Industrial scale dynamic controlled atmosphere storage of pome fruit

Dynamic controlled atmosphere (DCA) storage of pome fruit is a novel technique that replaces chemicals while maintaining fruit quality and saving on energy and operational cost. A validated novel DCA method has been implemented and tested in a pilot lab apple storage facility together with industry stakeholders (patent granted, TRL 5) but needs to be upscaled. Industrial scale CA rooms have different dynamics as well as practical constraints. This C3 project will develop, validate and use a computer model for industrial scale DCA system analysis combining computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models with models for fruit respiration and quality change kinetics at very low oxygen conditions, typical of DCA systems. We will use the model to better understand temporal and spatial dynamics in CA rooms affecting the DCA sensor.A controller will be designed and optimized to account for teh system dynamics ebaling a robust and accurate control of DCA cool roms. The system will be tested in the field, aiming at TRL 6, to prepare for collaboration with end users and system integrators, as well as other exploitation routes.

Keywords:pome fruit

Disciplines:Catalysis and reacting systems engineering, Chemical product design and formulation, General chemical and biochemical engineering, Process engineering, Separation and membrane technologies, Transport phenomena, Other (bio)chemical engineering