Introduction: Simple Solar Cooker
The aim of this project is to create instructions for a Solar Cooker that can be sent to developing countries. For this to reach the widest population the instructions must be non-language based and that it can be constructed with the barest minimum of tools, materials and skill.
The instructions should be as simple as possible so that they can be easily hand drawn and modified.
The cooker will use the curve of a hanging rope or chain which will be approximatly parabolic. (google catenary if you do not know why) This shouldn't matter as a catenary gets closer and closer to being a parabola the wider you stretch it and we are focusing on a pot, not a point.
The dimensions are important. Using a 4:1 ratio means the focus will be in the middle along the top of the cooker in line with the two ends which makes setting it up really easy. (See step three)
The materials could be anything from corrugated cardboard to plywood with aluminium foil to broken glass for the reflector.
I have not made this at all as I do not have the space (tiny london flat) and the required sunshine.
If someone builds and tests this cooker it would be great to hear about your experience and please make improvements!
I have placed this in the public domain, I want this idea to grow, mature and most importantly be used.
- <HAL 9000 EDIT>
Step 1: Measure Two Boards 4:1
If you can come up with a clearer way to show a 4:1 ratio, do so!
Step 2: Use a Rope, Heavy String or Chain to Trace Curve From Top Corners to Bottom
This really needs to be clearer.
The images needs to portray that you can use any heavy rope or chain and that it goes from one top corner to the other and reach the bottom.
It is also clear that there needs to be extra material for strength along the bottom.
Step 3: Cut Out Curve
Step 4: Attach Boards to a Base of Same Length But Width Can Vary
I've left the attachment method to the ingenuity of the builder as i cannot make any assumptions to what tools or resources the builder will have.
What I don't know how to do is indicate on the diagram that you can have any width to the base. Any Ideas?
Step 5: Cut a Flexible Board of the Same Length As Rope/chain in Step 2.
As mentioned by Hal 9000 you can use the length of the chain/rope in step 2 to measure the length of the reflector. This way your length will turn out perfectly, and you will have no trimming at all once you have mounted it to the cooker base.
An improvement to the diagram would be to draw it slightly curved to show that it is to be flexible.
Step 6: Glue Tin/aluminium Foil or Broken Glass/mirror to Board
Step 7: Attach Flexible Board to Curved Cut Out.
Step 8: Show How to Use
The cooker can be tilted along it's length and rotated so that the sun is always in line with the focus.
(I admit that the main picture of this project makes it look like the cooker remains on it's flat base)
