Solar box cookers are eco-friendly and eliminate the need for wood, but they are not always sufficient to replace biomass stoves. Few studies have explored combining solar and biomass energy in a single system. In our study, we designed a hybrid device that integrates a box-type solar cooker with a biomass combustion chamber. This system prioritizes solar energy when it is available. When sunlight is insufficient, the biomass combustion chamber takes over, ensuring uninterrupted cooking while minimizing fuel consumption.

The dimensions of the combustion chamber were calculated using Winarsky’s laws and the optimized dimensions of a box-type solar cooker established by Nébié and colleagues. This methodology enabled the development of a hybrid system that operates in three modes: solar, biomass, or hybrid. Experimental tests revealed that the device has an overall heat loss coefficient of 2.845 W·m⁻²·K⁻¹ and a standardized cooking power of 20.73 W.

Solar box cooker, combustion chamber, dimensions, solar energy, biomass,