Human development and health are constrained by food insecurity (663 million people, 9% of the world) and lack of energy access (940 million, 13%). At the same time, some of the causes of food insecurity include poverty or low income, and chronic health conditions. This is because a balanced diet is key to healthy body development. Of all the food produced in the world, about one third needs refrigeration to maintain its integrity to be consumed, but 20% of the households don’t own a refrigerator. Beyond food, many medicines and vaccines also require a safe cold chain. One in five people live in this endless loop. To decrease it, it is required to contribute from multiple sectors simultaneously while keeping transversal components in order to guarantee a consistent impact. The BOTIJO project faces this challenge by a climate smart and low tech design: a fridge that works with water and wind in order to provide a cheap, simple and safe solution for people with energy and food insecurity
(Low) technology
1. Evaporative cooling fridge with porous clay pot.
2. Filling of the inner layer with wet sand. It has a glazed inner container that prevents the liquid permeation and gives thermal inertia to the system.
3. Collection of rainwater or air condensation (day/night cycle).
4. The process is boosted by the chimney effect to increase the thermal difference down to 4ºC inside.
Prototype tested
1. Hypothesis: the action of air flow promotes the evaporation of water and therefore the cooling of the system.
2. Test: comparison of two hygrothermal meters (temperature and relative humidity).
– The first one inside a Pot in Pot (control).
– The second one inside another Pot in Pot with air flow. The air flow is generated by a fan and absorbed by a curtain to prevent the air flow impacting the control pot.
3. Result, hypothesis confirmed: joining a botijo with a chimney can achieve a passive fridge that only requires water to run.
– Control meter: dropped from 10ºC to 5.7ºC in 2 hours.
– Fan meter: dropped from 10ºC to 4.4ºC in 2 hours.
Future
1. Prototyping of the autonomous BOTIJO refrigerator on a household scale.
2. Financing for pilot
3. Solution piloted in a real context, family with food and energy insecurity.
4. Publication of case study and analysis of results and costs.
5. Partnership with an NGO or cooperation agency to finance the first local production workshop.