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Seed Storage. Anthony Re, Kevin Zeng. Objectives Statement. Families in Honduras do not ha ve seeds for their own gardens No way to store seeds for long durations Objective: Create an effective storage unit for long-term seed storage and create a method of managing humidity.
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Seed Storage Anthony Re, Kevin Zeng
ObjectivesStatement • Families in Honduras do not have seeds for their own gardens • No way to store seeds for long durations • Objective: Create an effective storage unit for long-term seed storage and create a method of managing humidity
Storage Requirements • Low Temperature and Humidity • General relationship: • F°+ Relative Humidity <=100 • Goal: below 40 F and 60% RH
Idea Development • Started out with many ideas • Vacuum sealed jars • Refrigeration • Silica gels • Oxygen absorbing packets • 10 foot deep crawlspace for storage • More expensive ideas
DIY Dehumidifieraterials • 2 tier system • Top layer absorbs water from air using dissicant (rock salt, charcoal) • Bottom layer collects water and should be dumped regularly
Final Design • Refrigerator Available • Use in conjunction with Jar/Duct Tape and DIY Dehumidifier DIY dehumidifier trays.
Issues Encountered • 1 week into the project, Larry, our contact switched us to a different refrigerator that was smaller • Original Refrigerator Dimensions Freezer compartment-H-14", W-25", D-14" Refrigerator compartment H-42", W-26", D-20" • New Refrigerator Dimensions Freezer compartment-H-12", W-13", D-13" Refrigerator compartment-H-30", W-13", D-13“ (Desiccator Barely fit 12.5”x12.5”) • It did not work as efficiently
Test 1 : Humidity and Temp. Original Refrigerator • Original Refrigerator was perfect • New Refrigerator had much higher humidity and temperature • Needed to request for original refrigerator New Refrigerator
Test 2 : Power Usage • Used outlet power meter • Power factor - Power/VA (apparent power) • 0.63 is normal for appliances • ~60 USD/Yr • A bit expensive • Based on 0.25 USD/kWH
Outcome/Conclusion • Ask to use original refrigerator • Accepted so there should be no problem in seed storage • Successful project • Effective technology • Cooling + desiccation in one device • Would have been much more difficult for a Honduran family • No refrigerator • No power (even though it is very cheap)
Materials/Costs • Would be much more costly if refrigerator weren’t available • Upkeep cost ($60 USD/Yr.) is a lot • Average refrigerator is 400W • 150 W solar panel is $150, need 4 • Most efficient is still to buy electricity
Recommendations 1. Power the refrigerator using solar or alternative energy source • Use smaller refrigerator if space is too large • Test to make sure seeds will survive a whole year
Acknowledgements • Roger Dzwonczyk (daily support) • Miriam Cater (daily support) • Larry Overholt (created opportunity for this project, guidance and foreign liaison) • Angie Overholt (created opportunity for this project, guidance and foreign liaison) • Dr. John Merrill (created opportunity for this project)