International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume IX, Issue VII, July 2022 | ISSN 2321–2705

Design and Fabrication of a Digital Solar-Powered DC Induction Cooker

Makinde Kayode¹, Lawal Olawale Kazeem², and Amao Enock^3
1,²Department of Electrical Engineering, Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger State, Nigeria
³Department of Physics, Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract: The design and fabrication of a digital solar-powered DC induction cooker come with numerous advantages, including high efficiency, almost two times the existing technologies. Its portable compared to the existing technology, its efficiency comes with low power consumption i.e. all power that is generated is transferred, at least 80 % of the power generated and above all it is aimed at designing a stand-alone DC induction cooker. It encompasses the use of a heating element powered by a DC source from energy trapped from the sun, with the aid of PV cells, battery, charge controller, and relays using AT MEGA 328P microcontroller for switching and control purposes. The design enables the selection of time for either warming or cooking. The heat for cooking and warming is produced by the Nichrome wire (element) according to the time set. The temperature at 100oc was obtained at 45 minutes. The system’s efficiency can be improved in the Nichrome wire (element) and a corresponding increase in the backup storage and the PV modules. The total energy generated from the solar system was 5760W at 24VDC with average sunshine hours in Bida as 8hours and the battery used is 2 pieces of a 12V-100AH which was connected in series to produce 24VDC. The design done for the induction cooker was rated at 400W. This means that the induction cooker can run for a minimum of 6 hours without any means of charging. It was observed the solar can sufficiently charge the battery two times in one day if it is been discharged.

Keywords: DC, Solar, Induction, Microcontroller, Digital display

I.INTRODUCTION

In early times, energy is completely harnessed from fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas). As humans become more civilized, their industries also grow, which in turn increased energy demand. The rapid increment in population also contributed to the increment in energy demand. This caused an increment in the utilization of fossil fuels. Eventually, this started to degrade the environmental quality (Omer, 2008). The use of conventional energy has led to global warming, which is caused by the increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil fuels, causing the increment in the earth’s mean temperature. This in turn causes climate change, which is responsible for different hazards such as floods and drought. The burning of fossil fuels also causes acid rain, which can harm forests, freshwater, and soil (Delaimy, 2020). The fluctuation and increment of fossil fuel prices are also other problems that affected countries, whose economy depends on nonrenewable energy. In Ethiopian rural areas, firewood is the main source of energy for cooking, but in cities, electricity, kerosene, and charcoal are the main sources for cooking. In