Proceedings of the

7th International Conference on Mechanical Engineering and Renewable Energy 2023

(ICMERE2023) 16-18 November 2023,Chattogram, Bangladesh

ICMERE2023-PI-156

A Greener Approach to Food Preservation: Solar-Evaporative Cooling for Reducing

Post-Harvest Losses in Bangladesh
Asif Hossain1, Md. Emon Hossain Babla1, Ashraful Hossain Fida1, Sayed Ahmed Yousuf Saad1, Md. Imam
Hossain1, Abdullah MD Tousiful Hoque Chy1, Sajjad Hossain1
1
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology, Rajshahi-6204,
Bangladesh
[email protected]*, [email protected], [email protected],
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
[email protected]

Abstract- In Bangladesh, where rural farmers struggle to preserve their valuable fruit and vegetable yields
in a hot and humid climate while maintaining cost-effective practices, post-harvest food loss is a major
issue. The evaporative cooling system powered by solar energy is the sustainable solution this paper offers,
created especially to reduce food waste in Bangladesh's rural areas. Our study examines the application of
a solar-evaporative cooling system specifically designed for the Bangladeshi environment. We talk about
the underlying technology and how well it fits the local climate. The system's functioning is examined, and
its capacity to reduce temperatures and lengthen the shelf life of goods is measured. The output values of
temperature and relative humidity have illustrated 15°C and 86% respectively in time-lapse of seven hours.
Besides the avg. solar radiation in Rajshahi for last ten days has given 4251 Wh/m2 which adds the value
of this adopted system. Key findings show that solar-evaporative cooling effectively minimizes post-harvest
losses while also drastically lowering the temperature in storage situations. This environmentally friendly
solution for food preservation is a potentially effective way to increase food security in rural Bangladesh,
lessen reliance on grid electricity, and increase the revenue of small-scale farmers.

Keywords: Post-harvest food loss, solar evaporating cooling, sustainable agricultural methods, food
preservation.

1. INTRODUCTION scientific times, around 2500 B.C. in Egypt. Evaporative

Vegetables and fruits are perishable crops, and if they are cooling systems have evolved gradually from their
not stored or preserved quickly after harvest, they shrink, primitive forms to advanced systems throughout the
wilt, or decay away soon, especially when the weather is years. It can be carried out by spraying water into the air.
hot. It has been seen that postharvest losses of perishable A vapor compression air conditioning system can be
crops in underdeveloped nations have been reported to be replaced with an evaporative cooling system because,
as high as 30–40% due to flaws and deficiencies in unlike vapor compression air conditioning, an
postharvest, transportation, storage, and marketing. evaporative cooling system can be powered by low-grade
Although in developed countries, effective storage energy sources such as solar, avoiding the release of
systems for fruits and vegetables are frequently built, ozone-depleting gases and operating as a climate-smart
these systems are either very expensive or inappropriate technology. A solar-powered evaporative cooling system
for the needs of the local farmers. To reduce food wastes is inexpensive, energy-efficient, and long-lasting for
in Rural areas, to make storage system inexpensive for cooling and storing perishable goods[2].
rural people, especially for farmers, using renewable Fruits and vegetables are usually classified as perishable
energy(solar) as a power source so that harmful things foods; if not stored soon after harvest, they may quickly
like greenhouse gas emission could be reduced. In this rot, fade, or shrivel. This is especially relevant in the
manner, an evaporative cooling system that would be summer[3]. Fruit and vegetable post-harvest losses are
powered by solar energy could be a great option. more severe in impoverished nations than they are in rich
Evaporative cooling system storage, which is said to be nations[4].
the best possible way for storing fruit and vegetables in Effective techniques for preserving vegetables and fruits
fresh form, has been documented for achieving a are often designed and built in industrialized nations.
favorable environment in greenhouses, adiabatic systems, These techniques are either unsuitable for the demands of
and storage structures for fruits and vegetables[1] local farmers, who usually provide the majority of fruits
Evaporative cooling is a type of air conditioning that uses and vegetables, or they are either too expensive, difficult
water as a working fluid. This sort of cooling is an ancient to get, or both[1]. Even in storage, the suggested
method that has been used to cool buildings since pre- refrigeration storage life for the more perishable items,
© ICMERE2023
such as green vegetables, tomatoes, etc., is a maximum Whenever electricity is passed through piezoelectric
of seven days. This is because they consist mainly of material, it vibrates and creates ultrasonic waves. These
water. The product that has lost water can develop visible ultrasonic waves, when passed through the liquid, cause
changes like wilting or shriveling as well as texture a pressure drop, and when the pressure drops below the
alterations, which are frequently linked to a loss of liquid’s vapor pressure, vapor bubbles are formed.
quality[5]. Besides, Farmers as well as traders continue Whenever the vapor bubbles collapse near the liquid-gas
to use their traditional storage practices, which result in interface, they burst, which creates smaller droplets of
significant losses during storage and shipment. Most liquid in the process. The upper part of the box was
vegetables and fruits are often stored in temporary basically provided for the object (Banana) to be cooled
wooden, or bamboo huts built close to habitations or the by mist. A temperature sensor (DHT-11) was integrated
producing area after harvest[6]. Fruit and vegetable inside the box, and it was in the upper portion of the box
preservation has long been a challenge, particularly in so that it could measure the appropriate temperature and
tropical climates with high sun intensity. Although humidity simultaneously. An I2C LCD display was
refrigerators are utilized, it has been found that several placed outside the box so that it could display the
summertime fruits and vegetables, such as bananas, measured temperature and humidity by the sensor. All the
tomatoes, oranges, and green vegetables, cannot be components were connected by an Arduino UNO. A fan
stored there due to the effects of chilling and color was also inserted into the system and kept at the top of
changes.[3] This has had a major effect on how much the box. The whole system was powered by two LI-ION
they can earn in cash because the majority of produced 18650 2200mAh rechargeable 3.7V batteries. The most
goods can't be effectively kept, resulting in extensive important part of the system was a solar panel, which was
food waste, notably fruits and vegetables. Since 1983, the integrated to the box so that it could collect and store the
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has been energy from the sun’s radiation and recharge the battery
tracking the problem and the impact it has on the world's at the time of need. A charge controller was also
food supply[7]. Therefore, the FAO and the World Bank integrated with the batteries to avoid overcharging
in 1999 realized the advantages of evaporative cooling. It because the electrical output from the solar panels is not
includes a decrease in energy costs, minimal carbon constant because sunlight intensity varies from place to
emissions, not using hydrocarbon gases, enhancing place and time to time, and as a result, it could damage
interior air quality and moisture, achieving regional the batteries by overcharging.
independence from electricity, and storing fresh
agricultural food when the weather is tropical[7], [8].

