The Indian Institute of Technology-Madras has developed a portable solar-powered cold storage device with a 500 kg capacity for storing vegetables, and fruits, among other items. This device will help farmers store their produce, preventing wastage of agricultural produce.
The first unit of the device, which provides storage facility with temperature ranging between four and 10 degrees Celsius, was deployed at a farm in Madurantakam in Kancheepuram district, around 80 km from Chennai, recently.
“Vegetables, leaves, flowers and fruits can be stored for 24 hours in the device. Each device would be enough for 5 or 6 acres of land or for a group of three to four farmers,” said professor Satyanarayanan Seshadri, who developed the system.
Each unit would cost between Rs 550,000 to 600,000 (€6,700-7,300) and storage capacity could be scaled down based on requirement.
“The unit uses thermal energy storage... The photovoltaic-powered refrigeration system is used to charge the indoor thermal battery in the form of latent heat during day time and used to maintain temperature (10C) for 20-24 hours,” Seshadri said.
Thehindubusinessline.com reports how the project has been funded by Department of Science and Technology (Ministry of Science and Technology) and IIT-M.
