Research Article

Experimental performance evaluation of a solar powered evaporative cooling system for preservation of agricultural produce in tropical region

Volume: 11 Number: 3 May 16, 2025
  • Mfon O. Udo
  • Sunday O. Oyedepo *
  • Sunday A. Afolalu
  • Samson O. Ongbali
  • Oluwaseun Kilanko
  • Richard O. Leramo
  • Bahaa Saleh
  • Joseph O. Dirisu
  • James A. Omoleye
  • Gbolahan Odewole
  • Philip O. Babalola
  • Samson K. Fasogbon
  • Ejike C. Solomon
  • Blessed Bolarinwa Odunayo
  • Idemili O. Uchechukwu

Experimental performance evaluation of a solar powered evaporative cooling system for preservation of agricultural produce in tropical region

Abstract

Lack of suitable power supplies and storage facilities are major contributors to post-harvest loss of fruits and vegetables in low- and middle-income nations. The problem of food security can be greatly alleviated by solar-powered cooling systems that store agricultural produce in a decentralized manner. In addition to decreasing food loss and waste, this approach promotes green economic growth by lowering greenhouse gas emissions. In view of this, a direct active solar-powered evaporative cooling system is developed and its performance was assessed. In this investigation, the temperature and humidity within the evaporative cooling system were recorded using a Floureon RC-4HC data logger. The data logger was configured to capture data every half an hour for six to seven hours. The wet and dry bulb temperatures of the surrounding area were recorded using a combination wet bulb and dry bulb hygrometer. To determine the relative humidity values, a psychometric chart was utilized in conjunction with the hygrometer data. To measure the air velocity entering the evaporative cooling system, a digital anemometer was employed. Readings were taken consecutively over four days with varying pad thicknesses (from 20mm to 80mm) under no load conditions and for eight days under load conditions. Results of the study shows that the temperature of the cooling chamber reduced to 25oC with a drop range from 3 to 10oC and the highest relative humidity of 88.2% was recorded inside the cooling chamber while relative humidity of 66.5% was recorded for the surroundings. The cooling efficiency of the cooling chamber was found to vary from 61.4 to 87.5% under no load conditions and 47.06 to 91.1% under load conditions. Moreover, the rate of evaporation, cooling capacity and saturation efficiency vary respectively from 0.00116 kg/s to 0.00198 kg/s; 5.284 kW to 7.736 kW and 61.40% to 87.50%. Additionally, it was observed that agricultural produce such as tomatoes, peppers, and okra stored in the evaporative cooler retained their freshness and color after 8 days, whereas those stored under room conditions lost both after 3 days. This demonstrates effectiveness of the developed solar-powered evaporative cooling system to preserve agricultural produce. Small-scale farmers in rural areas, which account for about two-thirds of all farm produce losses, the private sector, Non-Governmental Organisations and some government agencies working to promote decentralized cold-storage facilities are expected to find great value in this study.

Keywords

References

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  8. [8] Carrasco AD, Pittard R, Kondepudi SN, Somasundaram S. Evaluation of direct evaporative roof spray cooling system. Proceedings of the Fourth Symposium on Improving Building Systems in Hot and Humid Climates, Houstan, TX, September 15-16, 1987. pp. 94–101.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Engineering (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Sunday A. Afolalu This is me
0000-0002-1186-001X
Nigeria