2. METHODOLOGY

2.1 Design and Construction

An evaporative cooling system was developed for the
purpose of a 2 kg storage capacity to preserve fruits and
vegetables at a suitable and controlled temperature in a
safer food preservation environment. The cooling system
consists of a box made of PVC board for experimental
purposes. The geometry of the box is 12’’*10’’*6’’,
hence the total volume of the box is 0.012 m 3. For
evaporative cooling, smaller-sized water droplets, which
are also indicated as mist here, are needed to lower the
temperature of the box than the surrounding environment,
and they were produced by using ultrasonic nebulizers,
also known as mist makers. The box is divided into two
equal parts. The lower part of the box contains a bowl
with three mist makers. These mist makers are actually
made of piezoelectric material (PZT).
Fig.2: Inside view of the cooling system

2.2 Data Collection

To perform the experiment exclusively the data from
the sensor is monitored carefully so that the calculation
of power required to cool the object and maintain a
sustainable temperature and humidity to get best possible
output from the solar based evaporative cooling.

Fig.1: Prototype design by SolidWorks

© ICMERE2023
 Table-1: Solar Radiation of Rajshahi for the Last 10 Table 3: Hourly Box and Ambient Temperature and
Days Relative Humidity Variation of last 7 days at
loaded condition with fruits.
Date Solar radiation (Wh/m2)
Time Calcu Average Relati Average Relati
20/09/23 3847 (Hour lated Ambient ve Box ve
21/09/23 2075 ) Temp Tempera Humi Temper Humi
22/09/23 3696 eratur ture (°C) dity ature dity
23/09/23 1552 e, Ambi (°C) Box
24/09/23 4425 T.ca ent (%)
25/09/23 4033 (°C) (%)
26/09/23 5112 9:00 29.3 32 75 29 76
27/09/23 5850 10:00 27.2 31.5 70 27.7 79
28/09/23 6000 11:00 25.0 29 69.6 24.6 81
29/09/23 5919 12:00 23.3 30.5 66.5 22.5 83
Avg= 4251 Wh/m2 13:00 21.3 33 65 20 84
14:00 20.7 32 64.3 19.5 85
Average solar radiation= 4251 Wh/m2 15:00 18.3 30 63.1 17 86
Solar panel efficiency, η= 17%
Pout=4251×17% 3. RESULT AND DISCUSSION
=722.67 W The performance of the evaporative cooling system was
Peak sunlight= 8 hours measured every day at 1-hour intervals from 9:00 to
Pout/day= 722.67×8 15:00 for 7 days, as shown in the table. When unloaded,
=5781.36 W the average temperature within the box ranged from 15°C
=5.78 KW. to 29°C, whereas the ambient air temperature ranged
Now, from 27°C to 32°C. Similarly, when loaded, the average
𝑡0 − 𝑡3
𝑄= temperature within the box ranged from 15°C to 29°C,
⅀𝑅 whereas the ambient air temperature ranged from 26°C
Where Q= Heat loss per unit area of the system, t0 = to 33°C. Thus, the temperature of the evaporative cooling
Outside temperature, t3 = Inside temperature system was consistently lower than the temperature of the
∑R = Ri + R1 + Ro air outside. With and without load is indicated on the time
Where, vs temperature graph in below:
∑R= Thermal Resistance (m2K/W)
Ri = Inside surface resistance (m2K/W)
R1 = Thermal resistance of galvanized mild steel
(m2K/W)
Ro = Outside surface resistance (m2K/W)
𝑡0 − T. ca
𝑄=
𝑅1
Where,
T.ca = Calculated Temperature

