https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/112118 Sun, 05 Apr 2026 22:13:12 GMT 2026-04-05T22:13:12Z http://dspace.mit.edu:80/bitstream/id/b58a0829-6bbf-4dcf-ad3f-10729de4a56f/ https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/112118 https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/121582 Evaporative Cooling for Improved Vegetable and Fruit Storage in Rwanda and Burkina Faso Verploegen, Eric; Ekka, Rashmi; Gurbinder, Gill The horticulture sector plays a vital role in supporting human nutrition and income generation for farmers in Rwanda and Burkina Faso. A lack of affordable and effective postharvest fruit and vegetable storage solutions often leads to spoilage, loss of income, reduced access to nutritious foods, and significant amounts of time spent traveling to sell and purchase fresh produce (fruits and vegetables), particularly in rural communities. Studies conducted in Rwanda and Burkina Faso indicate that postharvest losses for perishable products like tomatoes are between 50-60%. The objective of this research study is to investigate the potential for non-electric evaporative cooling devices to address challenges of postharvest fruit and vegetable storage in Rwanda and Burkina Faso. The two classes of devices evaluated in this study are commonly known as “Zero Energy Cooling Chambers” (ZECCs), which are generally used by horticulture farmers, farmer groups and cooperatives, and “clay pot coolers,” which are generally used in households. These devices rely on the evaporation of water to create a cooling effect, and their performance is significantly affected by the ambient temperature and humidity of the environment in which they operate. In this study, we used a combination of electronic sensors, fruit and vegetable shelf life measurements, and structured user interviews to gather information about users’ needs for improved postharvest storage, current methods of postharvest storage, and the performance of the evaporative cooling devices. Wed, 01 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/121582 2019-05-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/121400 International Development Innovation Network (IDIN) Program Impact Data 2014-2017 Budzyna, Laura This document includes data from International Development Innovation Network (IDIN) program monitoring and evaluation surveys from 2014-2017. IDIN was a program led by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s D-Lab, implemented by a global consortium of academic, institutional, and innovation center partners, and supported by USAID’s Higher Education Solutions Network in the U.S. Global Development Lab. Together with IDIN Network members and partners the D-Lab team worked to support innovators and entrepreneurs around the globe to design, develop, and disseminate technologies to improve the lives of people living in poverty. The program consisted of five components: design workshops and summits, innovation project funding, local innovation centers, research, and MIT student engagement. Mon, 24 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/121400 2019-06-24T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/121397 International Development Innovation Network (IDIN) Program Impact Report 2012-2016 Budzyna, Laura; McKown, Lauren From 2012-2017, the International Development Innovation Network (IDIN) was a program led by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s D-Lab; implemented by a global consortium of academic, institutional, and innovation center partners; and supported by USAID’s Higher Education Solutions Network in the U.S. Global Development Lab. Today, IDIN Network members and partners continue to support innovators and entrepreneurs around the globe to design, develop, and disseminate technologies to improve the lives of people living in poverty. This report summarizes the program's impact and accomplishments between 2012 and 2016. Mon, 24 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/121397 2019-06-24T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/113313 Energy Assessment Toolkit Introduction (v1.02) Verploegen, Eric A community focused approach for identifying energy needs and market opportunities Sat, 01 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/113313 2017-04-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40491 Peanut oil press redesign for Developing countries Lee, Daipan One of the causes of malnutrition among the rural inhabitants of Sub-Saharan Africa is the high cost of dietary fats that are necessary to maintain normal body functions. Though the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN recommends an annual intake of 9.6 liters of dietary fats a year per person, some areas of Africa consume only about 1.5 liters annually. Many members of these communities lack the resources to purchase imported edible oils; locally produced peanut oil would provide a cheaper alternative. In addition, peanut production is particularly beneficial to farmers, as peanut plants enrich the soil they grow in. Once they have a steady supply of peanuts, the problem facing farmers is the inability to efficiently extract the oil from the nuts. The current design for human-powered rapid extraction is the Bielenberg ram press, which uses a lever to generate the required pressure needed to extract the oil. However, this design is not optimal for two reasons: it requires significant upper body strength to operate, and also, incorrect operation of the lever leads to only a fraction of the peanuts' oil content being extracted. For these reasons, this thesis focuses on a design modification originally proposed by a team in D-Lab Spring 2006.; (cont.) While the oil extracting mechanism was kept intact, the lever was replaced by a cam-and-follower system driven by treadles. By moving the driving motion from the upper body to the lower body of the user, the new design aims to address the ergonomics issue present in the Bielenberg ram press. The cam also allows optimization of the pressure profile for the peanuts. Research performed by Ravi Patel in 2007 has shown that a rapid buildup followed by a long period of followed by a gradual advancing of the piston will create the desired pressure characteristics to maximize output. An earlier attempt to convert the Bielenberg ram press into a treadle design yielded several insights into how the design could be improved. These insights have led to many design modifications, which are incorporated into the proposed redesign. This redesign is aimed at improving performance, reducing cost, and increasing the manufacturability of the press. Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2007.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 28-29). Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40491 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z