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Seed Storage

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

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  1. Seed Storage Anthony Re, Kevin Zeng

  2. 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

  3. Storage Requirements • Low Temperature and Humidity • General relationship: • F°+ Relative Humidity <=100 • Goal: below 40 F and 60% RH

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. Final Design • Refrigerator Available • Use in conjunction with Jar/Duct Tape and DIY Dehumidifier DIY dehumidifier trays.

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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)

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. 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)

  14. Questions?

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