Sunday, September 14, 2008

Honey Butter Cake Using SIAPv9.3 80914

I repeated the experiment that I did yesterday ie to bake Honey Butter cakes using SIAPv9.3 and SIAPv9.1. Smaller portion of the cake mix was used in the baking today and it was started earlier at 11:30am. By 1:30pm, the cake was inspected and found to be cooked well.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Bamboo Chicken on SIAPv6.0 and Honey Butter Cake on SIAPv9.x 80913

Today I tried to cook a traditional Badayuh dish, bamboo chicken using SIAPv6.0. A piece of approximately 1M long bamboo, with diameter about 70mm is filled with the cooking material. The cooking material consisted of 1/2KG of deborned chicken thigh meat, onion, garlic and ginger. The aperture of the bamboo tube is stuff with tapioca leaves and covered with a piece of kitchen aluminium foil and fastened with rubber bands.

SIAPv6.0 was used due to its advantage of tubular heat radiation pattern. The heat radiation pattern of SIAPv6.0 is tubular and is therefore best for cooking using a tubular cooking utensil, such as a piece of bamboo.



The whether was sunny and the cooking was started at 10:00 am. By 2:00pm, the bamboo was opened and the food was inspected. It was found that the chicken was almost cooked. It was soft but certain parts remain reddish. It is soft and smell fresh with the smell of bamboo and tapioca leaves.



To day I also tried to bake two Honey Butter Cakes using SIAPv9.1 and SIAPv9.3. The honey butter cakes consist 500GM of cake mix, butter, eggs and skimmed milk. The portion was large and it completely filled the two cooking ports.





The cooking started at 1:00pm and by 4:00pm, the cakes were cooked, though a bit soft. It was tasty and yammy



I am glad to receive two friends today. They are Hubert and Ron. Ron is from Sinagapore who happened to be here on a social visit trip. Humbert was showing Ron around and stopped over at my place to witness my solar cooking.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Baking Buttercakes with SIAPv9.2 and SIAPv9.4 80824

The whether was gloomy this morning with much cloud in the sky. There was even a light shower at around noon. It was therefore a bad weather for cooking using solar cookers.

The sky turned clear in the afternoon. I thus decided to give it a shot, ie to cook using the newly completed SIAPv9.4. I prepared the butter cake mixture, which consisted of 500gm of butter cake premix, a loaf of butter and 6 eggs. The mixture was divided into two equal portions, to be cooked using SIAPv9.2 and SIAPv9.4.

Starting at 1:45pm, SIAPv9.2 and SIAP9.4 were put in place and start to cook. Both SIAPv9.2 and SIAP9.4 were adjusted once to track the afternoon sun. The weather was less than perfect for solar cooking, as there were too much overcast.

By 4:30pm, both SIAPv9.2 and SIAPv9.4 were inspected to determine the states of the butter cake inside. It was to the great surprise of many that both cakes were cooked very well! Mr Kho, Teresa and Melissa were among the several who witnessed and sampled the cooking.






Sunday, August 24, 2008

SIAPv1.0 070910


SIAPv4.0 71007


SIAPv9.3

SIAPv9.3 was a flop! The tinsmith who undertook to fabricate the metal sheets did not follow the measurements, which I have provided to him. Instead, he took short cuts and simplified the design. Thus, SAIPv9.3 was never completely built.

On Friday 22/8/08 evening, starting at 9:30pm, Solarist CM Tan and I spent more than 2 hours to assemble SIAPv9.3. By 11:30, when all the panels were put together, SIAPv9.3 did not resemble something familiar. We suspected that we have made mistakes in the building of SIAPv9.3. We have to call it a day when it got too late in the evening and decided to continue the next day.

On Saturday 23/8/08 afternoon, starting at 3:00pm, Solarist Tan and I dismantled SIAPv9.3 and try to re-build it. By 6:30pm, we still could not get it into the expected shape and we started to suspect the craftsman ship of the tinsmith. When we compared the individual metal panel with my sample, we confirmed that the metal panels were not produced in accordance to my sample! Nevertheless, much time was wasted with futile outcomes.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Solar Feast 80817

Today, I cooked beef and rice. About 600gm of beef that was marinated with spices, sauces, ginger, dried mushroom and garlic was put inside a cooking pot. The pot was kept inside a glass greenhouse enclosure and place into SIAPv9.2. Two cup of rice was cooked using SIAP v6.1, with the setup similar to that of setup yesterday.

Starting at 10:30am, both cookers were setup and put in place for cooking. The food was checked for readiness for consumption two hours later. During which time, SIAPv9.2 was adjusted twice to make sure it was pointed to the sun and optimum for the heat collection. SIAPv6.1 remained untouched, as it wasn't built for ease of adjustment.

