792
6 25 3.64 89.3984 1.09 26.7704
7 30 3.78 92.8368 1.10 27.016
8 35 3.89 95.5384 1.09 26.7704
9 40 3.98 97.7488 1.10 27.016
10 45 4.06 99.7136 1.07 26.2792
11 52 4.16 102.1696 1.10 27.016
12 58 4.22 103.6432 1.13 27.7528
13 64 4.28 105.1168 1.11 27.2616
14 69 4.32 106.0992 1.12 27.5072
15 70 4.31 105.8536 1.09 26.7704
16 75 4.38 107.5728 1.11 27.2616
17 80 4.44 109.0464 1.11 27.2616
18 85 4.37 107.3272 1.09 26.7704
19 90 4.45 109.292 1.11 27.2616
20 95 4.43 108.8008 1.11 27.2616
21 100 4.43 108.8008 1.10 27.016
22 105 4.43 108.8008 1.09 26.7704
 Plate temperature vs Time
120

100
TEMPERATURE (C)

80

60

40

20

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
TIME (MINS.)

Fig: A plot of Plate temperature TP vs time, t in minutes in from the above observation table.

CALCULATIONS

Readings of Plate and Ambient temperatures have been taken when 2 consecutive readings are
found to be constant.

= 108.8

= 26.77

1 =

108.826.77
F1 =
829.287

1 = 0.0989
Result
The First Figure of merit (F1) of the given box type solar cooker comes out to be . .

INFERENCES
1. The figure of merit calculated is independent of weather conditions.
2. The Stagnation temperature occurs at 108.8C, hence, it has been confirmed that after
the stagnation temperature is achieved, as long as thermal losses are supplied, there is no
further energy required for physical changes in cooking.

SOURCES OF ERRORS:
1. Errors due to improper handling by the observer:
1. If the polarity of the multimeter is not maintained same throughout the experiment.
2. For smaller time intervals, if the observer takes too much of time for recording one
reading.
3. If the glass is not clean.
4. In this case the top lid of cooker is not considered, so it must be covered with some
non-reflecting material, so if that is not properly covered.
2. Errors due to the cooker used:
1. If the cooker is too old, the black coating may be degraded, hence lowering its
absorptance.
2. There may be scratches on glass, hence lowering its transmittance.
3. If the experiment is carried out indoors, the wind simulation should be done.

PRECAUTIONS
1. The glass should be cleaned before proceeding with the experiment.
2. The polarity should be maintained same, for recording of every reading.