Fruit and vegetable controlled atmosphere ripening equipment and method

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides controlled atmosphere ripening equipment and a controlled atmosphere ripening method for fruits and vegetables. The controlled atmosphere ripening equipment and the controlled atmosphere ripening method are used for accurately and controllably ripening after-ripening fruits and vegetables in a transportation process. The method comprises the following steps: acquiring a current ripening agent concentration value of a ripening agent in the refrigerated container and a ripening control instruction; wherein the ripening control instruction comprises a target ripening agent concentration value, set by a user, of a ripening agent in the refrigerated container; according to the target ripening agent concentration value and the current ripening agent concentration value, the valve opening degree of an electromagnetic valve is adjusted so as to adjust and control the concentration of the ripening agent flowing through a main pipeline and entering the refrigerated container.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of the present application relate to the field of cold chain logistics technology, and in particular to a controlled atmosphere ripening device and method for fruits and vegetables. Background Art

[0002] Currently in the international trade of fruits and vegetables, late-ripening fruits and vegetables (such as bananas, mangoes, avocados or tomatoes) are usually picked when they are not fully ripe, and after long-distance sea transportation, they are ripened in the destination market.

[0003] However, existing refrigerated containers only control temperature and humidity, lacking the ability to add controlled ripening agents, causing fruits and vegetables to stop reaching physiological maturity during transportation. Furthermore, centralized ripening upon arrival takes additional time and can easily lead to uneven ripening and excessive softening, further increasing costs. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The embodiments of the present application provide a controlled atmosphere ripening device and method for fruits and vegetables, which are used to accurately and controllably ripen late-ripening fruits and vegetables during transportation.

[0005] A first aspect of the embodiments of the present application provides a controlled atmosphere ripening device for fruits and vegetables, comprising:

[0006] A gas pressure tank storing a ripening agent and connected to the refrigerated container via a main pipeline;

[0007] a control valve, disposed at the gas tank outlet of the gas pressure tank, for controlling the gas flow of the ripening agent released from the gas pressure tank to the main pipeline;

[0008] a solenoid valve coupled to the main line for controlling a gas flow rate of the ripening agent flowing through the main line;

[0009] a ripening agent concentration sensor, disposed in the refrigerated container, for monitoring a current ripening agent concentration value in the refrigerated container;

[0010] A human-computer interaction device, configured to receive a ripening control instruction from a user; wherein the ripening control instruction includes a target ripening agent concentration value in the refrigerated container set by the user;

[0011] a controller coupled to the human-computer interaction device, the ripening agent concentration sensor, the solenoid valve, and the control valve, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the valve opening of the solenoid valve or the valve opening of the control valve according to the current ripening agent concentration value sent by the ripening agent concentration sensor and the target ripening agent concentration value sent by the human-computer interaction device, so as to regulate the concentration of the ripening agent flowing through the main line into the refrigerated container.

[0012] Optionally,

[0013] The controller is configured to calculate a difference between the target ripening agent concentration value and the current ripening agent concentration value to obtain a ripening agent concentration deviation value;

[0014] The controller is configured to control the control valve to perform one of the following operations according to the ripening agent concentration deviation value and a preset concentration deviation value set by a user:

[0015] If the ripening agent concentration deviation value is greater than a preset concentration deviation value, increasing the valve opening of the control valve, thereby increasing the gas flow rate of the ripening agent released from the gas pressure tank;

[0016] or, if the ripening agent concentration deviation value is less than the inverse of the preset concentration deviation value, reducing the valve opening of the control valve and reducing the gas flow of the ripening agent released from the gas pressure tank;

[0017] Alternatively, if the ripening agent concentration deviation value is not greater than the absolute value of the preset concentration deviation value, the valve opening of the control valve is kept unchanged, and the gas flow rate of the ripening agent released from the gas pressure tank is kept unchanged.

[0018] Optionally, the fruit and vegetable controlled atmosphere ripening equipment further includes a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor;

[0019] The temperature sensor is provided on the refrigerated container and is used to monitor the current temperature value of the refrigerated container;

[0020] The humidity sensor is provided on the refrigerated container and is used to monitor the current humidity value of the refrigerated container;

[0021] The controller is coupled to the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor, and is configured to: determine a target release amount of the ripening agent released by the gas pressure tank based on the target ripening agent concentration value, the current ripening agent concentration value and a correction coefficient, and regulate the valve opening of the control valve based on the target release amount to control the gas flow rate of the ripening agent released by the gas pressure tank to the main line; the correction coefficient is associated with the current temperature value and the current humidity value.