At 12:00pm, both the beef and the rice were checked for readiness for consumption. It was found that the rice and the beef was cooked and tasted very great! The beef with spices and sauces was though cooked but was a bit tough to bite.

I invited solarist CM Tan to feast on the solar meal and of cause to witness and comment on the method and taste of the cooking. Solarist CM Tan was impressed with the capability of the new version of the solar cooker and said, “Now you are so confident of your solar cooker and you can cook any food with you eyes closed!” He remarked that the rice was well cooked and added that the dried mushroom and the spices had covered the smell of the beef. “Perhaps next time you put less spices so that the smell and taste of beef would stand out”, added CM Tan.

Today’s cooking with a large portion of beef was a drastic attempt to determine the true colours of the SIAPv9.2. I bought the beef last night and I marinated the whole lot in a cooking pot right away and kept it overnight. When I was about to cook it this morning, I realised that the portion was too much. Nevertheless, I have decided to proceed to cook the whole lot! The result was very inspiring and the beef was cooked in 2 hours. Though it was a bit tough, I could be easily remedied if either the portion was reduced or it was left to cook a further 30-60 min.

In the solar feast, I started to cooked green peas using SIAPv9.2 at around 2:00pm. The green peas was about 90% cooked when I harvested the cooking at around 3:30pm ie when the sky changed to become dark and started to rain shortly after which.

I am getting ready with an improve SAIPv9.2 this week, and it would be named SIAPv9.3. The construction of SIAPv9.3 would be the same as SIAPv.2, but instead of using paper box sheets, it would be made of zinc sheet. I am excited and look forward to testing SIAPv9.3 in the coming weekend.



Testing SIAPv9.2 80816-80817

Today, 16/8/08 I cooked ginger chicken using SIAPv9.2, and cooked rice using SIAPv6.1.

A whole piece of chicken thigh with the drumstick was mixed with ginger, little red onion, cooking wine and a pinch of salt. The whole mix was put inside the black solar-cooking pot and placed. The pot was covered with a glass greenhouse enclosure. Meanwhile, a 1.5 cup of rice was washed and put inside another blacken pot. This pot is also covered with a glass greenhouse enclosure.

Starting at 10:15am, the the solar cookers were setup and put in place for cooking. By 1:25, which was 3 hours later, the food inside the cookers were inspected. It was found that the chicken was over cooked! It was a bit too soft. Whereas the rice, it rice was rightly cooked.

I called up Solarist, Mr CM Tan. He comeby our place and we feasted
on a Solar-meal. After the solar feast, the sun was still bright. I therefore decided to cook something for the high tea this afternoon. I washed 1.5 cup of barley and put
it into SIAPv9.2 with submerged it in water. SIAPv9.2 was again put in place to cook at about 2:00pm. By then, the sun already swung through the top. SIAPv9.2 was repositioned to face the sun. It was somewhere in the region of 20-30deg towards the west. The barley was left to cook through 4:00pm. In between SIAPv9.2 was readjusted once to track the west bound sun. When the pot was finally opened at 4:00pm, the barley inside was well cooked. It was quite dry as there was little water to start with. Hot water and sugar was added to the barley and it was enough to served to 6 persons.

Solarist CM Tan was again invited to sample the barley. He commented that the barley tasted better than when it was cooked over a gas stove. The texture is different and it felt good to biting. It was tendon, yet chewy. If the weather permits, I shall try to try to cook something more challenging tomorrow. Perhaps I will cook lamb or mutton in spice.



Sunday, August 10, 2008

SIAPv9.2 is tested today 80810

Today, the improved SIAPv9.2 is tested. It has a tiltable rack that allow the tilting of the solar cooker to track the sun, yet maintain a stable position for the cooking pot inside. SIAPv9.2 is used to bake hotdog. 4 pieces of hotdog was thoroughly baked in a hour under the hot sun today at around noon.



Sunday, August 3, 2008

Testing SIAPV9.1 80803

Today, SIAPV9.1 was tested and it was used to cook rice. SIAPv9.1 is a Octagonal 3-angle solar-shuttle cooker made of paper box and lined with aluminum foil.



The experiment today was started at 10:30 and last till 12:00noon. Two cup of rice was cooked using this cooker within 1.5hours.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Testing of SIAPv8.2 20 July 2008

SIAPV8.2 maintains the 45 and 75deg inclination angles. The edge height however have changed and they are now both measure 300mm. This cookers is made of paper boxes and consists of 8 panels. The panels are knitted together using nylon strings and the inner of the cooker is lined with kithen aluminum foil.

During an experiment on last Sunday, the weather was not conducive and it was gloomy with much cloud overcasts. Water in the pot inside the cooker turned warm but did not boil over a period of 1 hour under the sun.


Testing of SIAPv8.1 16 July 2008

This is a dual angle: 45 and 75 deg shuttle solar cooker, with the edge height of 200mm and 300mm respectively. One of the challenges with this cooker now is to build a pot-holher which would enable the pot to stay upright when the cooker is tilted to face the sun.


