Thermogenn Cooler (EvaKuula)

William Kisaalita

The EvaKuula is a milk cooler for small dairy farmers with no access to grid electricity, that can cool milk to 4-6 °C for 12 hours.

Snapshot
Manufacturing & delivery
Performance & use
Research & standards
Feedback

Product description Brand name and product description

The EvaKuula milk cooler is a prototype for small dairy farmers with no access to grid electricity. The device uses biogas to cool milk to 4-6 °C for 12 hours.

Target region(s) Target region for distribution/implementation (listed by country if specified)

Uganda

Distributors/implementing organizations Organization(s) distributing/deploying this product directly to communities/individuals?"

Thermogenn and The University of Georgia Research Foundation

Market suggested retail price Price per unit or service price per usage/terms (USD). Subsidies noted.

Currently in the pilot distribution phase: the expected production cost is 572.56 USD

Competitive landscape Similar products available on the market. May not be a comprehensive listing.

Fine Lined Evaporative Cooler (by Dominic Wanjihia), Rapid Milk Chiller (from Promethean Power systems), Biogas Milk Chiller (from Simgas), kerosene fridges available locally.

SDG targeted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted with this product/application/service

Goal 2: Zero hunger

Target user(s) Target user/consumer base (country, income segment)

Dairy farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa

Manufacturing/building method(s) Detail regarding solution production or construction method (instructions, mass production capacity, custom made,etc...)

This product is currently in the prototyping phase and not yet manufactured at scale.

Product Intellectual Property Open source/IP protected (note patent)/trade secret/other?

Other: Currently only available as a prototype

User Provision Model Where can the product be purchased/acquired by end users?

Directly from designer. Prototype product

Distribution to date Number of units that have been deployed, downloads or users to date

As of March 2018, 43 units have been deployed in Uganda.

Fields marked are sourced values that have been evaluated by the manufacturer or a third party, all others are design specifications.

Storage capacity (L)

The holding volume, measured in liters

80 L

Time to cool (hr)

Length of time it takes to cool products, measured in hours

3-4 hrs

Cooling retention (hr)

Time the products remain cold, measured in hours

12 hrs

Temperature control

Is there a way to control temperature?

Unknown

Minimum internal temperature (°C)

Maximum internal temperature, measured in degrees Celsius

4°C

Materials of construction

The materials used in construction

Stainless Steel, charcoal

Protection from insect entry

Does the product prevent insects from entering the chamber?

Yes

Refrigeration cycle catalyst

What is the medium for cooling?

Propane, biogas

Design specifications Component and Operation overview including power, portability, facility requirements, preventative maintenance and user training requirements

The EvaKuula kit contains two main components: a thermization unit and an evaporative cooling unit. The evaporative cooling unit is composed of up to four milk canisters placed inside a chamber with water and an external wind-powered mechanical air extraction fan. Each milk canister can hold 20 L of milk. The walls of the chamber are lined with an insulating material such as charcoal. A biogas or propane energy source can be used to speed up cooling time.

Product schematics Design and assembly illustrations

Schematics

Technical support Technical support provided by

None

Replacement components Availability of replacement components (in-country, by order,...)

Lifecycle Disposal and warranty

Unknown

Manufacturer specified performance targets Designer / Manufacturer specified targets

The designers aim for their product to cool milk to 4-6°C within 3-4 hours and to stay cool for 12 hours.

Vetted performance Findings of manufacturer evaluations or independent testing centers

Unknown

Testing organizations Independent lab, academic research centers, etc.

No third-party organizations, only testing performed by the designer.

Safety Potential hazards / risks related to operation of this product

Biogas is primarily composed of methane and carbon dioxide, which pose safety concerns if inhaled. Other safety concerns include explosion, asphyxiation, disease, and hydrogen sulfide poisoning.

Complementary technical systems Performance of this product is improved with another technology (eg. Cookstoves and Wind-blocking skirts)

The designer recommends connected the device to a biogas generator to speed up cooling times.

Academic research Academic research related to the product (e.g. published papers in peer-reviewed journals)

Kisaalita, W. S., Franklin, J., Tippie, A., Boyer, B., Faircloth, W., 2006, Comparative Feasibility Analysis of Alternative Renewable Energy Sources for Small Milk Cooling Plants of Southwestern Uganda, Agricultural Mechanization in Asia, Africa and Latin America, 37, pp. 69-75.

Kisaalita, W. S., Katimbo, A., Sempiira, E., Mugisa, D., 2018, EvaKuula Saves Ugandan Smallholder Farmers’ Evening Milk, Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 29, pp. 155-163.

Compliance with regulations Product certifications and standards referenced by designer/manufacturer

The EvaKuula met national safety standards and was approved for commercialization by the Uganda Dairy Development Authority. ^{Interview with representative}

Evaluation methods Evaluation methods/protocols/guidelines referenced by designer or manufacturer.

