Study on the Performance of Solar-Evaporative Cooling Technology for Preserving Crops in Tropical Environments
Keywords:
Solar cooling, evaporative cooling, crop preservation, postharvest losses, tropical agriculture.Abstract
Solar-evaporative cooling technology
represents a sustainable solution for
reducing postharvest crop losses in tropical
environments where conventional
refrigeration systems are economically and
logistically challenging. This study evaluates
the performance of solar-powered
evaporative cooling storage systems
(SPECSS) for preserving various
agricultural crops including tomatoes,
mangoes, bananas, and carrots. The
research involved comprehensive analysis of
temperature reduction, humidity
enhancement, and shelf-life extension
capabilities under tropical conditions.
Results demonstrated that SPECSS achieved
temperature depressions of 7.8-15.4°C and
relative humidity increases from 44% to
96.8% compared to ambient conditions. The
shelf lives of tomatoes, mangoes, bananas,
and carrots stored in SPECSS were extended
to 21, 14, 17, and 28 days respectively,
compared to 6, 5, 5, and 8
days under ambient storage. The cooling
efficiency reached 84.7% with optimal pad
thickness of 80mm, maintaining chamber
temperatures at 25°C with 82.4% relative
humidity. The system demonstrated
significant potential for reducing the 25-30%
postharvest losses typically experienced in
tropical regions, providing an economically
viable and environmentally sustainable
solution for smallholder farmers and rural
communities lacking grid electricity access.