Testing SIAPv7.3 on 21 June 2008



Sunday, June 15, 2008

Testing of SIAPv7.2 on Sunday 15 June 2008

SIAPv7.2, two improved versions of metal funnel cookers were tested on Sunday 15 June 2008 at MJC in front of WydeDelta Essential.

The experiment:
In this experiment, a measuring cup of rice with water was put in each of the funnel cookers for testing and to compare the results. Today the weather is sunny and like usual with a lot of cloud. Starting at 10:45 am, everything was in place and the cooking has starting. By 12:45pm, two hours latter, the payload was inspected to see the cooking results.

The Results:
The rice in both cookers was almost cooker, but it tested a bit "powdery". According the "cooker expert", Mr CM Tan, it was a sign of under-fire. Meaning, not hot enough! I have a different opinion or rather hope that it was due to lack of water! I have faith that metal funnel cooker could cooker rice, the same way it ancestor did. Note though that its ancestor was made of HDB board instead of metal. The experiment would be repeated latter.




One on the unit was fixed with hinges so that it could be folded to facilitate transportation and storage, it is seen with a piece of PVC tube placing on top of the metal funnel. Pictures of SIPAV7.2 and it "payload", the food in the cooking pot is in the picture below respectively





The other unit is a older version SIAPV7.1, it acts as the control unit to compare and contrast results.



Monday, May 26, 2008

SIAPv7.0 in Actions 80525

On Sunday 25 May 2008, SIAPv7.0 a metal-sheet Solar-shuttle (MS Solar-shuttle) was put into test. In this experiment, 1.5 cooking-can of rice soaked with water was placed inside a blacken pot with lid. The pot with its lid over the top was placed inside a transparent glass bowl with a glass cover. This 2-layer cooking set was placed at the bottom of cooker. The the rice was 90% cooked in about 1 hour.



Thursday, May 15, 2008

Cooking The Green Way- Eastern Times 80515 pgE8-9

Cooking The Green Way- Eastern Times 80515 pgE1

Cooking The Green Way- Eastern Times 80515

Cooking under the sun

Solar cookers work by harnessing the energy from the sun in the form of light, diverting it to a targeted spot and trapping it to heat the food. There are many benefits of solar cooking: low upfront investment; no running cost; little maintenance; and best of all, environmentally friendly. In developed countries, they are used mainly due to environmental consciousness, while in under developed and developing countries they are used because of the acute scarcity of cooking fuel. In interior Sarawak, where the transportation cost of fuel is high, solar cooking can be a very beneficial alternative.

Solar cooker versus solar electricity

Solar cooking is a technology for cooking using the native form of energy from the sun. That way, there are little conversion losses and solar cooking can be very efficient. Energy from the sun is used as a primary form of energy to heat the cooker and cook the food. Whereas in solar electricity, there are photovoltaic (PV) processed to produce electricity and there is need for the storage of electrical energy.

Solar cooker in Sarawak

Through sheer enthusiasm and interest in these technologies, Ir. Allen Liew, an electrical and telecommunication engineer and his group of friends started to work on solar cooker in 2007. Their experiments proved that solar cooking is both possible and practicable in Sarawak.

Cooking time using solar cookers varies depending on weather conditions. On sunny days, solar cookers can cook food almost or just as fast as conventional gas or electrical stoves. Furthermore, due to the nature of the radiated heat in a solar cooker, food tastes better and more nutrients can be retained. In addition, food cooked in a solar cooker can be left unattended as it will not burn.

Solar cooker and RES in Sarawak

Rural Electrification Scheme (RES) that connects grid electrical power to the rural settlements in Sarawak managed to address the needs for lighting. However, the group observed that rural forks do not cook using electricity for two reasons. First, the electrical capacity allocated to them is not sufficient for them to use electric oven or cookers.

Electrical cookers or oven normally consume a big amount of electrical power and therefore not viable for users under the RES. Secondly, because of their high power consumption, electric cookers are relatively expensive to use. The high electricity bill could be a financial burden to the rural fork.

Solar cookers could be an answer to the high transportation charges of fuel in interior Sarawak.

There are obvious benefits in using solar for cooking. Due to environmental, economic, and health reasons, reducing dependence on firewood and conventional fuels, and increasing the use of free and renewable solar energy are important global goal, and should also be our goal. Solar cookers can be significant labour-saving devices since there is no need to gather firewood and so on.

It was reported that more than 35 million m3 of firewood is burned in the savannah region alone each year and it is estimated that Nigeria will be completely barren in year 2020 judging from the current depletion rate. Whereas the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) predicted that 70% of fuel wood consumption can be replaced by renewable energies like the sun.

