NIT-R team develops low-cost chamber for tomato transport | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: A team from NIT Rourkela has built a ‘low-cost, mobile and zero-energy cooling chamber’ which can address challenges in tomato storage and transportation.
The chamber does not require external energy supply as it runs on the principle of ‘evaporative cooling technique‘ while utilising a low-cost insulation layer. It is designed for the efficient storage and transportation of tomato.
The cooling chamber, which was developed at a cost of Rs 1.4 lakh, can hold 750-1,000 kg of produce at temperatures ranging from 16 to 18 degrees Celsius.One of the significant advantages of the unit is its mobility, as it can be easily mounted on various vehicles, including trucks, tractors, small pickups and even trains, providing flexibility in transportation.
“The development is expected to revolutionise large-scale transportation of perishable goods, providing a sustainable and energy-efficient solution. The unit also comes with variants like a portable crate, which can be used by small vegetable growers/sellers or distributors,” said Madhuresh Dwivedi, a professor of NIT Rourkela and a member of the team.
Another team member, professor Rama Chandra Pradhan, said they also adapted the technology for larger platforms like train coaches, combining magnetic and evaporative cooling for optimal temperature and humidity.
Other members of the team are PhD scholars Chingakham Ngotomba Singh and Thota Niranjan, professor from the School of Management, Rajeev Kumar Panda, and senior technician Somnath Das.
The team, comprising faculty and research scholars, won the ‘Tomato Grand Challenge‘ during the National Consumer Day event organised in New Delhi on Dec 24.
Union minister of state for consumer affairs, food and public distribution, B L Verma, presented the team with a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh and citations.
The challenge, launched in June last year, is a collaborative initiative of the ministry of consumer affairs, education ministry’s Innovation Cell and AICTE. It sought innovative ideas to address agricultural challenges and stabilise the tomato supply chain. The competition attracted 1,376 ideas from students, researchers, industry professionals and startups. Of these, 467 were shortlisted, 28 received prototype funding, and the NIT Rourkela team emerged as the winner.
During the event, the NIT-R team also got the opportunity to participate in the ‘Investor Pitch Deck’ and was appreciated by potential investors, official sources said.
The chamber does not require external energy supply as it runs on the principle of ‘evaporative cooling technique‘ while utilising a low-cost insulation layer. It is designed for the efficient storage and transportation of tomato.
The cooling chamber, which was developed at a cost of Rs 1.4 lakh, can hold 750-1,000 kg of produce at temperatures ranging from 16 to 18 degrees Celsius.One of the significant advantages of the unit is its mobility, as it can be easily mounted on various vehicles, including trucks, tractors, small pickups and even trains, providing flexibility in transportation.
“The development is expected to revolutionise large-scale transportation of perishable goods, providing a sustainable and energy-efficient solution. The unit also comes with variants like a portable crate, which can be used by small vegetable growers/sellers or distributors,” said Madhuresh Dwivedi, a professor of NIT Rourkela and a member of the team.
Another team member, professor Rama Chandra Pradhan, said they also adapted the technology for larger platforms like train coaches, combining magnetic and evaporative cooling for optimal temperature and humidity.
Other members of the team are PhD scholars Chingakham Ngotomba Singh and Thota Niranjan, professor from the School of Management, Rajeev Kumar Panda, and senior technician Somnath Das.
The team, comprising faculty and research scholars, won the ‘Tomato Grand Challenge‘ during the National Consumer Day event organised in New Delhi on Dec 24.
Union minister of state for consumer affairs, food and public distribution, B L Verma, presented the team with a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh and citations.
The challenge, launched in June last year, is a collaborative initiative of the ministry of consumer affairs, education ministry’s Innovation Cell and AICTE. It sought innovative ideas to address agricultural challenges and stabilise the tomato supply chain. The competition attracted 1,376 ideas from students, researchers, industry professionals and startups. Of these, 467 were shortlisted, 28 received prototype funding, and the NIT Rourkela team emerged as the winner.
During the event, the NIT-R team also got the opportunity to participate in the ‘Investor Pitch Deck’ and was appreciated by potential investors, official sources said.
