Numerical Simulation Using Comsol Multiphysics of Temperature Profiles in Solar Cooker

Solar thermal energy is available in abundance in a country like Senegal where direct solar radiation is on average 1950kWh/m<sup>2</sup> per year. Solar thermal treatment is one of the methods to preserve food. Thermal treatment of agricultural products using solar thermal energy utilizes collectors to capture solar irradiation and convert its energy into heat, which is then used for drying, heating, cooking, or cooling the products. This study focuses on thermal treatment using a solar cooker. The work involves performing a numerical simulation of a solar cooker using COMSOL Multiphysics software to analyze the temporal and spatial distribution of physical parameters such as temperature, air velocity, and absolute pressure within the cooker. A theoretical model is made in order to establish the heat balance at the level of the cooker components. A model of the cooker was developed within the software after establishing assumptions and defining boundary conditions. The simulation results show that in the solar cooker, the absorber temperature can reach 123°C, allowing the cooking of many types of food. The isothermal profile reveals a dome-shaped structure evolving from the absorber, where the temperature is highest, towards the glass cover. The pressure is also uniform within the cooker. The pressure is approximately equal to 1.11 10<sup>4</sup>Pa. Similarly, the air velocity inside the cooker is low.