Korey King
05-11-2009, 03:19 PM
Not really a breakthrough but this technology is perfect for cheap, no-power-needed food storage.
Several designs out there, many are patented, but the concepts are the same.
Practical Action has the Zeer Clay Pot (http://www.practicalaction.org/?id=zeerpots), which is essentially a pot-in-pot used by farmers to extend the storage life of their food 4-10x in hot climates -- one of the the cheapest implementations out there, each pot's material costs are about $2 and (reportedly) gives the farmer a 25-30% boost to profits that would have been lost to spoilage without.
http://www.treehugger.com/abba-pot.jpg
They've got a How-To: http://practicalaction.org/docs/region_sudan/clay-based-technology-refrigerator.pdf
an in-depth How-To: http://practicalaction.org/docs/region_sudan/clay-based-technologies.pdf
and more info on the science behind evaporative cooling: http://practicalaction.org/practicalanswers/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=240
Another device (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1108343/Amazing-solar-powered-fridge-invented-British-student-potting-shed-helps-poverty-stricken-Africans.html?ITO=1490) came from a garage inventor in the UK, it's not as simple but still an excellent example of how easily these things can be made:
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/01/07/article-1108343-02F85484000005DC-666_468x348.jpg
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/01/07/article-1108343-02F9F1BD000005DC-409_468x516.jpg
In areas where electric power is unavailable or cost-prohibitive, simple devices like these could make all the difference.
Other examples?
Several designs out there, many are patented, but the concepts are the same.
Practical Action has the Zeer Clay Pot (http://www.practicalaction.org/?id=zeerpots), which is essentially a pot-in-pot used by farmers to extend the storage life of their food 4-10x in hot climates -- one of the the cheapest implementations out there, each pot's material costs are about $2 and (reportedly) gives the farmer a 25-30% boost to profits that would have been lost to spoilage without.
http://www.treehugger.com/abba-pot.jpg
They've got a How-To: http://practicalaction.org/docs/region_sudan/clay-based-technology-refrigerator.pdf
an in-depth How-To: http://practicalaction.org/docs/region_sudan/clay-based-technologies.pdf
and more info on the science behind evaporative cooling: http://practicalaction.org/practicalanswers/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=240
Another device (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1108343/Amazing-solar-powered-fridge-invented-British-student-potting-shed-helps-poverty-stricken-Africans.html?ITO=1490) came from a garage inventor in the UK, it's not as simple but still an excellent example of how easily these things can be made:
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/01/07/article-1108343-02F85484000005DC-666_468x348.jpg
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/01/07/article-1108343-02F9F1BD000005DC-409_468x516.jpg
In areas where electric power is unavailable or cost-prohibitive, simple devices like these could make all the difference.
Other examples?