Nested-Shell Solar Cooker for Compact Urban Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solar cookers require large spaces for deployment and continuous sun tracking, making them unsuitable for high-rise buildings and compact apartments, and their size and directional requirements limit their usability.
Innovation Solution
A compact solar appliance with an outer and inner shell, featuring a gap provision for medium circulation to insulate and retain heat, allowing for mounting over windows, walls, or as a standalone unit, facing south for optimal sunlight exposure, with a radiation-absorbing coating and temperature control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional solar cookers use black body principle or parabolic reflectors, then cooking efficiency is improved, but device size and space requirement increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by placing the inner shell containing cooking containers inside the outer shell, creating a compact nested structure. The inner shell with black body coating is positioned within the outer shell that has transparent covering, allowing both shells to work together in a space-efficient manner while maintaining high cooking efficiency through the nested configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs thin film transparent coverings on the outer shell that allow sunlight penetration while providing structural integrity. The flexible shell design enables the cooker to maintain its compact form factor without sacrificing the functionality of heat trapping and sunlight absorption, thus resolving the contradiction between efficiency and size.
2Use of energy by moving object
If conventional solar cookers are designed for maximum sunlight reception, then energy utilization is improved, but deployment flexibility decreases due to directional constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by designing the solar cooker to function effectively in multiple orientations and locations. The nested shell structure with transparent outer covering and black body inner coating can be deployed on balconies, windows, or flat surfaces regardless of exact solar orientation, making it adaptable to various urban environments while maintaining good sunlight reception through its universal design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from ground-level horizontal deployment to vertical or multi-dimensional placement options by designing the nested shell structure that can be mounted on windows, balconies, or walls. This dimensional change allows the cooker to capture sunlight from different angles and orientations, improving deployment flexibility while maintaining energy reception efficiency.
3Use of energy by moving object
If conventional solar cookers require continuous sun tracking, then energy capture is improved, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by designing the nested shell cooker to automatically passively capture sunlight without requiring active tracking mechanisms. The transparent outer shell and black body inner coating work together to automatically absorb and retain solar energy throughout the day, eliminating the need for user intervention or complex tracking systems while maintaining effective energy capture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical sun-tracking systems with a passive thermal absorption system. Instead of using motors, gears, or mechanical adjustments to follow the sun, the nested shell design with selective radiation coatings automatically captures and retains solar energy through passive thermal processes, dramatically simplifying operation while maintaining energy capture effectiveness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient cooking in a compact and space-efficient manner, accessible from indoors and adaptable for various installations, while maintaining heat retention and temperature control.
Implementation Method 1
The inner shell is configured for receiving the sunlight for heating content inside the one or more containers
Implementation Method 2
The gap provision insulates the inner shell and sustains the heat inside the inner shell
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments herein provide a solar appliance. The solar appliance comprises an outer shell and an inner shell having at least one platform for placing one or more containers. Each of the inner shell and the outer shell are made of a preselected material. The inner shell is configured for receiving the sunlight for heating content inside the one or more containers. The solar appliance further comprises a gap provision provided between the outer shell and the inner shell for allowing a circulation of a medium. The medium insulates the inner shell and conserves the heat inside the inner shell.