DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF A DIRECT EVAPORATIVE COOLING SYSYTEM

ABSTRACT

Agricultural products such as tomatoes, peppers, etc., are highly perishable, and poor preservation leads to post-harvest losses. This project, therefore, aims to develop an effective and low-cost solution that small-scale farmers can use to improve the shelf life of their produce. The principles of direct evaporative cooling were employed in the designing and fabrication of this project. Utilizing locally available materials such as galvanized mild steel, jute material, and stainless steel. Following its construction, a rigorous 14-day testing phase was conducted, employing fresh tomatoes as the benchmark for performance evaluation and thermal efficiency. Results from the testing phase revealed an impressive average thermal efficiency of approximately 70.37% for the designed system. Notably, the cabinet temperature demonstrated a significant decrease from the ambient average of 30°C to 22.3°C. Concurrently, the relative humidity within the chamber exhibited a commendable increase from the ambient condition's 70% to an optimal 92%. This substantiates the system's ability to create an environment conducive to preserving fruits and vegetables. With the storage temperature and relative humidity consistently maintained within optimal levels, the innovative cooling system effectively ensures the freshness and longevity of perishable farm produce.