How solar cookers work

Solar cookers apply solar thermal principles, where solar energy is used to heat cooking utensils such as a pot, which heat the food inside. It is estimated that the sun's radiation reaching the earth surface is about 1KW/M². That explains why a laboratory magnifying glass is able to focus enough energy from the sun to start fire on a piece of paper!

Solar rays may be collected by means of a funnel, parabolic or even a sheet of slander plate collectors. The collector may be made of cardboard, plywood, with tinted reflective sheet such as kitchen aluminum foil. It may also be made from a polished metal sheets or mirror.

Solar energy is directed to the target by the adjustment of the angle of the reflectors. Since Sarawak is sitting almost (4 deg south) right on equator, the reflectors may be omitted, though they are added advantages.

Solar heat must be trapped. This is most effectively done by using a black object or a blackened surface. Pots or other cooking utensils may be turned into an effective heat trap by painting them black. Also, it is also equally important to provide an air insulator outside of the pot to prevent the loss of heat. This may be achieved by insulating the cooker by means of a clear glass enclosure or a simple plastic bag.

Usage of solar cookers

Solar cookers are used widely in many countries across the globe. Americans are the active promoters of solar cookers, while the North Africans are the major users and benefit most from this technology. Solar cookers are also widely used in the Middle East as well as the Indian subcontinents. Our neighbouring countries, Vietnam and Indonesia are users of solar cookers. In Vietnam, through the work of Solarserver organisation, a factory is currently being built to manufacture solar cookers, which would then be distributed to the rural poor.

Types of solar cookers

Solar cookers may be classified into three categories: box cooker, panel cooker and parabolic cooker. Each type of cooker has its strengths and weaknesses. Box cookers are simplest to construct and can be built using two cardboard boxes of different sizes. The smaller box is inserted into the bigger one to form a double insulated chamber. The inside of the cooker is lined with a reflective sheet, such as aluminium foil, that acts as a reflector. A piece of glass, which may be double- glazed, is used for the top part to allow the diffusion of sunlight, but prevents heat from escaping. This variation is the most used model in the USA. However in his experiment, Allen Liew found that the solar box cooker did not produce promising results. It did not generate enough heat to allow food to cook properly.

Panel cookers or funnel cookers are bigger than solar box cookers and more difficult to construct. However, after the initial algebraic calculation, a solar panel can be reproduced easily by using templates. This variation consists of a cooker chamber, which may be constructed using plywood or cardboards. The inner wall of the cooking chamber is lined with reflective sheet, such as aluminium foil. A panel or funnel cooker can have one or more pieces of reflector.

Parabolic cookers are more difficult to construct manually. This variation works by converging solar energy into a particular focal area i.e. the cooker's surface. Parabolic cookers can produce intense heat on the cooking surface, which makes it possible to fry food and bake cakes.

However, the reflector in this cooker can be glaring and one must wear an effective protection for the eyes when cooking using this device. Parabolic cooker is difficult to construct with precision manually. This is because of the difficulties in achieving the required precision in the construction of the parabola.

The experiments

The team constructed several units of the different types of solar cookers to verify their suitability for use in Sarawak. For ease of identification and addressing, the solar cookers built by Allen are called SIAP, which stands for "Solar In Actions Panel". These solar cookers can reach around 120c in a clear sunny day.

The solar cookers were used to cook various types of food including sausages, eggs and cake. Eggs can be "boiled" in a solar cooker with the shell intact. It will take about an hour to boil four chicken eggs on a sunny day.

Eggs can also be steamed using a solar cooker. In this case, the eggs are broken and spread on a plate and placed inside the cooker. It will take around 40 minutes to stream two chicken eggs.

It can also be used to bake cakes. In the experiment, an 8" cake with about 2" of thickness took about an hour to cook.

Achievements

The team has so far constructed and tested about five different models of solar cookers in Kuching. The results of their experiments prove that solar cooking is a possible and viable alternative to conventional cooking here.

The solar funnel cooker appears to be the best amongst all the models. Here, solar cookers shall be over designed so that they can heat promptly when the sky is clear.

The solar funnel cooker that the team constructed and tested worked well as a heating chamber and could produce results similar to the steaming and boiling methods using conventional stoves. In their experiments, the team was able to cook rice, boil eggs, steam cakes and bake sausages. The team is certain that this method can be used to cook various types of Asian dishes just as effectively as using gas, electric cookers or firewood.

Uses of solar cookers

Based on estimates, a solar cooker should cost around RM300. This price is expected to come down when they are produced in reasonable quantity. The solar cookers do not incur any running cost and there are no consumable parts. Solar cookers also require low maintenance and replacement parts for these devices are available locally.

Potential use of solar cookers include general heating, boiling, steaming, frying, baking and etc.

They may also be used on the farm where farmers can cook their meals. Also food cooked using solar cookers won't burn.

