Assessing the Thermal Load of Low-Cost Cold Storage for Perishable Agricultural Products Used in Rural Areas of Bangladesh

Abstract

Bangladesh is an agricultural country with limited food storage facilities. As a result, more than 20-40% of perishable products go to waste, amounting to an estimated loss of $2.4 billion annually. Field surveys indicate that consumers prefer fresh, nutrient-rich goods, while farmers need sufficient time to sell their harvested produce at fair prices. Additionally, supply chain authorities aim to reduce perishable waste to maximize their profits. To ensure food safety and improve supply chain management, implementing low-cost cold storage solutions emerges as an immediate and viable solution. Districts without adequate storage facilities, such as Khagrachari, Brahmanbaria, Mymensingh, and Narail, could benefit significantly from being developed into storage-rich zones, aligning with government initiatives. With this goal in mind, a low-cost cold storage unit has been designed, offering 28 m³ of storage space with a capacity of 5,000 kg for perishable fruits and vegetables. The daily intake rate is 1,000 kg, and rice husk particles are used as insulating material to minimize costs. In the design process, cooling loads for various perishable fruits and vegetables were calculated using MATLAB coding. Based on their perishability rates and availability in local markets, potatoes, mangoes, watermelons, and cauliflowers were selected for this study.