Hybrid Energy-Based Chilling System for Food Preservation in Remote Areas

The milk processing and preservation is a fast growing business in developing countries and it is facing problems due to high energy cost and environmental concerns in using conventional energy sources. Since the selection of feedstock and conversion technologies, appropriate research must implement renewable energy-based technologies to promote a constant flow of energy services. In this chapter, the focus is on implementing cooling technologies, using locally available energy sources such as biomass, biogas, gobar gas, which is going to be popular in the near future. The renewable energy sources can be used alone or in combination to run the generator of the vapor absorption system. Sufficient study is not available for hybrid energy systems, with the combination of locally available energy sources, focused in this study. Therefore a systematic analysis is needed to find the appropriate mixing of various renewable energy sources to meet the cooling requirements in any region to implement the complete renewable energy-based cooling system. The effect of variations in the combination of renewable energy sources on the overall system COP has been studied. Based on the maximum system performance and best economic performance, suitable combinations that can be preferred in various regions are predicted.