Pecoref ( Portable Efficient Cooling Refrigerator)

Nurturing a bridge from field to fork.

Pecoref; a zero energy, portable, affordable and lightweight refrigeration unit, to reduce crop spoilage after harvest upto 50%.

Tags:
  • LossReduction
  • Transportation
  • Environment
  • Efficient
  • CostEffective
  • Portable
  • Indigenous
  • Refrigeration
  • PostHarvest

Use Case

Manu's 40% of crops and milk gets spoiled as he transports it from farm at banks of Brahmaputra to market, due to extreme heat and humidity. A poor farmer, he can't afford any refrigerator or electricity.Pecoref steps in as a relief for him and other farmers facing this problem.Based on evaporative cooling, keeping inside volume 10 degrees cooler, with Zero Energy consumption, it is affordable with no energy bills, or can be made by him using available raw materials. Inspired from ZECC, it has only one layer, making it lightweight and portable, to cover long distances to market without spoilage. With a feedback system in place, he can suggest improvements via feedback system, thus, increasing his income, declining food wastage, improving our product, advancing the local farming ecosystems.

Potential

A small spark can burn down the whole forest. This idea has the capacity to change the social dynamics in every nation by addressing the problem of refrigeration of crops during transportation, protecting 0.5 of 1.3 billion tonnes ( 40%) of rotten food annually by making the farmers more self sufficient and reducing post harvest losses by 50 %. Made from easily available raw materials, it is affordable, and being zero energy and environmental friendly, it can also be endorsed via govt. and NGO's, even in most volatile regions. If all farmers in Africa adopt Pecoref, it would protect 37% of 112 million tons/yr production, increasing the food availability in these regions, increasing farmer's income, to upgrade farming techniques, and "more exports" by 2050, thereby, uprooting status quo.

Business Case

With materials and other costs and funds(per unit),sold at INR 5000,will be first tested in local domain in Guwahati farmers union,with detailed data analysis of its impact on 500 farmers.We will mobilize support through our "Biorgese" program,with campus ambassadors around the world at various colleges,as"On-Field"agents,to hold sessions for rural people for product usage and regulation and further conduct data analysis of impact of program through registered users.Partner with national NGOs, Ministry of Agriculture and WHO's rural development schemes,with a feedback system and open source via ambassadors.Can be used as a cheap food storage option for large food processing( or other food related) companies in the form of much larger containers employing the same basic principle.

Objectives:

  1. Integrate optimum indigenous post harvest storage and transportation techniques, making it affordable, to empower local farming ecosystems.
  2. Mobilize 20 ambassadors for program, under partnership with Ministry of Agriculture and NGO's in rural development scheme, in 1.5 yr
  3. Encourage research in ecofriendly innovations, via feedback system and open source, and further partner with 2 large food processing units.

Team Biorgese

Guwahati, Assam, India

  • Science / Engineering
  • Food Waste / Consumer Issues
  • Global

Our Team

Cataloging the Final Data - The blog's "Where's what?". Take a look please :)

When we started out the project, we had no idea where to start, what to do, how to ideate, if you say. But there is always a sense of accomplishment that rides with you, when you "pitch" an idea, to a panel of people so experienced, and are waiting to test your research and know-how, and hence, we started this blog with an aim, to tell you, along with the journey, our maintained documentation, might help you look into topics more detailed.

The first question must be "How does this damn thing WORK?" .
To know more about it, please check article "Pecoref- How does it work?" , for more clarifications on how to use the product, on PAGE 1, to know the design and working principle. Its a short article, have fun reading it :)

For knowing more about Business Plan, we have developed a CANVAS under the title "BUSINESS PITCH", (PAGE 2) a little insight of how we will move forward once selected.

Then there were times that we went little sentimental with work we were doing, and wrote articles in spirit of that sentiment, which you can find on PAGES 3,4 and 5. So, please read our blog, it's a sincere request, since it took US a LOT of time to write those for you guys.

With this, the team from IIT Guwahati, BIORGESE signs off and hopes for the best.

"Namaste".

Pecoref - How does it work? / Published December 7, 2014 by Nakul Yadav

Pecoref - How does it work?