Samson O. Ongbali This is me
0000-0002-8536-1619
Nigeria

Oluwaseun Kilanko This is me
0000-0002-6374-5267
Nigeria

Richard O. Leramo This is me
0000-0001-7924-5315
Nigeria

Bahaa Saleh This is me
0000-0003-0646-2524
Saudi Arabia

Joseph O. Dirisu This is me
0000-0003-3310-8854
Nigeria

James A. Omoleye This is me
0000-0003-0623-461X
Nigeria

Gbolahan Odewole This is me
0009-0001-2876-4147
Nigeria

Philip O. Babalola This is me
0000-0002-5100-2976
Nigeria

Samson K. Fasogbon This is me
0000-0003-0223-2078
Nigeria

Ejike C. Solomon This is me
0009-0009-1247-0046
Nigeria

Blessed Bolarinwa Odunayo This is me
0009-0005-9499-0758
Nigeria

Idemili O. Uchechukwu This is me
0009-0009-7666-4747
Nigeria

Publication Date

May 16, 2025

Submission Date

April 12, 2024

Acceptance Date

November 17, 2024

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 11 Number: 3

APA
Udo, M. O., Oyedepo, S. O., Afolalu, S. A., Ongbali, S. O., Kilanko, O., Leramo, R. O., Saleh, B., Dirisu, J. O., Omoleye, J. A., Odewole, G., Babalola, P. O., Fasogbon, S. K., Solomon, E. C., Bolarinwa Odunayo, B., & Uchechukwu, I. O. (2025). Experimental performance evaluation of a solar powered evaporative cooling system for preservation of agricultural produce in tropical region. Journal of Thermal Engineering, 11(3), 858-879. https://izlik.org/JA73EU85NN
AMA
1.Udo MO, Oyedepo SO, Afolalu SA, et al. Experimental performance evaluation of a solar powered evaporative cooling system for preservation of agricultural produce in tropical region. Journal of Thermal Engineering. 2025;11(3):858-879. https://izlik.org/JA73EU85NN
Chicago
Udo, Mfon O., Sunday O. Oyedepo, Sunday A. Afolalu, et al. 2025. “Experimental Performance Evaluation of a Solar Powered Evaporative Cooling System for Preservation of Agricultural Produce in Tropical Region”. Journal of Thermal Engineering 11 (3): 858-79. https://izlik.org/JA73EU85NN.
EndNote
Udo MO, Oyedepo SO, Afolalu SA, Ongbali SO, Kilanko O, Leramo RO, Saleh B, Dirisu JO, Omoleye JA, Odewole G, Babalola PO, Fasogbon SK, Solomon EC, Bolarinwa Odunayo B, Uchechukwu IO (May 1, 2025) Experimental performance evaluation of a solar powered evaporative cooling system for preservation of agricultural produce in tropical region. Journal of Thermal Engineering 11 3 858–879.
IEEE
[1]M. O. Udo et al., “Experimental performance evaluation of a solar powered evaporative cooling system for preservation of agricultural produce in tropical region”, Journal of Thermal Engineering, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 858–879, May 2025, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA73EU85NN
ISNAD
Udo, Mfon O. - Oyedepo, Sunday O. - Afolalu, Sunday A. - Ongbali, Samson O. - Kilanko, Oluwaseun - Leramo, Richard O. - Saleh, Bahaa et al. “Experimental Performance Evaluation of a Solar Powered Evaporative Cooling System for Preservation of Agricultural Produce in Tropical Region”. Journal of Thermal Engineering 11/3 (May 1, 2025): 858-879. https://izlik.org/JA73EU85NN.
JAMA
1.Udo MO, Oyedepo SO, Afolalu SA, Ongbali SO, Kilanko O, Leramo RO, Saleh B, Dirisu JO, Omoleye JA, Odewole G, Babalola PO, Fasogbon SK, Solomon EC, Bolarinwa Odunayo B, Uchechukwu IO. Experimental performance evaluation of a solar powered evaporative cooling system for preservation of agricultural produce in tropical region. Journal of Thermal Engineering. 2025;11:858–879.
MLA
Udo, Mfon O., et al. “Experimental Performance Evaluation of a Solar Powered Evaporative Cooling System for Preservation of Agricultural Produce in Tropical Region”. Journal of Thermal Engineering, vol. 11, no. 3, May 2025, pp. 858-79, https://izlik.org/JA73EU85NN.
Vancouver
1.Mfon O. Udo, Sunday O. Oyedepo, Sunday A. Afolalu, Samson O. Ongbali, Oluwaseun Kilanko, Richard O. Leramo, Bahaa Saleh, Joseph O. Dirisu, James A. Omoleye, Gbolahan Odewole, Philip O. Babalola, Samson K. Fasogbon, Ejike C. Solomon, Blessed Bolarinwa Odunayo, Idemili O. Uchechukwu. Experimental performance evaluation of a solar powered evaporative cooling system for preservation of agricultural produce in tropical region. Journal of Thermal Engineering [Internet]. 2025 May 1;11(3):858-79. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA73EU85NN

IMPORTANT NOTE: JOURNAL SUBMISSION LINK http://eds.yildiz.edu.tr/journal-of-thermal-engineering