A Study on the Utilizing of Cold Heat Energy in the Winter Season : The Thermal Design and Experimental Proof of the Himuro Type Storage Shed

Abstract

The author and his co-workers have been developing the technique of collecting, conserving and utilizing systems of cold heat energy in the winter season. This paper presents an example of methods for the storage of agricultural products by the use of natural ice in winter season ; that is, by means of a HIMURO type storage shed. The author has proposed a method for the thermal design of a cold storage room taking account of monthly changes in environmental conditions and heat generation from agricultural products. The experiment was performed over a period of one year to verify the propriety of the thermal design and to observe the storing condition of product by using a HIMURO type storage shed on a practical scale. The close agreement between the observed and designed characteristic values were obtained. It is clear that the characteristics of the HIMURO type storage shed are very suitable for storing many kinds of agricuitural products over a long time period.