With the deadline approaching, things are getting more and more serious! But at the same time exciting times these are for everyone in our team!
Our product, titled Pecoref ( Portable Efficient Cooling Refrigerator) as the name suggests aims to cool down stuff efficiently and the same time has other features, i.e. portability etc.
So naturally the question arises, how do we bring about cooling with no energy usage at all?

Here the basic concept that we use is that of evaporative cooling. On a hot sunny day, while you are outside, you realize that you sweat a lot. Why does your body do so? It’s because when the sweat evaporates it causes a cooling sensation which helps in regulating our body temperature. We use the same concept in our product!

The basic structure of our product consists of a metallic box which is surrounded by an evaporative pad which has water supplied to it with the help of a drip system. Although the overall structure is a bit more intricate, the working can be explained using this basic model. Now what we require is that air flow through the pad is such that there is sufficient contact between water and air and that heat is absorbed efficiently from the metal container. This air flow helps in the process of evaporation. The water takes the heat from metal surface (and hence the volume inside it), evaporates, thus cooling the surface , which lowers the temperature of the inside body. Jute is one such material where there is least resistance to air flow due to tiny holes it contains. The continuous strands of woven threads in it enable water to spread rapidly.

Next, the drip system will basically help in providing water supply to the jute layer around the metallic structure. It will ensure a steady supply with minimal wastage of water.
The metallic structure will contain the items that we need to store. Its role is to prevent contact with any outside material and allow only efficient conduction of heat keeping the inside of the container cool.

In short, heat is taken from the container with the help of evaporation through the jute layer and thrown out into the surroundings causing the container and its inside volume to become cool-er.
There you have it! It’s as easy as this but has the potential to save a lot of food from getting spoiled!
Keep reading we have got lots more in store for you guys! ;)

Media Coverage / Published December 6, 2014 by Vikram Aditya

Media Coverage

It is never too late to do good stuffs. Finally after overcoming from the Exam's intrusions and a hectic last month, we finally got the time to gain some media coverage. A small article in a local daily.

User Testing and Interview / Published December 6, 2014 by Vikram Aditya

User Testing and Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcWjRDT8ZEA&feature=youtu.be

We decided to take views of the local farmers about our product. More so, about what exactly would they want as a solution.

Sketching the Logo. Go Biorgese / Published December 6, 2014 by Nakul Yadav

Sketching the Logo. Go Biorgese

One of the many moments, Etch-a-Sketch.

View the rest of the blog posts.

Our Mission

We have grown up in a country which has about 70% of it's population dependent on agriculture but yet there are so many hungry souls that go to bed daily. The worst part of the scenario is that the problem is growing exponentially. The main reason behind such a grim situation is the unavailability of technology that is affordable and available for all in the worst scenarios as well. Biorgese stands for making that shift happen. It is said do what you are best at and hence we wish to inculcate an all together new culture by introducing indigenous technology which has been well tested and which can be applied on an elementary level at places where it is not being applied. Our research suggests that Post- harvest losses are one of the most unfocused areas and which need immediate attention. hence our solution tends to minimize post harvest losses thereby minimizing the gap that has been created between the field and the fork.We tend to bring about a revolution not by 2050 but now itself. We aim to provide a feasible, yet innovative method, to end this scramble for food, and provide enough nourishment to the ones who can't avail food. We aim to have a sustainable development. We stand to make simplicity and innovation spread the smile that has vanishes for approximately 20% of the world population

Our Background

We are a group of 5 sophomore undergraduate students from the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati. Vikram pursuing his Majors in Design has been steering the design related issues. Nakul and Milind though from the Physics stream have a passion for Biology and Indigenous methods and often end up carrying out a couple of projects in this field now and then. Shivam from the Computer science domain, a coding expert, just cannot resist himself when it is about some hands-on work and Karan from the Chemical Department is the main brain behind using a concept as simple as Evaporative cooling and the cooling pads but powerful enough to make us pitch it in as our idea. We come from a country which has huge diversity and is still counted as a developing nation because it lacks on many fronts. So we from our childhood have felt like bringing about that change. Fate brought us together in college and as a team all we care about is to accomplish our mission, come what may! We do like chilling out once in a while but when it is about work, we let our work speak on our behalf. TFF, according to us is an excellent motivation to give a head start to our vision. TFF has already made it's mark and when we came to know about the competition, we knew it was the only way to affect the shift. So with our adrenaline rush, we enrolled and our journey so far, the interaction with the experienced TFF mentors and the beautiful TFF family further gave us a resolute that "Together we will make a difference."

