Design and Simulation of Solar Thermal Cooker Using A Parabolic Trough and Heat Transfer Fluid Tailored for Use in Nigeria

This paper presents the design and simulation of a solar thermal cooker using a parabolic trough collector (PTC) for indirect cooking applications. The system targets both rural and urban areas where clean and affordable cooking energy is in high demand. Solar radiation is concentrated onto a steel absorber tube, which heats a circulating heat transfer fluid (HTF). The heated fluid transfers thermal energy to a cooking vessel via a compact heat exchanger. The entire setup is supported by a mild steel frame and optimized for high thermal performance. MATLAB was used to simulate the thermal behavior of the system, including temperature rise, heat transfer rate, and efficiency under varying solar conditions. Simulations indicate that the system can raise the cooking surface temperature to over 90°C in less than 10 minutes with an average solar irradiance of 800 W/m². Thermal performance calculations indicated that a 5 kg mass of HTF could reach 101.7°C in 10 minutes, providing sufficient energy to cook food effectively. A schematic heat exchanger setup was modeled, and conduction through the cooking pot was evaluated. Design equations were applied to estimate energy input, thermal gain, conduction loss, and flow rate requirements. Optimization steps, including reflector alignment, flow rate tuning, and thermal insulation further improved cooking efficiency. The solar thermal cooker offers an environmentally friendly, low-cost solution that reduces reliance on fossil fuels and biomass for cooking. It is particularly suitable for off-grid communities and contributes to the promotion of sustainable development goals related to clean energy and health