Design

Original Concerns

Above are images that our contact in Malawi, Kuyere!, has sent us about the creation of ther prototypes.
The temperature needed for deep frying depends on the food being fried, but typically the temperature needs to be around 190°C.
- We are currently looking for solutions to keep the fryer at a high temperature over a long period of time. We are investigating different natural insulators and different types of lids.
How to get the fried food out reliably?
- A strainer that the food can be lowered into the oil or a slotted spoon or tongs.
Handles?
- We are currently considering the need for handles to be attached to the fryer, we may take them off depending on what kind of insulation we use.
Height of the fryer
- The fryer must be raised so the person can use it properly.

First Design

Heating

21 diode chain to spread the electricity and heat around the metal pot.

We used JB weld, a heat-conducting epoxy adhesive to secure the diodes. It took three hours to dry.

Insulation

100% Polyester Blanket from Good Will packed around the pot in a Home Depot bucket. Polyester can be used as a thermal insulator according to the experiments of this research journal. It can insulate well for temperatures between 20 and 200°C.

Pot modifications

Replace metal handles with wooden ones
- This is to prevent heat loss through the metal handles.
Hole in lid
- Release steam to prevent insulation from getting wet.
We made a wood platform so the pot wouldn't be placed directly on the plastic bucket.
Solar Panel
- SHARP Solar Module 167 Watt power

Modified Design

Insulation

The 100% Polyester blanket melted while cooking the rice so we got a 100% wool sweater from the Goodwill bins in San Luis Obispo.

Pot modifications

We added a diode chain to the bottom of the pot instead of around the side so that the when we fried our potatoes we wouldn't have to have the oil go as high as the original diode chain was.
We also added copper straps over the diode chain to increase the contact of the heat to the pot.