Design and Simulation of a Temperature Sensor with Arduino for Cold Chain Applications

Resumen

This work presents the design, simulation and validation of a low-cost temperature monitoring system based on Arduino and the DHT-11 sensor, oriented to the cold chain in small cheese factories in Cajamarca dedicated to the production of buttery cheese. Faced with the problem of precise and continuous thermal control, which affects the quality and safety of the product, a prototype was developed that records temperatures in real time, visualizes data on an LCD screen and activates automatic alerts in the event of critical deviations. The methodology included selection and characterization of the DHT-11 sensor (range 0-50°C, accuracy ±0.5°C, low cost), construction of the electronic circuit with accessible components, programming for data logging and alerts, and evaluation in a simulated environment. The results demonstrated significant quantitative improvements: reduction of the margin of error by 80%, increase in measurement frequency by 1,800-5,400 times and decrease in the risk of cold chain breakdown by 90%, with economic savings of 60-70% and stability in 94% of trials. The comparison with traditional methods showed superiority in precision, efficiency and accessibility, confirming technical and economic viability for small companies. The modularity of the design allows future expansions with IoT, strengthening local competitiveness and preserving the quality of perishable products.