Comparison of the efficiency of solar-powered prototype vapour compression cooler with evaporative charcoal cooler in maintaining quality of French beans
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Date
2021Author
Ogumo, E. O
Kunyanga, C. N
Kimenju, J
Okoth, M
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The quality and shelf life of French beans is affected by the time of harvesting and storage period. Cooling
immediately after harvesting is important. Use of solar evaporative cooling system is suitable for use in
rural areas with no power grid connections. This study compared evaporative charcoal cooler and the solar
cooling systems on improving the quality and shelf life of French beans. The prototype was made using
mathematical modeling equations and was powered by solar power while the evaporative charcoal cooler
was made from iron sheets with charcoal walls. Freshly harvested French beans were stored under the two
cooling systems. Weight and temperature of the stored produce was checked hourly. At the end of the day,
produce was packed into modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) bags and stored for 7 days in cold room.
After seven days, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels were measured using Bridge gas analyzer. The results
show significant differences in weight loss between produce stored in evaporative charcoal shed and solar
cooler prototype with those stored in evaporative charcoal cooler having 5% weight reduction while those
solar coolers having 3% weight loss. Higher accumulation of CO2 was realized in the evaporative charcoal
cooler than in solar-powered cooler. The solar-powered cooler-maintained weight, reduced temperature of
produce and maintained the balance between carbon dioxide and oxygen thus reduction in metabolic
activities. This enhanced the shelf life and quality of the produce.
URI
https://eajsti.org/index.php/EAJSTI/article/view/352http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/155606
Citation
Ogumo, Erick O., et al. "Comparison of the efficiency of solar-powered prototype vapour compression cooler with evaporative charcoal cooler in maintaining quality of French beans." East African Journal of Science, Technology and Innovation 2 (2021).Publisher
University of Nairobi
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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
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