[0022] Optionally, if the ripening control instruction further includes a target temperature range and a target humidity range in the refrigerated container set by the user, the fruit and vegetable controlled atmosphere ripening device further includes:

[0023] a condensing module, provided in the refrigerated container, for lowering the temperature of the refrigerated container;

[0024] a compressor module, provided in the refrigerated container, for reducing the humidity of the refrigerated container;

[0025] The controller is coupled to the condensing module and the compressor module, and is configured to: control the condensing module to adjust the temperature value in the refrigerated container according to the current temperature value sent by the temperature sensor and the target temperature range sent by the human-computer interaction device, so as to control the temperature value of the refrigerated container to be within the target temperature range;

[0026] The controller is configured to control the compressor module to adjust the humidity value in the refrigerated container according to the current humidity value sent by the humidity sensor and the target humidity range sent by the human-computer interaction device, so as to control the humidity value of the refrigerated container to be within the target humidity range.

[0027] Optionally, if the ripening control instruction further includes an upper limit value and a lower limit value of the gas pressure tank set by the user, the fruit and vegetable controlled atmosphere ripening device further includes:

[0028] a pressure gauge, disposed at the gas tank outlet of the gas pressure tank to display the gas tank pressure value of the gas pressure tank;

[0029] The controller is coupled to the pressure gauge, and is configured to: if the gas tank pressure value sent by the pressure gauge is greater than the gas tank pressure upper limit value sent by the human-computer interaction device, adjust the valve opening of the control valve to close the control valve;

[0030] The controller is further configured to send a prompt message to the human-computer interaction device to prompt the user to replace the gas pressure tank if the gas tank pressure value sent by the pressure gauge is less than the gas tank pressure lower limit value sent by the human-computer interaction device.

[0031] Optionally, if the ripening control instruction further includes a target gas flow value of the ripening agent in the main pipeline set by the user, the fruit and vegetable gas-controlled ripening device further includes:

[0032] a pressure sensor coupled to the main line between the gas pressure tank and the solenoid valve for monitoring the gas pressure of the main line between the gas pressure tank and the solenoid valve;

[0033] The controller is coupled to the pressure sensor and is configured to calculate a ratio of a rated gas flow rate of the solenoid valve at a rated valve opening to the target gas flow rate, thereby obtaining a target duty cycle of the gas flow rate of the ripening agent in the main pipeline; wherein the rated valve opening is used to represent the maximum valve opening of the solenoid valve, and the rated gas flow rate is used to represent the maximum gas flow rate of the solenoid valve at the maximum valve opening;

[0034] The controller is configured to: within a preset period, control the opening period and closing period of the solenoid valve according to the target duty cycle and the air pressure of the main line between the gas pressure tank and the solenoid valve monitored by the pressure sensor, so as to ensure that the gas flow rate of the main line is the target gas flow rate value.

[0035] Optionally, if the ripening control instruction further includes a safe ripening agent concentration value of the ripening agent in the refrigerated container and a pipeline safety pressure value of the main pipeline set by the user;

[0036] The controller is further configured to compare the current ripening agent concentration value sent by the ripening agent concentration sensor with the safe ripening agent concentration value sent by the human-computer interaction device, and if the current ripening agent concentration value is greater than the safe ripening agent concentration value, trigger a first-level interrupt mode to control the solenoid valve to close;

[0037] The controller is further configured to compare the air pressure of the main line sent by the pressure sensor with the pipeline safety pressure value sent by the human-computer interaction device, and if the air pressure of the main line is greater than the pipeline safety pressure value, trigger a secondary interruption mode to control the solenoid valve to close;

[0038] The controller is further configured to trigger a third-level interruption mode to control the solenoid valve to close if the air pressure sent by the pressure sensor is abnormal or the current ripening agent concentration value sent by the ripening agent concentration sensor is abnormal within a preset time.

[0039] Optionally,

[0040] The evaporating coil module is disposed in the refrigerated container and is used for evaporating and drying the ripening agent flowing through the main pipeline, and allowing the dried ripening agent to flow into the refrigerated container.

[0041] Optionally, the fruit and vegetable controlled atmosphere ripening equipment further includes an oxygen concentration sensor and a carbon dioxide concentration sensor;

[0042] The oxygen concentration sensor is provided on the refrigerated container for monitoring the current oxygen concentration value of the refrigerated container; the carbon dioxide concentration sensor is provided on the refrigerated container for monitoring the current carbon dioxide concentration value of the refrigerated container;

[0043] The controller is coupled to the oxygen concentration sensor and the carbon dioxide concentration sensor, and the controller is configured as follows:

[0044] When the current oxygen concentration value is less than the oxygen concentration range set by the user, the valve opening of the solenoid valve is reduced according to the current oxygen concentration value monitored by the oxygen concentration sensor;

[0045] Alternatively, when the current carbon dioxide concentration value is greater than a carbon dioxide concentration range set by a user, the valve opening of the solenoid valve is reduced according to the current carbon dioxide concentration value monitored by the carbon dioxide concentration sensor.

[0046] A second aspect of the embodiments of the present application provides a method for ripening fruits and vegetables through controlled atmosphere, comprising:

[0047] Obtaining a current ripening agent concentration value and a ripening control instruction of a ripening agent in a refrigerated container; wherein the ripening control instruction includes a target ripening agent concentration value of the ripening agent in the refrigerated container set by a user;

[0048] According to the target ripening agent concentration value and the current ripening agent concentration value, the valve opening of the solenoid valve is adjusted to regulate the concentration of the ripening agent flowing through the main line into the refrigerated container.