Unknown

Other information

The EvaKuula received the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers 2019 AE50 Award.

This product was designed at the University of Georgia in the ENGR 4920: Engineering design project (international section, with service-learning component) course taught by William Kisaalita.

In context photographs (0)

You can use the form below to contribute a photo of this product.

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors

Please let us know your experience in using this product through comments below.

Snapshot

Product description Brand name and product description

The EvaKuula milk cooler is a prototype for small dairy farmers with no access to grid electricity. The device uses biogas to cool milk to 4-6 °C for 12 hours.

Target region(s) Target region for distribution/implementation (listed by country if specified)

Uganda

Distributors/implementing organizations Organization(s) distributing/deploying this product directly to communities/individuals?"

Thermogenn and The University of Georgia Research Foundation

Market suggested retail price Price per unit or service price per usage/terms (USD). Subsidies noted.

Currently in the pilot distribution phase: the expected production cost is 572.56 USD

Competitive landscape Similar products available on the market. May not be a comprehensive listing.

Fine Lined Evaporative Cooler (by Dominic Wanjihia), Rapid Milk Chiller (from Promethean Power systems), Biogas Milk Chiller (from Simgas), kerosene fridges available locally.

SDG targeted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted with this product/application/service

Goal 2: Zero hunger

Target user(s) Target user/consumer base (country, income segment)

Dairy farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa

Manufacturing & delivery

Manufacturing/building method(s) Detail regarding solution production or construction method (instructions, mass production capacity, custom made,etc...)

This product is currently in the prototyping phase and not yet manufactured at scale.

Product Intellectual Property Open source/IP protected (note patent)/trade secret/other?

Other: Currently only available as a prototype

User Provision Model Where can the product be purchased/acquired by end users?

Directly from designer. Prototype product

Distribution to date Number of units that have been deployed, downloads or users to date

As of March 2018, 43 units have been deployed in Uganda.

Performance & use

Fields marked are sourced values that have been evaluated by the manufacturer or a third party, all others are design specifications.

Storage capacity (L)

The holding volume, measured in liters

80 L

Time to cool (hr)

Length of time it takes to cool products, measured in hours

3-4 hrs

Cooling retention (hr)

Time the products remain cold, measured in hours

12 hrs

Temperature control

Is there a way to control temperature?

Unknown

Minimum internal temperature (°C)

Maximum internal temperature, measured in degrees Celsius

4°C

Materials of construction

The materials used in construction

Stainless Steel, charcoal

Protection from insect entry

Does the product prevent insects from entering the chamber?

Yes

Refrigeration cycle catalyst

What is the medium for cooling?

Propane, biogas

Design specifications Component and Operation overview including power, portability, facility requirements, preventative maintenance and user training requirements

Product schematics Design and assembly illustrations

Schematics

Technical support Technical support provided by

None

Replacement components Availability of replacement components (in-country, by order,...)

Lifecycle Disposal and warranty

Unknown

Manufacturer specified performance targets Designer / Manufacturer specified targets

The designers aim for their product to cool milk to 4-6°C within 3-4 hours and to stay cool for 12 hours.

Vetted performance Findings of manufacturer evaluations or independent testing centers

Unknown

Testing organizations Independent lab, academic research centers, etc.

No third-party organizations, only testing performed by the designer.

Safety Potential hazards / risks related to operation of this product

Biogas is primarily composed of methane and carbon dioxide, which pose safety concerns if inhaled. Other safety concerns include explosion, asphyxiation, disease, and hydrogen sulfide poisoning.

Complementary technical systems Performance of this product is improved with another technology (eg. Cookstoves and Wind-blocking skirts)

The designer recommends connected the device to a biogas generator to speed up cooling times.

Research & standards

Academic research Academic research related to the product (e.g. published papers in peer-reviewed journals)

Kisaalita, W. S., Katimbo, A., Sempiira, E., Mugisa, D., 2018, EvaKuula Saves Ugandan Smallholder Farmers’ Evening Milk, Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 29, pp. 155-163.

Compliance with regulations Product certifications and standards referenced by designer/manufacturer

The EvaKuula met national safety standards and was approved for commercialization by the Uganda Dairy Development Authority. ^{Interview with representative}

Evaluation methods Evaluation methods/protocols/guidelines referenced by designer or manufacturer.

Unknown

Other information

The EvaKuula received the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers 2019 AE50 Award.

This product was designed at the University of Georgia in the ENGR 4920: Engineering design project (international section, with service-learning component) course taught by William Kisaalita.

Feedback

In context photographs (0)

You can use the form below to contribute a photo of this product.

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors

Please let us know your experience in using this product through comments below.

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Thermogenn Cooler (EvaKuula)

William Kisaalita

In context photographs (0)

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors