Patukattal – Advanced Indigenous Refrigeration System
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.13052/jicts2245-800X.522Keywords:
Refrigerator, Moisture Sensor, Peltier Device, Evaporative CoolingAbstract
Refrigerator is a common house hold appliance that operates by reducing and maintaining the temperature of a space below the temperature of the surroundings. Refrigerators utilize harmful gases like Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which depletes the Ozone layer along due to release of HFCs and HCFCs that contribute to the global warming potential as compared to water vapor which is natures unbiased greenhouse cloak. Secondly refrigerators run on electricity which is mostly produced by thermal power generation unit which produces the notorious gases like CO2 & CO gases thereby increasing carbon footprint & contribute to global warming indirectly. Apart from all these environmental effects these storage devices are not affordable by poor people around the African and Asian countries due to thedevelopment cost.
Thus we come up with an eco-yet tech-friendly cooling system which uses water as the main refrigerant and the process of water evaporation to generate the cooling effect. Evaporation of water takes a lot of heat away about 540 calories per gram. The structure would be modular to meet specific goal based on requirements. The model would be stronger lighter and portable with outer layer made of thermocol and the inner layer made of conductive Aluminium sheets. The buffer material comprising of sand and wood chips are used in compliance with the light weight and portability requirements. To know the moisture integrity of the buffer, a moisture sensor, Seven Segment display with micro controller is used. The inner space of the device is partitioned into compartments to allow flexible storage. Apart from that device contains IR sensors to detect space availability for storage. Thus the user can know when he has to refill the system and available box space. A Solenoid valve is used to provide both auto and manual refilling mode for water in the buffer region. A Peltier device which is being controlled on the basis of temperature sensor is used for furtherenhanced cooling.
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