Solar cooking apparatus and methods of use

Abstract

The present invention relates to a solar cooking apparatus, comprising: a first solar reflector; a second solar reflector; a solar collection element; and a solar collection element holder, wherein the first solar reflector and the second solar reflector are concave and parabolic, and are in a substantially symmetrical arrangement to a solar collection element axis, each reflector focuses solar radiation at the solar collection element from a reflective surface, which rapidly heat when the the solar collection element. The solar cooking apparatus is adjustable and, in some embodiments, portable.

1 . A solar cooking apparatus, comprising one or more solar ovens arranged in a fixed and parallel manner within a solar cooking apparatus frame, each oven having:
 a first solar reflector;   a second solar reflector;   a solar collection element; and   a solar collection element holder, wherein   the first solar reflector and the second solar reflector are concave and parabolic, and are in a substantially symmetrical arrangement to the solar collection element axis.   
     
     
         2 . The solar cooking apparatus of  claim 1  having a stand, wherein the a solar cooking apparatus frame can tilt from 0° up to 90° and rotate 360° to place the one or more solar ovens arranged in a fixed and parallel manner in a position to optimally capture solar radiation. 
     
     
         3 . The solar cooking apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising two or more ovens arranged in a fixed and parallel manner within a solar cooking apparatus frame. 
     
     
         4 . The solar cooking apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising three or more ovens arranged in a fixed and parallel manner within a solar cooking apparatus frame. 
     
     
         5 . The solar cooking apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising four or more ovens arranged in a fixed and parallel manner within a solar cooking apparatus frame. 
     
     
         6 . The solar cooking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the solar collection element is an evacuated tube-in-tube comprising:
 an inner tube having an inner tube diameter, an inner tube length, an inner tube open end, an inner tube closed end, an interior surface enclosing an interior space, and an exterior surface, the interior and exterior surfaces extending the inner tube length, wherein the exterior surface comprises an anti-reflection layer, an absorbance layer, and an infrared-reflection layer; and   the outer tube having an outer tube diameter, an outer tube length, an outer tube open end, and an outer tube closed end, wherein the outer tube diameter and the outer tube length are both greater than the inner tube diameter and the inner tube length, wherein   the inner tube is fixed inside of the outer tube and sealed between the inner open end and outer tube open end to form a hollow space extending the length of the exterior tube under vacuum pressure between the exterior wall of the inner tube and the outer tube.   
     
     
         7 . The cooking apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the solar collection element is comprised of borosilicate glass or Vycor® glass. 
     
     
         8 . The cooking apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the solar collection element is enclosable with a cap element that is attached at the inner tube open end to withstand cooking pressure in the interior space. 
     
     
         9 . The solar cooking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first solar reflector and/or the second solar reflector are comprised of at least one of anodized aluminum, stainless steel, chrome, mylar, silver film, plastic film or metallic paint. 
     
     
         10 . The solar cooking apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cooking implement that fits within the inner tube, having a length less than_or equal to the inner tube length; and
 an attachable cleaning implement to loosen or remove residual waste from a solar cooking apparatus.   
     
     
         11 . The solar cooking apparatus of  claim 1 , for use in a substantially horizontal solar collection axis. 
     
     
         12 . The solar cooking apparatus of  claim 9 , the cooking implement comprising:
 a first implement end;   a second implement end;   an implement length less than or equal in length to the inner tube length;   a trough having a length less than the cooking implement length; and   a diameter less than the inner tube diameter, wherein the first implement end is closed and insertable into the inner tube open end, the second implement end is fashioned with a heat-resistant cooking implement handle.   
     
     
         13 . The solar cooking apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the cooking implement is enclosable and watertight having a pressure outlet. 
     
     
         14 . The solar cooking apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the cooking implement has a concave cooking surface extending between the first implement end and the second implement end, the concave cooking surface being accessible when the cooking implement is outside of the solar cooking apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . The solar apparatus of  claim 12 , the concave cooking implement having a concave cooking surface between 40% to 70% round. 
     
     
         16 . A method of cooking with a solar cooking apparatus, comprising the steps of:
 exposing one or more solar ovens to solar radiation for heating the inner tube of the solar collection element to a desirable temperature;   placing/loading a cookable substance upon the cooking surface a concave cooking implement;   inserting the cookable substance upon the cooking implement into the inner tube;   cooking the cookable substance for a predetermined amount of time; and   removing the cooking implement.