Table 2: Hourly Box and Ambient Temperature and

Relative Humidity Variation of last 7 days at no load
condition.

Time Calculat Avera Relati Average Relati

(Hour ed ge ve Box
ve
) Temper Ambi Humi Temper
ature, ent dity ature Humi
T.ca Tempe Ambi (°C)
dity
(°C) rature ent
(°C) (%) Box
Fig.3: Results from experimental and modeling at
(%)
temperatures between 15 and 31 under no load
9:00 29.2 31 72 29 75
10:00 25.9 30 70 25.4 79 In Fig. 3, the hourly box and ambient temperature
11:00 21.4 32 69.6 20.2 83 variations over the last seven days without any load
12:00 21.0 34 66.5 19.6 84 (Without Fruits and vegetables) are displayed. On the
13:00 18.7 27 65 17.8 86 days that followed, the temperature outside the box was
14:00 17.6 28 64.3 16.5 87 31°C, 30°C, 32°C, 34°C, 27°C, 28°C, and 32°C. Whereas
15:00 16.7 32 63.1 15 90 the temperature within the box was much lower than the
© ICMERE2023
outside temperature, which is 29°C, 25.4°C, 20.2°C, 15°C and relative humidity as 86%, which was
19.6°C, 17.8°C, 16.5°C, and 15°C. appreciable based on the setup. The experimental
objectives were fulfilled through cooling the banana fruit
as example. Furthermore, the environmentally friendly
nature of this system also implies that it will be a good
solution in food storage as well as in agriculture and
farming processes. By embracing an eco-friendly system
like the solar-powered evaporative cooling system
discussed in this paper can ensure a more sustainable and
bright future for the developed countries and can be
implemented in larger scale which may give more precise
results.

Fig.4: Results from experimental and modeling at

temperatures between 15 and 32 under load

Fig. 4 shows the hourly box and ambient temperature

variations during the last seven days when the load (with
fruits and vegetables) were applied. Similarly, the
temperature within the box was significantly colder than
the outside temperature.

Based on variations within the box's temperature and

relative humidity, it may be concluded that it can be an
effective strategy for reducing waste and ensuring food
security. Since it uses solar energy to operate, evaporative
cooling is a cost-efficient method of extending the shelf
life of perishable food items, including fruits and
vegetables. It is usually less expensive to implement
evaporative cooling systems than to construct and
operate refrigeration facilities. Evaporative cooling can
help preserve food quality by lowering the rate at which
food is damaged and reducing the requirement for
chemical preservatives. Lastly, air and water, two easily
accessible components, are frequently used in
evaporative cooling systems, which makes them a
sustainable and environmentally friendly way of
preserving food when compared to energy-intensive
refrigeration systems.

4. CONCLUSION
This paper represents a sustainable cooling system that
could be powered by solar power. Integration of
innovative mist-making technology will help to store
vegetables like carrots, tomatoes, and fruits like guava,
and lichis for many days. Moreover, solar-powered
batteries will not only enhance the efficiency of the
system but also will be a viable source that will not
consume much electricity like other storage systems do.
The vibrational technology which is employed in this
system also known as mist-maker, converts water into
vapor by vibrating the molecules of water and also
ensures that the stored products will remain fresh and
useful for a good amount of time after postharvest. The
desired minimum cooling temperature was obtained as
© ICMERE2023
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© ICMERE2023