A VEGETABLE PRESERVER USING WATER AS A REFRIGERENT

A VEGETABLE PRESERVER USING WATER AS A REFRIGERENT

ABSTRACT

In ancient world the decay like goods, food particles, vegetables, water, medicine etc can be stored by preventive methods. Even the mummies are being kept without any scientific development. But today’s modern trend the science has been developed further which is applied to any kind of application.

One of the major discoveries in scientific world is Refrigerator, which is utilized to the most extent in domestic as well as medical application. The refrigerator used in domestic is having number of mechanical and electrical subcomponents, that operates with the help of much consumption of electrical power and it creates more air pollution it causes holes in ozone due to this global warming increases day by day in our earth. In our project I discovered a alternate self operated less investment and transferable refrigeration system, which can be utilized even with low power.

This system doesn’t have any complex geometry as well as components. This comprising of very lesser number of components including a pump, which is available for lesser cost. The operating procedure for this type of refrigerator is easy and has nil maintenance cost.

CONTENTS

1. Design details

2. Constructional details

3. Working principal

4. Cooling reaction

5. Test report

6. Difference with refrigerator

7. Cost estimation

8. Maintenance

9. Advantages

10. Conclusion

DESIGN DETAILS

SHELL LOWER TANK

DOOR PUMP

LOWER TANK FIRE BRICKS

CONSTRUCTIONCL DETAILS

S.NO	PARTS	MATERIALS
1	Earthen clay plate	Clay
2	GI sheet	GI
3	Water pump	1/700 HP
4	Surrounding frame	MS
5	Lower tank	Plastic
6	Upper tank	GI sheet
7	Tray	Wire mesh
8	Water pipes	PVC
9	Door	GI sheet
10	Pressure gaskets	Rubber
11	Bolts, nuts and rivets	Steel
12	Stand	MS

EATHERN CLAY PLATE

It is made up of wet clay using a pattern, which is specially made for this plate. The mixture of 75% of clay and 25% of sand is used to make this plate. It is made for certain thickness and length. Particular diameters of orifices are made vertically on the thickness of the plate in which the water circulates. This idea was taken from the olden ideas of “keeping water cool in olden days using clay pot”.

SURROUNDING FRAME

This frame is made up of MS flat and MS angles for certain dimensions. Bottom support is made of angle and top is made of MS flat. This are made to support each other and is welded by arc welding. The vertical columns are Of MS angles. This frame is used as the support for this vegetable preserver.

GI SHEET

GI sheet is used to conduct the cooling effect from the clay plate to the inner surroundings of the unit. On the outside of this sheet clay plate is placed and there should not be any gap otherwise it will acts as an insulation of the chillness. Thin sheets should be selected to get good cooling effect.

WATER PUMP

The water pump used here is very low HP water pump. This water pump is placed behind the unit and it is used to lift the water from lower tank to the upper tank. The water delivered from the pump should be equal to the head of water, which passes through the clay plate.[constant head method].

LOWER TANK

The water from the upper tank, which passes through the orifices, is collected at the bottom tank. This tank is made of plastic. The side bottom of the tank is made a hole to connect the inlet of the pump.

UPPER TANK

The sheet is in the less weight. The left, right and backside of the tank are made Holes, which is straight to the orifices Upper tank is used to collect the water from pump, and it is made of GI.

TRAY

The tray is used to place the fruits, vegetables, milk, etc., and it is made of wire mesh. The guide plate is inside the sheet. It is used as holding devices in other term.

WATER PIPE

Water pipe is used to connect the water pump and to the upper tank to lift the water and also a pipe is fixed to the pump from the lower tank .the pipe is made of rubber.

DOOR

The door is made of thick GI sheet. This sheet is folded on all sides. And On the inside of this folding a thermocol sheet is placed. The door is provided with a fridge handle to open and close. The thermocol is used for packing purpose.

MAGNET GASKET

This gasket is used to avoid the air inside the unit to escape to the atm. Magnet gasket is used to easy open and close. This gasket is placed on the inner side of the door, and it is screwed. It acts as a sealing between door and the unit.