As a pasteuriser, solar cookers can turn fresh water into safe drinking water. For instance, jars of fresh water can be placed inside a solar cooker together with a pasteurisation temperature indicator in the morning. The indicators will tell at the end of the operation whether the pasteurisation process is successful or not. If the operation is successful, the water can be store and consumed.

Alternatively, solar cookers may be used for disaster relief operations. Sould basic amenities be cut off in disaster scenes, resources and cooking fuel can be scarce. Solar cookers may come in handy.

Solar cookers can also be a useful tool in institutions of learning. They can be used to educate the young on the wonders of the universe and the importance of the conservasion of earth and its resources.

Further works should be carried out in the research and promotion of solar cookers in the State, and it is Allen's hope that the people's representatives, ministers and relevant departments as well as organisations can assist in the funding and promoting of cooking with solar energy in Sarawak.

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Photos of the Event at SMK Batu Kawa 80430

Interview by the Press Reporters. (L-R) Andrew(HR Manager-Solarist), Nancy (NST), Lai (United Daily), CM Tan (Mechanical Engr-Solarist) and Allen



Allen was explaining the operation of the Solar Cookers to the Teachers and Principal



Allen was showing slide-presentation during the Seminar at Dewan Semerbak



Attentive Stundents and Teachers were listening to Allen


Andrew was explaining the Operation of the Solar Cookers to the Students after the seminar

Saturday, May 3, 2008

NST- No fuel to cook? Use the bug 80503


No fuel to cook? Use the bug

KUCHING: The spiralling cost of cooking fuel is hitting the wallets of consumers in every stratum of society.

Worst hit, perhaps, are consumers in remote, interior regions of Sabah and Sarawak who pay inflated amounts for the commodity because the cost of transporting the fuel over long distances by land, river and even air to their villages is indirectly passed to them.

But, maybe, not for long, as solar cookers have emerged as a viable way of preparing meals. This fact was underscored by Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd (SAINS) during a demonstration here on Wednesday.

SAINS senior network engineer Allen Liew Than Ho said the benefits of solar cooking were a low investment cost, no running costs, little required maintenance and it was environmentally friendly.

In addition, food being prepared in a solar cooker could be left unattended as it would not burn.
"In developed countries, solar cookers are used mainly by the environmentally-conscious. In developing countries, they are used because of an acute scarcity of cooking fuel," Liew said during SAINS' solar cooking demonstration for about 200 students of SMK Batu Kawa.

"Solar cookers work by diverting sunlight to a targeted spot, which then traps and generates heat, which cooks food," he explained.

He said on sunny days, solar cookers could cook food almost or just as fast as conventional gas or electric stoves.

For his demonstration, Liew used three types of solar cookers: the bug, the funnel and the shuttle.

All of the solar cookers can be constructed manually with varying degrees of difficulty, with the bug cooker being the simplest to construct and the shuttle the most difficult.

Liew used all three types of solar cookers to cook rice, eggs and sausages within an hour.

Applauding SAINS for its awareness programme, SMK Batu Kawa principal Nedumaran Lingappan said the initiative was helpful in educating students on the importance of conserving energy and the environment.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Monday, April 28, 2008

Invitation to Presentation by SMK Batu Kawa 80425

SMK Batu Kawa invites us to present a seminar on our solar cookers to their students in the upper secondary school, tomorrow (30 April 2008). The event is held at their school hall (Dewam Semerbak) at Jaln Field Force, Off Jalan Batu Kawa, Kuching between 2:00pm- 3:00pm.

There will be three speakers: Allen Liew, Andrew Tan and CM Tan. The seminar will focus on the benefits and importance of using environmental friendly technologies and renewable energy to save the earth.

Apart from slides presentations and talks, there will be a demo on the cookers to cook food. Preparation on the demo will start at 12:00noon. Below is the letter (in Bahasa Malaysia) of invitation from the school.





Monday, April 21, 2008

Solar Cookers Feature Part B- See Hua Daily 21 April 08



能源 Vs 研發()

研發太陽能替代能源

先進國晉入白熱化

報導:郭良

空前的“能源危機”與化石能源所導致的“溫室災難”兩大難題,目前正困擾世界人類的生機。

在能源危機方面,目前已知的全部石油儲量將在2054年耗盡;至於全球溫室災難情勢,則是溫室效應正逐漸加劇,冰山融化、海面升高和氣候變遷的結果,導致災難頻傳。

石油日趨枯竭

根據一項世界性能源統計資料顯示,在技術與成本的限制下,預估世界石油蘊藏量只可再開採40年,天然氣可開採62年,煤炭可開採227年,而核能發電的燃料源自鈾礦,預估尚可開採77年,惟考慮用過之核燃料回收再處理後重複運用,則其使用年數可增加50倍, 約可達3800多年。從此權威性報告中顯示,全世界依賴最深的主要能源-石油及天然氣,在21世紀的前半,就將日趨枯竭。