Cataloging the Final Data - The blog's "Where's what?". Take a look please :)

When we started out the project, we had no idea where to start, what to do, how to ideate, if you say. But there is always a sense of accomplishment that rides with you, when you "pitch" an idea, to a panel of people so experienced, and are waiting to test your research and know-how, and hence, we started this blog with an aim, to tell you, along with the journey, our maintained documentation, might help you look into topics more detailed.

The first question must be "How does this damn thing WORK?" .
To know more about it, please check article "Pecoref- How does it work?" , for more clarifications on how to use the product, on PAGE 1, to know the design and working principle. Its a short article, have fun reading it :)

For knowing more about Business Plan, we have developed a CANVAS under the title "BUSINESS PITCH", (PAGE 2) a little insight of how we will move forward once selected.

Then there were times that we went little sentimental with work we were doing, and wrote articles in spirit of that sentiment, which you can find on PAGES 3,4 and 5. So, please read our blog, it's a sincere request, since it took US a LOT of time to write those for you guys.

With this, the team from IIT Guwahati, BIORGESE signs off and hopes for the best.

"Namaste".

Pecoref - How does it work? / Published December 7, 2014 by Nakul Yadav

Pecoref - How does it work?

With the deadline approaching, things are getting more and more serious! But at the same time exciting times these are for everyone in our team!
Our product, titled Pecoref ( Portable Efficient Cooling Refrigerator) as the name suggests aims to cool down stuff efficiently and the same time has other features, i.e. portability etc.
So naturally the question arises, how do we bring about cooling with no energy usage at all?

Here the basic concept that we use is that of evaporative cooling. On a hot sunny day, while you are outside, you realize that you sweat a lot. Why does your body do so? It’s because when the sweat evaporates it causes a cooling sensation which helps in regulating our body temperature. We use the same concept in our product!

The basic structure of our product consists of a metallic box which is surrounded by an evaporative pad which has water supplied to it with the help of a drip system. Although the overall structure is a bit more intricate, the working can be explained using this basic model. Now what we require is that air flow through the pad is such that there is sufficient contact between water and air and that heat is absorbed efficiently from the metal container. This air flow helps in the process of evaporation. The water takes the heat from metal surface (and hence the volume inside it), evaporates, thus cooling the surface , which lowers the temperature of the inside body. Jute is one such material where there is least resistance to air flow due to tiny holes it contains. The continuous strands of woven threads in it enable water to spread rapidly.

Next, the drip system will basically help in providing water supply to the jute layer around the metallic structure. It will ensure a steady supply with minimal wastage of water.
The metallic structure will contain the items that we need to store. Its role is to prevent contact with any outside material and allow only efficient conduction of heat keeping the inside of the container cool.

In short, heat is taken from the container with the help of evaporation through the jute layer and thrown out into the surroundings causing the container and its inside volume to become cool-er.
There you have it! It’s as easy as this but has the potential to save a lot of food from getting spoiled!
Keep reading we have got lots more in store for you guys! ;)

Media Coverage / Published December 6, 2014 by Vikram Aditya

Media Coverage

It is never too late to do good stuffs. Finally after overcoming from the Exam's intrusions and a hectic last month, we finally got the time to gain some media coverage. A small article in a local daily.

User Testing and Interview / Published December 6, 2014 by Vikram Aditya

User Testing and Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcWjRDT8ZEA&feature=youtu.be

We decided to take views of the local farmers about our product. More so, about what exactly would they want as a solution.

Sketching the Logo. Go Biorgese / Published December 6, 2014 by Nakul Yadav

Sketching the Logo. Go Biorgese

One of the many moments, Etch-a-Sketch.

View the rest of the blog posts.

Our Team

Our Mission

We have grown up in a country which has about 70% of it's population dependent on agriculture but yet there are so many hungry souls that go to ...Read More

Our Background

We are a group of 5 sophomore undergraduate students from the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati. Vikram pursuing his Majors in Design has been steering the design related ...Read More

The information contained here represents student project ideas developed as the result of brainstorming activities during Round 1 of the TFF Challenge. It does not represent any final business plans or commercial products.