Experimental Investigation of Ice-Slurry Based Cold-Storage System for Farm Packhouses

Abstract

An ice slurry-based cold storage unit is a promising option for the on-farm packhouses. However, it is associated with a few challenges, such as low energy efficiency and high maintenance costs. Given this, the present study explores the surface-scraped method for ice slurry generation and makes the system viable for on-farm cold storage applications. In the present work, experiments are carried out for scraper speed, propylene glycol (PG)-water solution flow rate, PG concentration in solution, and storage volume within the range of 15 to 40 RPM, 0.1–0.5 m³/h, 5%–15%, 8 and 12 L, respectively. Moreover, experiments are also performed outdoors powered by solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to compare the results with those from the indoor experiments. The identified optimal scraper speed and PG-water flow rate values are 35 RPM and 0.3 m³/h, respectively. The optimal balance between the PG concentration and storage volume is recommended to capture the maximum amount of thermal energy for a fixed charging period, which is crucial in solar PV-based systems due to limited daylight availability. These findings enhance the understanding of ice slurry generation under varying conditions.