1970 年代,世界連續掀起兩次能源危機,造成全球性的經濟衰退,西方世界甚至出現所謂“失落的十年”階段,對人類發展產生重大的衝擊與變化。其中最明顯的,就是節約能源概念在生活中落實,能源教育的工作也在此時全球性、大規模的開展。

在舉世都在勵行節約能源工作,美國政府要求電器廠商強化家電的效率,特別是冰箱,汽車廠商也開始思考汽油便宜時從未想過的省油車種;一向注重外觀、講求穿著禮儀的日本,在第二次能源危機時,也由當時的首相大平正芳帶領政府官員,穿著“短袖西裝”在正式場合露面,引起一陣喧騰。

未來可替代的能源

很多學者認為,世界能源危機的主要原因是石油價格過於便宜,以致於使世界對其產生了過度的依賴性而迅速消耗殆盡,他們主張減少對化石燃料的依賴,增加研究經費用於對能源/燃料替代用品的研究,目前主要的替代能源有燃料電池、甲醇、生物能、太陽能、潮汐能和風能等。但是迄今為止只有水力發電和核能有明顯的功效。

太陽能替代能源的研發,目前在世界先進國已晉入白熱化階段,其中許多家庭電器用品及汽車,己開始進入太陽能的發明,其中最為成功與受落的就是太陽能熱水系統及太陽能家用熱水器,目前在中國、台灣、日本及歐美國家等溫帶國家在這方面的成就,遠超其他太陽能電器的開發與生產,不過,太陽能汽車的研發目前也正處於試驗性階段,這一切可說是人類研發太陽能替代能源的一大卓越成就,甚令世人對能源危機的困境中找到另一轉機,而充滿信心。

太陽能解救能源危機?

國太陽能協會熱利用專業委員會秘書長羅振濤曾堅決認為,獨有的中國熱水解決方案與能源危機,以及對再生能源的積極推動,將便人類快速地躍入“太陽能解救能源危機”的公眾視野之中。這顯示了人類對於太陽能電器的研發充滿了樂觀的憧憬、期望及信心滿滿。

與其他家庭電器完全不一樣,太陽能電器的研發,它不是消耗品,而是能源生產設備。從這個意義上而言,如果說能源危機加速了人類對太陽能這個節能環保的電器的影響力,那么這研發太陽能電器的非凡遠見卓識將引領和成就這個行業的發展,推動著再生能源向常規能源的替代。

馬來西亞太空人雖然在俄羅斯人的打造下,已成功完成登上月球的歷史性使命,但在拯救能源危機、研發再生能源等等的重大任務或成就上,依然是“掛零”。

雖是如此,令人欣喜與雀躍的是,砂拉越古晉卻有這麼一名熱血青年醉心於太陽能家庭電器的研發工作,且取得不俗的成就,並可公開地展示其研發結晶品,示範有關產品的功效與實用價值,但目前正處於改良與改進階段,尚未將有關研發心得“產品”加以商業化及普及化。

太陽爐研發的前景

這名來自古晉的電氣與通迅工程師劉天河和一班好友,就興趣及熱忱於太陽能科技的研發,他們自2007開始就進行這項研究工作。經過多次反覆的實驗,證實了太陽能烤爐的概念,在本地不但可行,更具有實質潛能。

最難能可貴的發現是,在炎熱的天氣下,太陽能烤爐烹煮的速度,大可比美傳統電或煤氣爐。由於太陽烤爐是採用放射性的方法來增溫, 因此,太陽爐煮熟的食物口感特別好, 更保留食物的原汁原味和營養。更況太陽烤爐煮食更不必擔心食物燒焦。

根據劉天河表示,太陽烤爐研發,它並不是一種能源消耗品,而是一項環保工具。因為它吸納太陽的光能, 經過反射及保溫的程序把光能變成熱能,供烹煮烘烤之用。

“其實,太陽能烤爐概念始源於美國, 且在中國、印度及非洲獲得迅速發展。在東南亞, 太陽烤爐在印度支那國家,如越南和柬埔寨等國家開始普遍使用,並于2005年由德國的非政府組織帶至鄰國印尼的亞齊進行試驗使用皆段。”

環保的工具

劉氏強調,太陽爐的操作完全依靠太陽光能,而不須依賴其他化石能源如石油或木材,因此在環保概念下,它是一項高明的環保科技。

談及它的開發價值,劉天河指出,太陽爐有多項好處,其中最主要的是,它屬於低投資,沒有營運開銷,低保養且具環保功能。

他也解釋稱,在發達國家,使用太陽爐乃因為環保需求因素使然,但在發展中國家,使用太陽爐多基於缺乏烹煮能源的因素。因此,太陽爐的使用在不同水準國家有其不同的深遠意義。

