Research Projects

The proposed technology aims to provide cooling for farmers, business owners, and consumers in India, particularly vaccines, by eliminating the need for electricity and greenhouse gas emissions. Adsorption refrigeration systems consist of a solid adsorbent and a fluid like water, which can be driven off through the addition of heat using solar energy. The adsorption freezer box, a simple design, consists of an adsorbent bed, an evaporator, and a condenser. The top of the lid is transparent to sunlight for receiving solar energy during the desorption process. The box is thermally insulated and initially evacuated to remove trapped air. The innovation is the development of a practical geometry suitable for widespread application for refrigeration or air conditioning. The adsorbent bed and refrigerant can be easily replaced depending on the desired cold temperature. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India reports that most medicines require storage temperatures between 2 to 8oC. The proposed design can accommodate 5 kg of adsorbent and produce at least 2 kg of ice daily. Future design improvements, including the capability to connect the box to an external heat source, could lead to even greater amounts of cooling for air conditioning of small buildings and refrigeration of fresh fruits and vegetables, vaccines, or other products.