MITS students develop solar cold storage system

Tirupati: Students of the Department of Mechanical, Madanapalle Institute of Technology and Sciences (MITS) in collaboration with faculty members have developed an eco-friendly solar cold storage system, addressing the challenges faced by street vendors and small-scale farmers. This project provides a solution to preserving vegetables without the need for electricity.

It has been developed by a group of final year students – Venkat Pawankumar, Mehboob Basha, Hari Prasad and Bharat under the guidance of Professor Muppala Lakshman Rao.
The construction of the unit involved the assembly of a wooden box made of thermocol, with one section filled with sand and an earthen pot placed on top of it. A five-volt fan, powered by a 12-volt battery recharged through solar panels, circulates cool air in the box, keeping the temperature as low as 15 degrees Celsius. The unit ensures that the vegetables remain fresh for 7 to 10 days.
Recognizing the need for mobility in transporting perishable goods, the students designed an eco-friendly battery-powered tricycle equipped with a cold storage box. Equipped with solar panels for continuous battery charging, the vehicle has a load capacity of 300 to 400 kg and is designed to withstand rough terrain. The cost-effective nature of the solution, which costs between 40,000 to45,000, is linked to the students’ efforts to obtain a patent for their invention. “The three-wheeler is powered by a 36-amp, 48-volt motor connected to two batteries, complemented by 140-watt solar panels. This setup allows the vehicle to carry more than 300 kg of goods, including fresh vegetables, along with the driver,” the professor said.