Solar cooking for the worlds poor.* The aim of this project is to create instructions for a Solar Cooker that can be sent to developing countries. For this to reach the widest population the instructions must be non-language based and that it can be constructed with the barest minimum of tools, materials and skill. The instructions should be as simple as possible so that they can be easily hand drawn and modified. The cooker will use the curve of a hanging rope or chain which will be approximatly parabolic. (google catenary if you do not know why) This shouldn't matter as a catenary gets closer and closer to being a parabola the wider you stretch it and we are focusing on a pot, not a point. The dimensions are important. Using a 4:1 ratio means the focus will be in the middle along the top of the cooker in line with the two ends which makes setting it up really easy. (See step three) The materials could be anything from corrugated cardboard to plywood with aluminium foil to broken glass for the reflector. I have not made this at all as I do not have the space (tiny london flat) and the required sunshine. If someone builds and tests this cooker it would be great to hear about your experience and please make improvements! I have placed this in the public domain, I want this idea to grow, mature and most importantly be used.
Or for recreational, less heroic purposes. I, for example, will be taking this with me to Burning Man '07 as a practical, green way of cooking my food. how about cooking hot dogs? you can use this where you may not be allowed to use a barbecue, and it requires no fuel or lighting. Instant heat!
http://www.instructables.com/id/Simple-Solar-Cooker/