Development of an Ambient Control Method for Tomatoes Preservation

Thus, this work is aim at developing an ambient control method for tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) preservationThe quality of tomatoes depends on post harvest handling, transportation and storage techniques. Tomatoes cannot be kept for a long period of time due to their perishable and seasonal nature, it is therefore necessary to preserve it in seasons when available in other to ensure constant supply throughout the year with their nutritional value still retained. However, a 0.22 cubic metre capacity storage facility that operates on the principle of evaporative cooling, which is to increase the shelf life of stored tomatoes was designed, fabricated and tested. Data were observed twice daily and Results of the transient performance tests revealed that 117W is the cooling capacity of the produce (tomatoes) at 29.50C. Also, it was observed that the dry bulb (21-300C) and wet bulb (14.5-240C) temperatures are inversely proportional to the relative humidity (39-56%) of the cooler, which in turn show inverse relationship between the saturation efficiency (0-74.42%) and by-pass factor (0.26-1.00). An evaporative cooling system should be utilized to preserve tomatoes and other forms of vegetables at their minimal storage temperature in fourteen days relative to ambient storage. Thus, it has the prospect of being used for short term preservation of tomatoes soon after harvest and it will be very useful in helping the farmers most especially in a developing economy like Nigeria.Self-sponsore

Development of an Ambient Control Method for Tomatoes Preservation

The quality of tomatoes depends on post harvest handling, transportation and storage techniques. Tomatoes cannot be kept for a long period of time due to their perishable and seasonal nature, it is therefore necessary to preserve it in seasons when available in other to ensure constant supply throughout the year with their nutritional value still retained. However, a 0.22 cubic metre capacity storage facility that operates on the principle of evaporative cooling, which is to increase the shelf life of stored tomatoes was designed, fabricated and tested. Data were observed twice daily and Results of the transient performance tests revealed that 117W is the cooling capacity of the produce (tomatoes) at 29.50C. Also, it was observed that the dry bulb (21-300C) and wet bulb (14.5-240C) temperatures are inversely proportional to the relative humidity (39-56%) of the cooler, which in turn show inverse relationship between the saturation efficiency (0-74.42%) and by-pass factor (0.26-1.00). An evaporative cooling system should be utilized to preserve tomatoes and other forms of vegetables at their minimal storage temperature in fourteen days relative to ambient storage. Thus, it has the prospect of being used for short term preservation of tomatoes soon after harvest and it will be very useful in helping the farmers most especially in a developing economy like Nigeria. Key words: Evaporative cooling systems, tomatoes, preservation, temperature, relative humidity, cooling efficiency, cooling capacity.

Comparative Analysis of Gases Obtained From A Bio-Digester Using Different Waste Media

This work is aimed at comparing and analyzing the composition of gases obtained from a biogas plant using different media. This is achieved through construction of an improvised plant for gas collection, measuring and analyzing the quality of gases obtained in the plant and deducing the best waste medium based on the result obtained.The development of a technological devices and equipment for biogas production from different energy plants and organic wastes has made biogas a renewable source of energy generation. The interest in the use of the biogas as a renewable source of energy is increasing and also the scope of substrates for the anaerobic digestion process is on the increase. With the mini digester it is possible to observe the amount of biogas (methane gas) production and thus the most suitable plant, giving the maximum methane yield, can be determined. The mini digester made of galvanized steel was built, some measurements with energy plants were performed and then parameters such as biogas composition from animal wastes and crop residues were measured (in the laboratory) and compared. The highest biogas and methane yield was recorded in the animal waste. Probable recommendations were later made.Self-sponsore