Banca de DEFESA: JOSÉ WEVERTON OLIVEIRA SILVA

Viability of using a box-type solar oven to produce food baking.

Solar energy, box type solar oven, solar cooking, simultaneous food baking; viability.

The baking capacity of a box-type solar oven made from wood, with an internal area of around 1.2 m², was studied. Based on the equations that govern the behavior of the device, a thermal balance in its main elements was proposed to determine its thermal efficiency. The solar oven was tested for two configurations: no load and no load. The proposed oven was able to bake nine cakes at once, representing a record in simultaneous baking capacity in the history of more than thirty-five years of studies of solar ovens at the LMHES. The total load of the nine cakes was equivalent to 6.75 kg, which demonstrates the high baking load capacity that this oven is capable of producing, with baking being operationalized in a time of 90 minutes. A load of six 460g pizzas were also baked in the oven in just 25 minutes. The results showed that the absorbing surface and the air reached maximum temperatures of 140°C and 102°C respectively, obtained in the test without load. The viability of the solar oven for the production of several foods simultaneously was demonstrated, and it could be used as a food factory, which could be sold by people with low purchasing power, to generate employment and income.