On-Field Assessment of an Innovative Solar Powered Milk Cooling System in Tunisia

Publication Type

Contribution to conference

Authors

Mrabet, F; Torres, V; Salvatierra, A; Müller, A

Year of publication

2017

Conference name

Tropentag 2017 - “Future Agriculture: Socio-ecological transitions and bio-cultural shifts”

Conference location

Bonn, Germany

Conference date

21. September 2017

Keywords

Assessment, dairy farm, innovation, milk quality, on-farm cooling, solar energy

In many countries, milk is exclusively produced by small and medium sized dairy farms with daily milk output below 200l. Their milk, in most of the cases is transported to milk collection facilities without any form of cooling. During the hottest periods of the year, lack of quality can lead to high rates of refused milk at collection centers or dairy plants.
The University of Hohenheim has developed a small-scale milk cooling system based on a commercially available DC Refrigerator equipped with an adaptive control unit. The developed smart ice-maker operates depending on the availability of solar energy and is capable of producing up to 20 kg ice per day. One System includes 25 ice-blocks of 2 kg capacity and two 30l insulated milk cans with removable ice compartment. To cool down 30l of milk from 36°C to 15°C in one of the supplied milk cans, the systems needs 6kg of ice and less than 90 minutes.
Since April 2016, 10 solar systems of the presented milk cooling solution are operating in 7 farms in the region of Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia. Further 3 Systems were installed in November 2016 in Siaya, Kenya . The publication describes the features of the smart ice-maker and the insulated milk-cans followed by the experiences made in Tunisia and Kenya by implementing the technology. The Social acceptance, milk quality preservation potential and business opportunities are the main pillars treated.