A Review on the Performance of Passive and Active Direct Evaporative Cooling System for Preservation of Perishable Agriculture Produce

Preservation of perishable agricultural produce could be enhanced using an Evaporative Cooling System (ECS), which provides lower and higher temperature and relative humidity conditions. The implementation of a cooling pad can achieve this storage condition. This paper aims to review the performance of the Passive Direct Evaporative Cooling System (PDECS) and Active Direct Evaporative Cooling System (ADECS) regarding temperature reduction, relative humidity increment capabilities, and cooling pad performance. The primary distinction between these systems is that the ADECS uses external force to enhance air circulation, while the PDECS depends on natural air movement. The performance of these systems is evaluated by using descriptive statistics. The results showed that the mean temperature reduction and humidity increment are 8.2°C and 9.7°C, and 31.8 and 33.8%, correspond to PDECS and ADECS. The charcoal and sponge performed the best cooling pad for PDECS and ADECS, respectively. While this study provides insights into the effectiveness of different types of ECS and cooling pad implementation, further research should be conducted to improve the cooling and humidification capabilities of the ECS.