在砂拉越內陸地區,基於高昂的運輸費,再加上近年來原油價格飆升,導致汽油、煤氣及天然氣能源價格的高企不下,因此利用太陽爐煮食是一項很有利及具潛能的替代品。

太陽爐與太陽電能的差異

根據劉天河解釋,太陽爐與太陽電能,有巨大的的差異,完全是兩項不同原理、簡直是兩碼事。

“太陽爐是利用太陽的原始能量來煮食,因此, 替換損失不但非常低,而效力卻非常高。”

利用太陽原始能量直接的加溫,將烤爐充熱,並把食物煮熟。然而,太陽電能必須是經光電的轉換過程(PV)來發電。在這個過程中,也需要電力的使用與耗費。因此,該兩項技術與原理完全迂迴不同的。

太陽爐與鄉村電供計劃

在鄉區電供計劃下,政府必須花費龐大的基本設施建設,例如將交流電電纜伸延至偏遠的鄉區, 以便為鄉區居民提供電流,解決他們的照明需要。然而,,甚少鄉區居民甚少使用電能的炊具來烹煮,因為這不但是因為電流配額有限,不足於讓他們利用電能炊具,充作烹煮之用,與此同時,高昂的電費也非一般家庭所能負擔得起的。

隨著太陽爐的研發,不但可以解決鄉區村民所面對汽油、煤氣及天然氣的高昂運輸費,更可減少對環境的污染,尤其是溫室效應的影響,同時也可減低對木材燃料及傳統能源,如石油、煤礦的依賴,從可減低能源危機的禍害。

(此文發表於2008421日詩華日報)

Solar Cookers Feature Part A- See Hua Daily 19 April 08


能源 Vs 研發()

太陽能產品

解救人類能源危機?

報導:郭良

使用免費的再生能源,乃是從事太陽能研發者的最大共同點,更是他們共同的目標。

在這種願景之下,這些太陽能產品鄉發明家的嘔心瀝血之作,肯定是解救人類面對能源危機的“使者”,令人敬仰欽服。

積極從事太陽爐研發的電氣與通迅工程師劉天河受訪時毫不諱言地強調,使用太陽爐,不但可以讓人類減少入林砍柴取火,更可避免對森林的破壞,而引起“發溫室災難”之後果。

根據報告顯示,世界每年有超過350萬立方米的森林被野火燒毀或被砍伐,若以目前這項消耗量來估計,尼日利亞的森林將在2020年時完全被摧毀,這無非是非常可怕的預測,對整個人類而言,不能不被視為一種生存危機。

然而,太陽平均每天向地面放射每平方米1千瓦的能量。這種能源,為人類提供了研發太陽能替代品的有利條件及潛能。

他指出,根據聯合國發展計劃的研究報告,預計超過70%的世界木材消費可以被利用充作再生能源,其中就如太陽能來取代這些天然資源的消耗。

太陽爐的操作

談及他所研發的太陽爐之操作,劉天河解釋說,太陽爐是本著太陽熱能的原理來操作。它是採用太陽的能量使器皿增溫,器皿中的食物,會隨著溫度的加升而被煮熟。

太陽能量可以使用各種不同型的反射器來集合能量,其中包括了漏斗(funnel)型狀、碟型甚是一片有斜度的金屬片。同時,集合器可以用紙箱片,三夾板等,甚至經打磨的金屬片或鏡片製成。

他說,太陽能是通過調動反射板,經過折射把陽光集中到焦點,本位於赤道以南4度,太陽位於我們的上空,反射片雖然有利於集中熱能,但往往可以不必使用它,就能獲得所需的熱量促使食物獲得加熱而熟透。

太陽的熱量必須被儲存與收集起來,才能催化太陽爐的煮食功效。一般而言,黑色物體是最佳的吸熱體,因此,黑色体器皿或塗黑的器皿是最實合用於太陽爐。

此外,靜態空氣也有助於保溫,基於此,太陽爐可以用一片玻璃,甚至塑料袋子加以遮蓋,以加強其保溫功能。

太陽爐的用處

太陽爐已在世界多個國家或地區被廣泛使用。尤其是美國人更大力推薦太陽爐的使用。不過,太陽爐的研發,卻使到北非人從中受益菲淺,也是太陽爐最多的使用者,受惠最大。

劉天河也宣稱,太陽爐也在中東地區及印度被普遍使用。此外 ,我們的鄰國如越南及印尼,都是這些太陽爐的使用者。在越南,通過Solarserver組織,已興建了一座工廠來制造太陽爐,並將以成本價來分配予鄉村的貧窮村民。

太陽爐的種類

太陽爐可分成3大種類,即是箱型爐、儀表型爐以及半圓體爐。每一種類都是其好處及弱點。

劉氏指出,箱型爐的構造非常簡單。它可由兩個不同尺寸的紙板箱來組成。較小的紙箱需放入較大的紙箱內,以形成一個雙層絕緣空間。內部的爐會有反光紙,如同廚房內的錫箔,做為反射鏡。在其上部裝上一片玻璃,可以是雙滑面,讓陽光能擴散,不過要避免熱能走失。

