Energy, exergy, environmental, and economic (4E) analysis of an indirect solar cooker

The solar cooker is considered an effective tool for harnessing solar energy for cooking purposes, significantly promoting environmental sustainability. This study aims to introduce a novel design for an indirect solar cooker by integrating an evacuated tube collector with a box-type cooker, contrib...

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Main Authors: Tao Zhang, Mahmoud A. Abdelhamid, Mohamed E.A.E. Ahmed, Fatma Shaaban, Sarah O. Makram, Zhao Zhang, Tarek Kh. Abdelkader
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X2500509X
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author Tao Zhang
Mahmoud A. Abdelhamid
Mohamed E.A.E. Ahmed
Fatma Shaaban
Sarah O. Makram
Zhao Zhang
Tarek Kh. Abdelkader
author_facet Tao Zhang
Mahmoud A. Abdelhamid
Mohamed E.A.E. Ahmed
Fatma Shaaban
Sarah O. Makram
Zhao Zhang
Tarek Kh. Abdelkader
author_sort Tao Zhang
collection DOAJ
description The solar cooker is considered an effective tool for harnessing solar energy for cooking purposes, significantly promoting environmental sustainability. This study aims to introduce a novel design for an indirect solar cooker by integrating an evacuated tube collector with a box-type cooker, contributing to achieving sustainable development goals. The performance of the proposed system is evaluated through energy, exergy, environmental, and economic analyses. Practical cooking tests designed to meet the needs of a family of two adults and four children highlight the effectiveness of the proposed solar cooker. The overall thermal efficiency of the box solar cooker (BSC) and the proposed solar cooker (PSC) are 26.8 % and 36.7 %, respectively, with corresponding exergy efficiencies of 1.9 % and 7.4 %. Additionally, the PSC is capable of preparing approximately 990 meals per year. For a lifespan of 15 years, the energy and economic payback period is 5.7 and 1.8 years, respectively; PSC mitigates CO2 emission by 3.412 tons/year. PSC showed a good economic indicator since the internal rate of return is 54 %, the benefit-cost ratio is 1.23, and the net present value of profit is 161.25$. Moreover, the levelized cost of the cooked meal equals 0.105 $/Ml, and the levelized cost of heat equals 0.151 $/kWh.
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publisher Elsevier
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spelling doaj-art-cf2a4470b189464bb99b5693edb4ed582025-08-20T02:01:34ZengElsevierCase Studies in Thermal Engineering2214-157X2025-07-017110624910.1016/j.csite.2025.106249Energy, exergy, environmental, and economic (4E) analysis of an indirect solar cookerTao Zhang0Mahmoud A. Abdelhamid1Mohamed E.A.E. Ahmed2Fatma Shaaban3Sarah O. Makram4Zhao Zhang5Tarek Kh. Abdelkader6Department of Materials and Architectural Engineering, Hebei Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Technology, Xingtai, 054048, ChinaKey Laboratory of Smart Agriculture System Integration, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China; Agricultural Engineering Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo, 11241, Egypt; Corresponding author. Key Laboratory of Smart Agriculture System Integration, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China.Mechanical Engineering Department, Shoubra Faculty of Engineering, Benha University, 11629, EgyptAgricultural Engineering Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo, 11241, EgyptAgricultural Economics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, 63514, Fayoum, EgyptKey Laboratory of Smart Agriculture System Integration, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China; Key Laboratory of Agricultural Information Acquisition Technology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, ChinaSolar Energy Research Institute, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, 650500, China; Agricultural Engineering Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, 63514, Fayoum, Egypt; Corresponding author. Solar Energy Research Institute, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, 650500, China.The solar cooker is considered an effective tool for harnessing solar energy for cooking purposes, significantly promoting environmental sustainability. This study aims to introduce a novel design for an indirect solar cooker by integrating an evacuated tube collector with a box-type cooker, contributing to achieving sustainable development goals. The performance of the proposed system is evaluated through energy, exergy, environmental, and economic analyses. Practical cooking tests designed to meet the needs of a family of two adults and four children highlight the effectiveness of the proposed solar cooker. The overall thermal efficiency of the box solar cooker (BSC) and the proposed solar cooker (PSC) are 26.8 % and 36.7 %, respectively, with corresponding exergy efficiencies of 1.9 % and 7.4 %. Additionally, the PSC is capable of preparing approximately 990 meals per year. For a lifespan of 15 years, the energy and economic payback period is 5.7 and 1.8 years, respectively; PSC mitigates CO2 emission by 3.412 tons/year. PSC showed a good economic indicator since the internal rate of return is 54 %, the benefit-cost ratio is 1.23, and the net present value of profit is 161.25$. Moreover, the levelized cost of the cooked meal equals 0.105 $/Ml, and the levelized cost of heat equals 0.151 $/kWh.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X2500509XIndirect solar cookerEvacuated tubes collectorBox solar cookerEnergy and exergy analysis
spellingShingle Tao Zhang
Mahmoud A. Abdelhamid
Mohamed E.A.E. Ahmed
Fatma Shaaban
Sarah O. Makram
Zhao Zhang
Tarek Kh. Abdelkader
Energy, exergy, environmental, and economic (4E) analysis of an indirect solar cooker
Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
Indirect solar cooker
Evacuated tubes collector
Box solar cooker
Energy and exergy analysis
title Energy, exergy, environmental, and economic (4E) analysis of an indirect solar cooker
title_full Energy, exergy, environmental, and economic (4E) analysis of an indirect solar cooker
title_fullStr Energy, exergy, environmental, and economic (4E) analysis of an indirect solar cooker
title_full_unstemmed Energy, exergy, environmental, and economic (4E) analysis of an indirect solar cooker
title_short Energy, exergy, environmental, and economic (4E) analysis of an indirect solar cooker
title_sort energy exergy environmental and economic 4e analysis of an indirect solar cooker
topic Indirect solar cooker
Evacuated tubes collector
Box solar cooker
Energy and exergy analysis
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X2500509X
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AT mohamedeaeahmed energyexergyenvironmentalandeconomic4eanalysisofanindirectsolarcooker
AT fatmashaaban energyexergyenvironmentalandeconomic4eanalysisofanindirectsolarcooker
AT sarahomakram energyexergyenvironmentalandeconomic4eanalysisofanindirectsolarcooker
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