MIRROR BOOSTERS FOR SOLAR COOKERS--II

Abstract

The effect of elongation (ratio of length/width of aperture) of rectangular apertures, provided with one single booster mirror (hinged on the northern edge of the aperture), on the energy collection pattern is investigated in this study. The system is kept in a fixed position to collect the maximum energy at noon. This is the case with many solar appliances. It is found that the elongation has a significant bearing on the total energy collection. Rectangular apertures with mirror boosters have higher specific energy collection when compared with similarly boosted square apertures; specific energy collection being defined as energy collection per unit area in a given interval of time. The maximum effective elongation is found to be around 3 under conditions prevailing at Warangal. Only the beam component of solar radiation is considered.