箱型太陽爐是美國最常用的模型。從實驗中,劉天河也發現,箱型太陽爐並無法達到預期的效果。它無法制造出足夠的熱能來烹煮食物。

儀板型太陽爐或漏斗型爐,是比箱型爐更大的體積,而且其構造也較複雜。然而,經過初步計算,儀板型爐可輕易使用模板來重新制造。它是擁有一個烹煮空間,是使用夾板或紙箱制作而成。烹煮空間的內壁也是置放反光紙(如錫箔)。一個儀板或漏斗型爐可擁有一個以上的反射鏡。

半圓體太陽爐的制造卻有一定的難度。這種太陽爐將太陽能源聚集在一個焦點區,即爐的表面。這半圓體太陽爐可制造出強烈的熱能來烹煮,並可以用來煎炸食物及烘焙糕點。然而,這種的太陽爐之反光鏡是相當刺眼,是需要使用有效的護眼器,才能使用它來烹煮。

半圓體太陽爐很難用手工來制造。因為很難靠手工制造出精確的半圓體之緣故。

實驗成果的驗收

以劉天河為首的實驗隊伍,在其輾轉的實驗過程中,也制造了數種不同類型的太陽爐,以實驗是否可在砂州長久使用。

為了方便鑒定及說明,所有太陽爐都稱為“SIAP”,即太陽能作用儀板(Solar In Action Panel)。這些太陽爐可在晴朗天氣時,達到攝氏120度的溫度。

這太陽爐也用來烹煮各種的食物。這些食物包括了熱狗(香腸)、雞蛋及蛋糕。未敲開蛋殼的雞蛋可在太陽爐內的被煮開的水中,需要大約1個小時才能煮熟4粒雞蛋。

另一方面,太陽爐也可用來蒸蛋。這就必須將雞蛋去殼及放在一個碟上,再放入太陽爐內,不過,要蒸熟2粒雞蛋則需要大約40分鐘。

太陽爐也可用來烘蛋糕。在實驗中,一粒直徑8吋及2吋厚的蛋糕,需用1小時才能完成。

太陽爐具可行性

該隊伍目前已在古晉實驗了5種不同的太陽爐。其結果也證明了太陽爐不但可行,更是傳統煮食炊具的另一項選擇。

其中,漏斗型太陽爐是5種類型太陽爐中表現及實際效用最佳的一種研發產品。因此,這太陽爐可重新再設計及加以改良,使它能在晴天時能迅速加熱,而達致煮食炊具之的目。

漏斗型太陽爐已證實可在熱能空間內良好操作,就如傳統爐灶的蒸與煮方式。實驗也證明了它可用來煮飯、煮雞蛋、蒸蛋糕及烘香腸。當然,這些太陽爐都可用來烹煮其他亞洲風味美食,如同我們傳統的煤氣、電爐或柴爐一般具有實際炊具功效。

太陽爐的成本

根據估計,一個太陽爐的成本大約需300令吉。一旦它能大量地生產,其成本就會更低廉。太陽爐是不需要任何操作費,它也不會消耗任何能源。太陽爐不需要太多的維修及保養,而其零件都可隨處尋獲,甚至就地取料,其經濟價值非常符合當今人人必身体力行的環保效益。

太陽爐有能力替代其他住家的烹煮食物方式,如加熱、煮開水、蒸、炸、烘等。

它也可用在農場上,讓農夫烹煮午餐。使用太陽爐是不需要有人看守,它是不會因超時而讓食物燒焦的。

太陽爐也可將普通的水變成安全食用的飲水。例如一壺未煮開的水可置放在太陽爐內,再設置巴氏殺菌溫度指標器;該指標器將指示有關殺菌程序是否已完成。如果已完成,該水就可貯藏及使用,而如果有關程序未完成,還可再重覆使用,直至完成殺茵。

期待政府資助開發

此外,太陽爐也可用在救災行動上。一旦在災難現場的基本設施被中斷,資源及燃料缺乏之際,那太陽爐就可輕易達到某些基本需求,特別是在煮水及煮食方面的利便。

太陽爐也可用在學府的教育方面,可成為一項工具,來教育學生有關宇宙大自然的奧妙以及保護地球及其資源的重要。

基於上述種種,本州應在這方面進行研究及提倡使用太陽爐。

劉天河懇切希望人民代議士、部長、相關部門及組織能提供協助或資助及大事宣傳這類太陽爐的研發,確使這些發明品能被大事制造生產,以充作我國政府與人民致力於解救能源危機方面貢獻一份棉力。

(此文刊於2008419日詩華日報)