Smart induction cooking system using solar energy.
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Date
2017
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Abstract
Solar energy presents a good, clean and a reliable source of energy for the future. The focus includes the department of energy strategy (DoE) to allow solar renewables appliances to grow and contribute to the country’s economy and global environment. This study uses the recent advantage of induction cooking methods in the market to apply more efficient and economical techniques that go in line with the future wishes in the energy sector. Induction cooker is proven to transfer at least 80 % of the power generated to the pot, while electric stove and gas burners generate more to compensate for the power that is transferred to the atmosphere in the form of heat (i.e. about 55 % efficient). The induction cooker is currently presenting best cooking technology thus far. Though all including induction cooker are completely dependent on the grid power. The research comes with the idea of solar energy to fill the big existing gap of completely depending on non-renewable resources. The advantage comes with the idea of making the product a completely standalone, reducing electricity bills, simple and reliable, no fuel costs and spills, flexible in power sources, sustainable development etc. The proposed cooking technology is improved version and it gives more in the customer needs with regard to clean system, ease to use, conservation and price. Though initial system installation price is high but after five years, the user will be saving a large amount of money. The research will improve the annual savings by 45 % as per the DoE analysis in the comparison of cooking technologies. The thesis focuses on the solar as a primary source of energy to promote savings. The grid power is still used as a backup power source as we are not yet 100 % green but gradually adjusting. The design uses the power auto switching method to treat solar power as a primary source of supply and mains to be the system backup. The cooker battery storage is charged by the solar using efficient MPPT technology and supply the stove at the same time. The mains only take over when the solar is completely not available for some time and it will supply the cooker directly via AC to DC power supply unit and also charges the battery storage via AC to DC battery charger. All the above switching is programmed and happens automatically via remote programmable relay. System design includes theoretical background in the form of circuit analysis, power flow and mathematical calculations.
The simulation and practical results present eight different power levels that are displayed in the liquid crystal display (LCD) in the form of switching frequency and power consumed by the load. The power mathematical calculations, Simulations and practical results analysis show a similar trend. The pot material is kept constant while changing switching frequency to achieve desired outputs. Theoretical and simulations are in line while practical differ slightly due to many factors like component internal resistances, conductors used and component internal circuit topology. The other adjustments in practical includes a smaller scale of power (600 watts maximum) compared to simulations due to safety reasons on my capacity to implement a prototype and proving the working of the study at a smaller scale which can be extended if required. The general and specific objectives of the study are achieved in simulations and practical though some adjustments were made during practical in order to me general and specific objectives. The study proves the theory of energy savings, being standalone product in the practical results analysis and thus presents many advantages in the commercial sector for the future.
Description
Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.