Evaluation of energy efficiencies in a varied steam release domestic pressure cooker

Year 2025, Volume: 11 Issue: 4, 1051 - 1063, 31.07.2025

Hesborn R. Ayub Willis J. Ambusso Daudi M. Nyaanga

Abstract

Despite its efficiency, pressure cooking is characterized by two primary energy losses: direct steam release during whistling and convection heat loss to the surroundings. The study focused on reducing energy losses during pressure cooking. The study experimented to determine the effect of each modification on pressure cooker energy efficiency. Ceramic wool insulation and automation for zero steam release modifications to an ordinary pressure cooker were used interchangeably. The experiment’s controls were an ordinary induction-powered pressure cooker and an electric pressure cooker powered with a resistive element. The energy consumption and standby cooking time were measured, and efficiency was calculated. Insulation improved standby cooking time and energy efficiency by 100% and 3.3%, respectively, whereas automation alone increased energy efficiency by 196%. Combining insulation and automation increased energy efficiency by 200%. The insulated automated pressure cooker had an efficiency of 93%, which was close to the electric pressure cooker’s 95%; both combined insulation and automation. It was discovered that a combination of insulation and automation eliminates major pressure-cooking losses, including convection and direct steam thermal energy. This reduces the amount of energy consumed while cooking, thereby increasing energy efficiency. This will significantly reduce the cooking carbon footprint, reducing the demand for fuel wood from forests. This will save forests, thereby combating climate change and improving environmental sustainability. The novel aspect of this study is that it investigated each effect of zero-steam release and thermal insulation pressure cooker modification on energy efficiency. This has reduced thermal energy waste and increased energy efficiency, adding to the body of research knowledge in the field of thermal engineering. This study is significant because it will spur efforts to improve energy efficiency in cooking, lowering the carbon footprint.

Keywords

Automated Cooker , Modified Pressure Cooker , Insulated Cooker , Pressure Cooker Efficiency , Zero-Steam Release

