SYSTEM

LOW COST SOLAR POWERED STEAM GENERATORS FOR RURAL FOOD INDUSRY

REQUIREMENT

Food industries based in rural areas of India produce a lot of processed food and sell it among themselves or in larger towns. The processung of food industry requires sterile atmosphere. The sterility is obtained by a variety of methods. Food being packed into containers must be processed carefully to ensure that the packed food does not spoil, specially ensuring sterility of the container. One of the easiest method of obtaining sterility is exposing all materials of packing to steam for a particuler period of time. Production of steam involves fuel like furnace, wood etc. The cost of fuel makes the product less competitive and if this cost could be saved it will provide higher margins to the producer.

A simple parabolic concentrator with manual tracking and an evacuated tube was designed. Solar energy falling on the parabolic concentrator heated up the water in the evacuated tube and starts producing steam, this steam can be used for any process like sterilisation etc. The equipment is designed to be low cost, simple to use and be very effective.

TARGET AREA / POPULATION

The target population for this equipment is small and tiny food industries specially located in rural areas. The steam can be used for other industries and processes also.

INNOVATION and DESIGN FACTOR

The innovation factor in the system are ;

• Design of a rugged all weather low cost, effective, steam generator.

• Design of simple parabolic reflector with corrosion proof material.

• Designing a simple support structure to provide simple but effective tracking.

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ROAD AHEAD

To design and develop a higher pressure steam generator for various applications.