BOTS, NUT AND RIVETS

Bolts and nuts are used to fix the GI-sheet directly on the frame and it is also used to attach the frame with the stand. For frame and sheet the M6 of M8 Bolts is used and for stand M12 Bolt is used. Rivets are used in sheet metal works

WORKING PRINCIPLE

This project is mainly based on the principle of, “Evaporation of Water”. Water is filled in the upper tank. The water is poured in the three sides of the fridge. The fire clay plates are placed on the three sides of the fridge. The water is circulated through the three sides of the fridge using holes provided in the fireclay plate absorbed the little amount of water. The poured water flows through the holes provided in the fireclay plates. The excess water is collected at the bottom tank. The pump is placed just above the bottom tank. It circulates the excess water into the upper tank.

The vegetables are kept inside the fridge. The heat is absorbed from the vegetables and is exchanged to the GI sheets. The heat is exchanged from the sheet to fireclay stones. And the atmosphere air from the fireclay plates absorbs the heat. In this way the fridge is working. The water circulates again and again through the hosepipe using motor with pump. So the cooling effect is increased. In this effect the high heat reduced from room temperature. Bacterial effect is reduced due to which the foods are preserved.

NOTE:
When water level below low level, some amount of water is added to the upper tank.

COOLING REACTION

REACTIONS OF WATER:

In this project, water is refrigerant. This water is wicked over the surface of clay plates, which evaporates on the contact6 with atmospheric air. Due to evaporation it will remove latent heat from the inner side of the fridge. During evaporation the reaction is

H₂O -------------------------> water vapour

By temperature difference

TEST REPORT

At Room Temperature, Time: 10 am to 12 am

T1= 20 ⁰C

T2= 28 ⁰C

¨ C.O.P = T1/ T2 - T1

=20/28-20
= 2.5

¨ Time: 1 Pm to 3 Pm

T1= 23 ⁰C

T2= 29 ⁰C

¨ C.O.P = T1/ T2 - T1

= 23/29-23

= 3.8

DIFFERENCE WITH REFRIGERATOR

S.NO.	REFRIGERATOR	VEGETABLE PRESERVER
1	C.O.P is high (5-9)	C.O.P is low (3-4)
2	Electrical power consumption is high	Electrical power consumption is low
3	Need of refrigerant	No Need of refrigerant
4	It emitting pollution	Pollution free
5	It needs compressor, condenser and expansion valve	No need of these parts
6	Difficult design and construction	Simple in design
7	High cost	Low cost

COST ESTIMATION

S.NO.	ITEM	QUANTITY	COST (R.S)
1	Sheet metal	1	400
2	Lower tank	1	50
3	Upper tank	1	70
4	Clay with holes	50	100
5	MS “L” angle	1	170
6	Door	1	100
7	Bolts and nuts	20	50

8	Door gasket	1	180
9	Plastic tank	1	20
10	Plastic coupling	2	30
11	Metal screws	20	30
12	Hose pipes	5(feet)	50
13	Thermacole	1	30
14	Wire mesh	2	50
15	Handle for door	1	30
16	Paint	4(tins)	120
17	Support for lower tank	1	50

S.NO.	CASUAL LABOUR	COST (R.S)
1	Clay	100
2	Welding	70
3	Painting	50
	Total labour cost (T.L.C)	220

TOTAL COST = Total material cost (T.M.C) + Total labour cost (T.L.C)

= 2030.00 +220.00

T.C = 2250.00

MAINTENANCE

¨ To run this unit for long times it should be maintained properly as following.

¨ Check the quantity of water and fill the water if required.

¨ Run the unit at least 4 hours a day.

¨ Maintain constant head of water in both the tanks.

¨ Drain the water and fill it with fresh water for every 2 days.

¨ Clean the tanks weekly.

¨ Check the tank for leaks.

¨ Clean the holes in the upper tank regularly.

ADVANTAGES

¨ Power required is less.

¨ It is perfectly suitable for rural areas.

¨ No refrigerants are used.

¨ No copper tubes are used.

¨ No compressors and fans used.

¨ Maintenance is less.

¨ Pollution is eradicated.

¨ Cost is less.

¨ Simple in construction.

APPLICATION

This project can be used in rural areas and also used in small-scale shops. It is used for preserving,

1. Milk & milk products

2. Vegetables

3. Fruits

4. Water

5. Battles

6. Perishable foods

7. Juices

CONCLUSION

A refrigerator according to the specification has been planed, designed, constructed, efficiently and checked effectively. This vegetable preserver may be used by most of the People especially in rural areas. Since India is a developing country, this project will act. As one of the backbones for is development by saving money, power and material.