Objective: To build a modular system made from readily available materials that can be utilized for heating water (desalinating or boiling), as well as for cooking food.
Concepts Used: Reflection of sunlight, concentrating the rays at a focal point, and generating heat this way.
Materials Needed: Aluminum foil/wrap/paper, cardboard (any size, but we used one that is 3 feet long on the shorter edge, and 4 feet long on the longer edge), ruler, pen, knife, scissors, large clips to hold cardboard together.
Methodology: The explanation through the video should be followed. Nonetheless, here is an outline of the steps:
SAFETY PRECAUTION: Be careful with the knife and scissors when cutting during the manufacture of Solar Oven; you can wear gloves for safety. You can wear dark glasses if the sun is bright, to prevent reflected rays from blinding your eyes. Wear gloves during use of the oven to prevent burns. Do NOT place your face inside the structure of the Solar Oven when it has been placed in the sun to prevent injuries from heat and reflected sunlight.
- Mark out contours that have to be specific dimensions and shapes. Follow the video closely.
- Cut out the marked contours with a knife/scissors, fold along those cutouts, and you will have flaps into which corners fit in. The clips can be utilized to hold the flaps as seen from Schematic 1 below. Once you are done, you will have an open-top cardboard system that is snugly closed out in all edges – and which has a particular form.
- Cut out aluminum foil (with scissors) to cover the inner surface of the system completely. You will have to cut up different shapes to cover each inner surface including the base. Use scotch-tape to hold the aluminum sheets in place. Once this is done, you have a fully made Solar Oven.
- Use a cloth to put at the base of the Solar Oven.
- Put the water or the food in a pot, wrap up the pot in a plastic bag to trap heat and enhance the action of the Solar Oven.
- Inside temperatures can reach up to 220 degrees Celsius, so be careful in handling!
- To control heat and reason for usage (boiling water vs. cooking chicken vs. cooking vegetables), you can change the position of the oven, and the time of the operation during the day.
Video English (with English subtitles):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y8FRS7mlD9M5AOH_zwjiBENz7Ts4n2V2/view?usp=drive_link