Portable Hybrid Refrigerator Prototype for Agribusiness With Its 3D Real Physical Geometry Scanned and Transferred for Simulation Software

A methodology that starts from the acquisition of real prototype geometries up to simulations to evaluate parameters, improvements, or performance under various conditions is proposed. The authors show a case study of a refrigerator with storage capacity for 50 kg of fruit solar-powered by photovoltaic panels, which reach a temperature of about 4°C. The refrigerator comprises two systems, vapor-compression, and Peltier. The methodology consisted of acquiring by a 3D laser scanner or coordinate measuring machine (CMM) and in some small complex items using 3D photogrammetry scanner. These data were transferred first as a CAD or solid works geometry and subsequently transferred to domains geometry useful for ANSYS or COMSOL simulation software. These models with high-resolution bring the simulations closer to real prototypes. Wireless sensors were installed for temperature and humidity monitoring. The analyses of the energy efficiencies of the prototype were performed. The photovoltaic system was for use in crop areas where there was no access to the urban electric network.