Design of a Smart Ventilation System for 25 tons Cucumber Fruits Capacity Cold Room

Abstract

An automated cold storage system for fresh cucumber fruits was designed in this study. The goal of the research was to create an effective smart cold storage facility for 25 tons of cucumber fruits. Results obtained from the design calculations depicted that the total volume occupied by the fruits was 21.25 m³, the total internal surface area of the cold room was 252 m3, and the total heat transfer of the system was 126694.56 kcal/24h. The respiration heat load was 19,000 kcal/24h and the refrigeration capacity was 34240.46 kcal/h. Remarkably, the cool room will require 6 units of air conditioning machine each having capacity of 2 tons (7.04 kW) of refrigeration. The design used sensor, a microcontroller (Arduino Uno), relay module and control device, to monitor the environmental conditions inside the cold room. This designed structure considering the prevailing climatic conditions of southern Nigeria, is a commendable effort as it will help to address the specific cold storage needs of the region.