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Integration of phase change materials (PCM) into photovoltaic refrigeration systems for fruit preservation in the agro-industrial sector.

Number: pap. 1190

Author(s) : MERINO G., VIEIRA S., LARA D., et al.

Summary

The food processing industry is one of the industrial sectors with the highest energy demand for cooling. The cold chain needs to be maintained from factory to consumers in order to help extent and ensure the shelf life of products, but the use of conventional refrigeration systems implies a high cost in electricity consumption that small producers may not be able to afford. In this study, photovoltaic cooling systems that incorporate unconventional storage systems: phase change materials (PCM) are analyzed from a theoretical and experimental perspective, to optimize their configurations and providing them with greater autonomy to be used in the food industry, particularly in preserving fruits of high value-added in order to meet export standards. A cooling storage system based on PCM is studied experimentally in terms of their dynamic performance and capacity to provide the appropriate preservation conditions for fruit. To this end, a solar cooling system consisting of a cold chamber incorporating PCM is implemented. The cold chamber is driven by a conventional compressor connected to the electric grid and to a field of photovoltaic modules using an on-grid inverter.

The study results demonstrated the capacity of PCM to reduce the energy consumption from the grid and to minimize the mismatch between solar energy availability and cooling demand. On the other hand, the effect of PCM on temperature and humidity distribution within the cooling chambers ensured their benefic effect on fruit properties and quality.

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Pages: 7

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Details

  • Original title: Integration of phase change materials (PCM) into photovoltaic refrigeration systems for fruit preservation in the agro-industrial sector.
  • Record ID : 30024156
  • Languages: English
  • Source: CYTEF 2018. IX Congreso Ibérico y VII Congreso Iberoamericano de Ciencias y Técnicas del Frío, Valencia, España, 19-21 junio 2018.
  • Publication date: 2018/06/19

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