DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF HYDROCOOLING CHAMBER FOR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES STORAGE

• I. Oluwalana

  Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

  Author

• J. A. V. Olumurewa

  Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural Resources and Economics, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

  Author

• A. I. Alao

  Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural Resources and Economics, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

  Author

• D. B. Olufolaji

  Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural Resources and Economics, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

  Author

• T. T. Amos

  Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural Resources and Economics, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

  Author

• M. O. Oluwamukomi

  Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural Resources and Economics, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

  Author

• A. A. Badejo

  Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

  Author

• B. K. Adeoye

  Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

  Author

Fruits and vegetables harvested at either physiological or commercial stages have very short shelf life as the fruits usually ripen within a week while the vegetables shrivel few hours after harvest, if they are not appropriately stored. Reports have shown up to 70% losses for both commodities under natural tropical conditions (30±2C and 70±2% RH) when not well handled and stored. Unfortunately, tropical fruits and vegetables are adversely affected by cold temperatures below 12oC as they are prone to chilling injury, hence limiting the use of refrigeration in storing the fruits fresh. Moreover, most of the storage methods available in the developed temperate countries such as Controlled Atmosphere Storage, Hypobaric, Irradiation etc. are either too expensive or technically sophisticated to be adopted for tropical fruits and vegetables. This study was therefore conceived and undertaken to develop a novel Dome-like Hydro-cooling Chamber kitted with Solar Energy powered Water-Cooling System, to maintain the temperature and humidity of stored fruits and vegetables at about 15oC and 85% RH respectively. Utilization of solar energy is due to irregularities and high costs of electricity in the developing nations including Nigeria.Preliminary results have shown that the dome-shaped structure with a cuboidal base of 7m x 4m x 2.5m and a dome top central height of 1.5m constructed with a non-hollow cement blocks of average weight of 23kg with dimensions of 0.46m x 0.23m x 0.15m and kitted with a solar energy powered water cooling system at about 10oC can achieve the storage conditions of about 15oC and 85% RH holding up to 28 metric tonnes of plantain fruits.

1. I. Oluwalana, Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

   Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

2. J. A. V. Olumurewa, Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural Resources and Economics, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

   Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural Resources and Economics, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

3. A. I. Alao, Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural Resources and Economics, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

   Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural Resources and Economics, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

4. D. B. Olufolaji, Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural Resources and Economics, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

   Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural Resources and Economics, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

5. T. T. Amos, Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural Resources and Economics, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

   Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural Resources and Economics, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

6. M. O. Oluwamukomi, Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural Resources and Economics, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

   Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural Resources and Economics, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

7. A. A. Badejo, Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

   Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

8. B. K. Adeoye, Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

   Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

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