Development and experimental evaluation of a parabolic solar cooker for sustainable cooking in monsoon climates

This study presents the development and evaluation of a parabolic solar cooker tailored for tropical monsoon climates with high intermittent solar radiation. The system features a 1.32 m diameter dish with 95 % reflective polyethylene terephthalate film and a high-absorptivity steel pot, optimized through transient energy modeling. Under real conditions in Pereira, Colombia, the cooker achieved pot temperatures up to 265 °C and thermal efficiencies of 35.4–53.2 %. It successfully boiled 3 L of water in under 70 min and reached frying temperatures above 200 °C. The methodology combined material selection, geometric optimization, and experimental validation using local irradiance data. A validated transient model predicted pot temperatures with 15 % average relative error. Standards from the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE S580) and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) were used to benchmark the performance. Daily use of the cooker for 6 h could displace 0.035 kg of natural gas, based on a boiling time of 40 min per liter. This translates into an annual reduction of 375.22 kg of carbon dioxide emissions per household. Cooking tasks such as boiling water or preparing beans generate 0.087–0.180 kg of carbon dioxide when using natural gas, with typical costs between 0.0032 and 0.0066 United States Dollars. These savings highlight the solar cooker's potential to reduce fuel expenses and environmental impact. In Colombia, where solar cooking is underutilized, this study demonstrates a robust and scalable design adapted to local conditions. The findings support the solar cooker's role as a clean cooking solution for underserved communities and contribute to sustainable energy transitions in regions with limited access to modern fuels. • Parabolic solar cooker adapted for monsoon climates with high irradiance variability. • Achieved peak pot temperature of 265 °C and thermal efficiency between 35.4 and 53.2 %. • Experimental validation showed 15 % average relative error in transient thermal model. • Daily use saves 0.035 kg natural gas and avoids 375.22 kg CO 2 emissions annually. • Enables clean cooking adoption in underrepresented tropical regions of Colombia.