Rural Solar Cookers, an Alternative to Reduce the Timber Resource Extraction through the Use of Renewable Energy Sources: Technology Transfer and Monitoring Project

• Published in: Energy procedia 2014, Vol.57, p.1593-1602
• Main Authors: Sosa, Luis Bernardo López, Avilés, Mauricio González, Pérez, Dante González, Gutiérrez, Yuritzi Solís
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: solar cooker revolution compound parabolic concentrator; technology transfer and appropriation
• ISSN: 1876-6102; 1876-6102
• DOI: 10.1016/j.egypro.2014.10.151

In this paper, it's presented an integral project of technology transfer. Based in the development of several prototypes of solar cookers, all of them with our own design and construction, whose functionality is to compound parabolic concentrators of revolution, this project performed how to implement this ecotechnology. The prototype implemented uses mirror polished aluminum reflectors, aluminum pressure cooker manual tracking device and solar tilt. With the help of social programs, 70 solar cookers were implemented in an indigenous community in Michoacán, México; previously it was implemented a diagnostic of timber resources consumption to each beneficiary family. Also, firing tests were performed with various prototypes plots to select the best one with thermal and ergonomic characteristics. The project expects to reduce the consumption of timber as fuel used for cooking by 30%; to encourage the use of renewable energy, to mitigate respiratory diseases caused by the inhalation of combustion smoke and help the family's economy. Currently we are working with the monitoring to quantify the improvements achieved in consumption-appropriation. There is already an user manual of maintenance and construction of solar cookers in the indigenous language and the project wants to be the basis for future Eco technologies’ implementations.