IIT-Madras develops portable cold storage device

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has developed portable solar-powered cold storage device with 500 kg capacity for storing vegetables and fruits, among other items. The device will help farmers store their produce for sufficient time so that it does not get spoilt before it is sold, thereby preventing wastage of agricultural produce. The first unit of device was deployed at farm in Madurantakam in Kancheepuram district in Tamil Nadu.

Solar-powered cold storage device

It has been developed under project funded by Department of Science and Technology (Ministry of Science and Technology) and IIT-M. It provides storage facility with temperature ranging between four and 10 degree Celsius. Using it, vegetables, leaves, flowers and fruits can be stored for 24 hours in the device. Each device is enough for 5 or 6 acres of land or for group of three to four farmers. The unit uses thermal energy storage. The photovoltaic-powered refrigeration system is used to charge indoor thermal battery in form of latent heat during day time and used to maintain temperature (10 C) for 20-24 hours. Each unit costs between Rs 5.5 to Rs 6 lakh and storage capacity could be scaled down based on requirement.

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2018