The Dhaka Times Desk The electricity problem in our country is so obvious that starting from mills and factories, there has been deadlock in all sectors. In such a situation, if a project comes up almost without electricity, it is gladly accepted. One such opportunity has arrived. That is, alternative 'refrigerator' has been invented with very little electricity.
According to media sources, alternative 'Himagar' has been built in Namovhadra area of Rajshahi Nagar. Only 14 lakhs of taka has been spent in the construction of this cold store with a capacity of 300 tons. An alternative method is to keep the house cool using a very common method of water vapor. On the other hand, a type of technology made of bamboo will absorb moisture from the air. This is the first time an alternative 'Himagar' has been created in this way.
Only 14 lakh rupees have been spent to build this cold store with a capacity of 300 tons. A cold store of this size in the conventional method requires about two and a half crores of rupees.
This cold storage has been made by Rajshahi University Botany Department Professor M. Manjur Hossain. Bangladesh Bank has financed this project. The Bangladesh Bank Governor is expected to inaugurate the cold store by the end of this month.
M. Manjur Hossain said, there is no such cold storage anywhere else. It is cost-effective perishable grain storage for low-income farmers. Experts have suggested that its usefulness can be confirmed after at least one year of use.
The cold store has been constructed in Namovhadra area of Rajshahi city. Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) Civil Engineering Department Professor Niamul Bari recently visited this cold store on November 3. He works on green technology. Regarding the potential of this freezer, he said that the structure, internal temperature and humidity measurements show that the freezer is expected to function naturally. But after another year, it will be fully understood whether it will work like a refrigerator.
It is believed that the farmer can store the crops at a very low cost in this cold storage. Farmers now have to pay Tk 350 to keep a bag of potatoes weighing 85 kg in cold storage. Keeping it in this freezer will cost only 100 rupees. There is no storage of ginger and onion in the country. Because of this, 60 percent of onions and ginger are lost in the farmer's house. Ginger, onion and chillies, brinjal, cauliflower, cabbage etc. can be stored in this freezer for one month.
It took 6 months to build this freezer. Construction started on April 28 this year. This three-story cold storage facility with a capacity of 300 tons has an area of 1,700 square feet. Its outer area is 60 by 30 feet. Inside 58 by 28 feet. The materials for making the freezer are bamboo, straw, tile, cement and sand. 60% of this is bamboo. 12 parts straw and the rest made of brick-sand-cement. And this freezer is covered with straw. The walls are made of bricks. The walls are not plastered. It is covered with tiles.
A certain amount of space is left between the wall and the tile. The voids will contain sand and water. Water vapor will be created from here. In this process, the heat absorption process inside the room will be completed.
A 3-storied bamboo loft has been constructed inside the cold store. Bamboo stairs have been made to go up again. A little space is left at the bottom of the wall so that the cold air from the ground floor rises naturally. Through it, the hot outside air enters and naturally pushes the cold air upwards. Again, there are two glass windows on both sides above the third floor so that it is not dark inside the freezer. And if the cold air below does not rise naturally, two fans are also kept to raise the cold air. This fan will also be powered by solar panels.
This is how this alternative freezer will work. It can be said that this cold storage has been discovered by natural means almost without electricity. Which will be especially beneficial in the current situation of the country.
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