OPTIMIZATION OF PARAMETERS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF LOW COST ON-FARM COOLING STORAGE STRUCTURE

R.P. MURUMKAR¹*, S. GUPTA², A.Y. TALOKAR³, A.M. CHARPE⁴, B.N. PATIL⁵, K.T. LAHRIYA^6
1Department of Farm Structures, Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, 444104, Maharashtra, India
²Department of Farm Structures, Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, 444104, Maharashtra, India
³Department of Farm Structures, Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, 444104, Maharashtra, India
⁴AICRP on PHET, Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, 444104, Maharashtra, India
⁵Department of Agricultural Process Engineering, Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, 444104, Maharashtra, India
⁶Department of Extension Education, Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, 444104, Maharashtra, India
* Corresponding Author : rajeshmurumkar@gmail.com

Received : 07-12-2022     Accepted : 28-12-2022     Published : 30-12-2022
Volume : 14     Issue : 12       Pages : 12035 - 12039
Int J Agr Sci 14.12 (2022):12035-12039

Keywords : Farm cooling storage, Cellulose pad, Pad wetting/cooling system, Environmental parameters
Academic Editor : Dr Deepa Navanath Muske, Vandana Bhagat
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Authors are thankful to Department of Farm Structures; Department of Agricultural Process Engineering; Department of Extension Education, Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, 444104, Maharashtra, Indiavand AICRP on PHET, Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, 444104, Maharashtra, India
Author Contribution : All authors equally contributed

The models of on farm cooling storage structure using cellulose pad was manufactured and used for the experimental trials. The model of the structure was developed using galvanized iron sheet of 1 mm thickness while the walls of the structure were made up of cellulose pads. The optimization of the structure parameters such as Cooling pad thickness, Air flow rate and Water application rate was carried out for better cooling efficiency and minimum storage losses. Preliminary trials were conducted in order to fix the levels of Cooling pad thickness, Air flow rate and Water application rate at which better cooling efficiency was obtained. The testing of laboratory/small scale model of on farm cooling structure shows that the tomatoes can be stored for 11 days which started rotting after 3 days under ambient and cucumber can be stored for 5 days compared to ambient condition which started shrinking after 3 days

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