References

• REFERENCES 1. International Energy Agency. Africa Energy Outlook 2022. Available at: https://www.iea.org/reports/africa-energy-outlook-2022. Accessed July 14, 2025
• 2. Rocca-Poliméni R, Flick D, Vasseur J. A model of heat and mass transfer inside a pressure cooker. J Food Eng 2011;107:393–404. [CrossRef]3.
• 3. Giachetti RS, Hardyniec A. Characterization of the release of heated and pressurized water from a pressure cooker. Burns 2021;47:1118–1128. [CrossRef]
• 4. Galleano M, Boveris A, Puntarulo S. Understanding the Clausius–Clapeyron equation by employing an easily adaptable pressure cooker. J Chem Educ 2008;85:276. [CrossRef]
• 5. Abud DG, de Castro-Afonso LH, Nakiri GS, Monsignore LM, Colli BO. Modified pressure cooker technique: An easier way to control onyx reflux. J Neuroradiol 2016;43:218–222. [CrossRef]
• 6. Martínez-Gómez J, Ibarra D, Villacis S, Cuji P, Cruz PR. Analysis of LPG, electric and induction cookers during cooking typical Ecuadorian dishes into the national efficient cooking program. Food Policy 2016;59:88–102. [CrossRef]
• 7. Villacís S, Martínez J, Riofrío AJ, Carrión DF, Orozco MA, Vaca D. Energy efficiency analysis of different materials for cookware commonly used in induction cookers. Energy Procedia 2015;75:925–930. [CrossRef]
• 8. Ovando-Castelar R, Martínez-Estrella JI, García-Gutierrez A, Canchola-Félix I, Jacobo-Galván P, Miranda-Herrera C, et al. Analysis of the heat losses in the Cerro Prieto geothermal field transportation network based on thermal insulation condition of steam pipelines: A quantitative assessment. Proc World Geotherm Congr 2015; Melbourne, Australia; 19–25 April 2015.
• 9. Lu X, Lee K, editors. Air-Gap thermal insulation for large geothermal pipelines. Proceedings World Geothermal Congress 2000; 2000 May 28 - June 10, 2000; Kyushu - Tohoku, Japan.
• 10. Kürekci NA, Özcan M. A practical method for determination of economic insulation thickness of steel, plastic and copper hot water pipes. J Therm Eng 2020;6:72–86. [CrossRef]
• 11. Tanbour E. Characterization of aerogel based thermal insulation blankets, economics, and applications for domestic water heaters. J Therm Eng 2020;6:403–419. [CrossRef]
• 12. Lakrafli H, Tahiri S, Sennoune M, Bouardi A. Improving the energy efficiency of a refrigerated warehouse through the use of palm tree pruning waste as thermal insulator. J Therm Eng 2023;9:332–341. [CrossRef]
• 13. Narasimha RA, Subramanyam S. Solar cookers-part I: Cooking vessel on lugs. Sol Energy 2003;75:181–185. [CrossRef]
• 14. Watkins T, Arroyo P, Perry R, Wang R, Arriaga O, Fleming M, et al. Insulated solar electric cooking-Tomorrow's healthy affordable stoves? Dev Eng 2017;2:47–52. [CrossRef]
• 15. Sibiya BI. Smart induction cooking system using solar energy [Master’s thesis]. University of KwaZulu-Natal; 2017. [CrossRef]
• 16. Kumaresan G, Vigneswaran VS, Esakkimuthu S, Velraj R. Performance assessment of a solar domestic cooking unit integrated with thermal energy storage system. J Energy Storage 2016;6:70–79. [CrossRef]
• 17. Sibiya BI, Venugopal C. Solar powered induction cooking system. Energy Procedia 2017;117:145–156. [CrossRef]
• 18. Grimsby LK, Rajabu HM, Treiber MU. Multiple biomass fuels and improved cook stoves from Tanzania assessed with the Water Boiling Test. Sustain Energy Technol Assess 2016;14:63–73. [CrossRef]
• 19. Jewitt S, Atagher P, Clifford M, Ray C, Sesan T. Household perceptions of improved cookstoves. Cult Soc Pract 2020;91–124. [CrossRef]
• 20. Date D. Modified lid-A invention in inner lid pressure cooker. Mater Today Proc 2023;72:1855–62. [CrossRef]
• 21. Sharma R, Balasubramanian R. Evaluation of the effectiveness of a portable air cleaner in mitigating indoor human exposure to cooking-derived airborne particles. Environ Res 2020;183:109192. [CrossRef]
• 22. Scott N, Leach M, Clements W. Energy-efficient electric cooking and sustainable energy transitions. Energies 2024;17:3318. [CrossRef]
• 23. Koller L, Novák B. Improving the energy efficiency of induction cooking. Electr Eng 2009;91:153–160. [CrossRef]
• 24. Hager TJ, Morawicki R. Energy consumption during cooking in the residential sector of developed nations: A review. Food Policy 2013;40:54–63. [CrossRef]
• 25. Oberascher C, Stamminger R, Pakula C. Energy efficiency in daily food preparation. Int J Consum Stud 2011;35:201–211. [CrossRef]
• 26. Moran MJ, Tsatsaronis G. Engineering thermodynamics. In: CRC handbook of thermal engineering. CRC Press; 2017. p. 1–112. [CrossRef]
• 27. Stevanovic VD, Maslovaric B, Prica S. Dynamics of steam accumulation. Appl Therm Eng 2012;37:73–79. [CrossRef]
• 28. Kweka A, Clements A, Bomba M, Schürhoff N, Bundala J, Mgonda E, et al. Tracking the adoption of electric pressure cookers among mini-grid customers in Tanzania. Energies 2021;14:4574. [CrossRef]
• 29. Aemro YB, Moura P, de Almeida AT. Experimental evaluation of electric clean cooking options for rural areas of developing countries. Sustain Energy Technol Assess 2021;43:100954. [CrossRef]
• 30. Ucheoma IT, Chilakpu KO, Nwakuba NR, Ezeanya NC. Performance study of a developed automated cooking system. J Eng Res Rep 2020;14:5–19. [CrossRef]
• 31. Couture TD, Jacobs D. Beyond fire: How to achieve electric cooking. World Future Counc 2019.
• 32. Batchelor S, Brown E, Leary J, Scott N, Alsop A, Leach M. Solar electric cooking in Africa: Where will the transition happen first? Energy Res Soc Sci 2018;40:257–272. [CrossRef]
• 33. Altouni A, Gorjian S, Banakar A. Development and performance evaluation of a photovoltaic-powered induction cooker (PV-IC): An approach for promoting clean production in rural areas. Clean Eng Technol 2022;6:100373. [CrossRef]
• 34. Alva G, Liu L, Huang X, Fang G. Thermal energy storage materials and systems for solar energy applications. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2017;68:693–706. [CrossRef]
• 35. Sharma A, Chen CR, Murty VVVS, Shukla A. Solar cooker with latent heat storage systems: A review. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2009;13:1599–1605. [CrossRef]
• 36. Mawire A, Lentswe K, Owusu P, Shobo A, Darkwa J, Calautit J, et al. Performance comparison of two solar cooking storage pots combined with wonderbag slow cookers for off-sunshine cooking. Sol Energy 2020;208:1166–1180. [CrossRef]
• 37. Flick D, Rocca R, Doursat C, Vasseur J. Modelling heat transfer and fluid flow inside a pressure cooker. In: Plesu V, Agachi PS, editors. 17th European Symposium on Computer Aided Process Engineering – ESCAPE17. 2007.
• 38. De DK, Shawhatsu NM, De NN, Ajaeroh MI. Energy-efficient cooking methods. Energy Eff 2013;6:163–175. [CrossRef]
• 39. De DK, Nathaniel M, Olawole O. Cooking with minimum energy and protection of environments and health. IERI Procedia 2014;9:148–155. [CrossRef]
• 40. Opoku R, Baah B, Sekyere CK, Adjei EA, Uba F, Obeng GY, et al. Unlocking the potential of solar PV electric cooking in households in sub-Saharan Africa–the case of pressurized solar electric cooker (PSEC). Sci Afr 2022;17:e01328. [CrossRef]
• 41. Dos Santos Siqueira B, Vianello RP, Fernandes KF, Bassinello PZ. Hardness of carioca beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) as affected by cooking methods. LWT Food Sci Technol 2013;54:13–17. [CrossRef]
• 42. Al Irsyad MI, Anggono T, Anditya C, Ruslan I, Cendrawati DG, Nepal R. Assessing the feasibility of a migration policy from LPG cookers to induction cookers to reduce LPG subsidies. Energy Sustain Dev 2022;70:239–246. [CrossRef]