Developing an active solar cooling system for root cellars in Alaska
Mount with five 365W solar panels. The mount was designed and built by ACEP summer intern Kristian Nudlash.
August 23, 2024
University of Alaska Anchorage electrical engineering student Kristian Nudlash worked as an ACEP intern this summer under the mentorship of Michelle Wilber to develop an active solar cooling system for root cellars in Alaska.
The goal of the project was to determine if an unconventional solution using off-the-shelf materials was robust and cost-effective enough for farmers to implement.
Nudlash's job was to design and build a mount for the solar panels and test the system to ensure everything was working and recording data correctly. The cooling system consists of a DC heat pump, cool-bot — a device that allows the heat pump to chill to lower temperatures than it normally can — and a Raspberry Pi for data collection.
With summers in Alaska becoming hotter, some farmers are having difficulties preserving vegetables in their cellars in the fall. This project is a pilot test that will help determine if the cooling demand can be met with a solar photovoltaics and heat pump system while still being economical.
Nudlash tests the cooling system.
On a broader scale, with solar gaining more popularity within the state, this project is a small part of the research being done to find additional applications for solar.
Nudlash’s ACEP intern project in summer 2023 was to analyze energy usage in oyster and kelp farms in his hometown of Dillingham, Alaska, where his family runs a commercial fishing operation. This year he wanted to expand his knowledge and experience in a different aspect of energy.
“I gained valuable knowledge of solar PV systems, such as determining how many panels are needed, and mounting and wiring a solar load,” Nudlash said.
Like last year, Nudlash enjoyed the hands-on aspect of the project.
“The skills I’ve learned through this project feel very practical,” he said.
This internship is funded by the Office of Naval Research’s Alaska Regional Collaboration for Technology Innovation and Commercialization program through the ACEP Undergraduate Summer Internship program. View the final presentation for this project on ACEP’s YouTube Channel. For more information on this project, please contact Michelle Wilber at mmwilber@alaska.edu.