NIT and IICPT to develop solar cold storage system
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has sanctioned Rs. 1.05 crore to the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Tiruchi and the Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology (IICPT), Thanjavur for undertaking a joint project on Design and Development of Solar Photovoltaic Powered Cold Storage System. It is aimed at designing and developing an energy efficient solar powered cold storage system with different temperature and humidity levels for various fruits and vegetables under different operating conditions, testing and demonstration of the system for farmers and industries. A press release issued by the NIT said that it had been planned to use Low Melting Temperature Phase Change Material (PCM) to store and circulate in the cold storage rooms instead of direct evaporation of refrigerant for developing energy efficient cold storage system.
The collaborative institutes will develop an engineered PCM-based 3TR prototype solar PV based cold storage system for fruits and vegetables and deliver to the society through demonstrations, workshops, seminars and trainings for farmers, academicians and stakeholders. Awareness will also be created among farmers and food processing industries regarding the importance of PV based cold storage system. Project execution teams of NIT and IICPT have been formed for the three-year project.