[0049] The controlled atmosphere ripening method for fruits and vegetables provided in the second aspect of the embodiments of the present application is used to execute the controlled atmosphere ripening equipment for fruits and vegetables described in the first aspect.

[0050] As can be seen from the above technical solutions, the embodiments of this application have the following advantages: The disclosed controlled atmosphere ripening equipment for fruits and vegetables can effectively achieve precise and controllable addition of ripening agents within refrigerated containers, thereby increasing the maturity of fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, by controlling the ripening mode and terminal mode, the supply chain response speed can be improved, effectively controlling the ripening time and freshness of fruits and vegetables. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can also be obtained based on these drawings.

[0052] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of a fruit and vegetable controlled atmosphere ripening device disclosed in an embodiment of the present application;

[0053] Figure 2 This is a schematic structural diagram of another fruit and vegetable controlled atmosphere ripening equipment disclosed in an embodiment of the present application;

[0054] Figure 3 This is a schematic structural diagram of another fruit and vegetable controlled atmosphere ripening equipment disclosed in an embodiment of the present application;

[0055] Figure 4 This is a flow chart of a method for ripening fruits and vegetables using controlled atmosphere disclosed in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] To facilitate understanding of the present application, the present application will be described in more detail below with reference to the relevant drawings. The preferred embodiments of the present application are shown in the drawings. However, the present application can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. On the contrary, the purpose of providing these embodiments is to make the disclosure of the present application more thorough and comprehensive. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present application belongs. The terms used herein in the specification of the present application are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present application. The term "and / or" used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more related listed items.

[0057] It should be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being "on," "adjacent," "connected to," or "coupled to" another element or layer, it can be directly on, adjacent, connected, or coupled to the other element or layer, or there can be intervening elements or layers. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on," "directly adjacent to," "directly connected to," or "directly coupled to" another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers. It should be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and / or portions, these elements, components, regions, layers, and / or portions should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or portion from another element, component, region, layer, or portion. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer, or portion discussed below may be represented as a second element, component, region, layer, or portion without departing from the teachings of the present application.

[0058] Spatially relative terms such as "under," "beneath," "below," "under," "above," "above," etc., may be used herein for convenience of description to describe the relationship of an element or feature shown in the figures to other elements or features. It should be understood that in addition to the orientations shown in the figures, spatially relative terms are intended to also include different orientations of the device in use and operation. For example, if the device in the drawings is flipped, then, elements or features described as "under other elements" or "beneath" or "beneath" will be oriented "on" the other elements or features. Therefore, the exemplary terms "under" and "under" may include both upper and lower orientations. The device may be oriented otherwise (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations) and the spatial descriptors used herein are interpreted accordingly.

[0059] The purpose of the terms used herein is only to describe specific embodiments and is not intended to limit the present application. When used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" are also intended to include the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the terms "comprising" and / or "comprising", when used in this specification, determine the presence of the features, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or parts, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, parts and / or groups. When used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of the relevant listed items.

[0060] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of this application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of this application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0061] At present, in the current international fruit and vegetable trade market, late-ripening fruits and vegetables (such as bananas, mangoes, avocados, tomatoes, etc.) are usually picked when they are not fully ripe, and after long-distance sea transportation, they are ripened at the destination market. However, ripening cannot be accelerated during transportation. For example, existing refrigerated containers can only control temperature and humidity, and lack a controllable ethylene addition function, so the physiological maturity of fruits and vegetables stagnates during transportation. In addition, there are risks of ripening at the destination. For example, centralized ripening rooms can easily lead to uneven maturity, excessive softening, disease spread, and increased losses. Or, timeliness is poor. For example, additional time is required for ripening after arriving at the destination, which prolongs the market cycle. Therefore, the embodiments of the present application mainly provide a safe, accurate, and efficient ethylene addition device and method that can be directly integrated into international sea refrigerated containers, aiming to 1. realize on-demand and accurate ethylene gas addition during sea transportation of fruits and vegetables, and start and control their ripening process. 2. Significantly improve the maturity uniformity and product quality of fruits and vegetables after arrival at the port, reducing losses. 3. Shorten the time from arrival at the port to market launch, and improve supply chain efficiency. 4. Ensure that the equipment's design and operation fully comply with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code), particularly utilizing special provisions to achieve safety exemptions (such as Special Provision 963). 5. Furthermore, the equipment must seamlessly integrate with existing refrigerated container control systems for automated control. For ease of understanding, the regulations met by the product and related structures will not be described further below.

[0062] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of this application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of this application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0063] For easier understanding, please refer to Figure 1 、 Figure 2 and Figure 3 .in, Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of a fruit and vegetable controlled atmosphere ripening device disclosed in an embodiment of the present application; Figure 2 This is a schematic structural diagram of another fruit and vegetable controlled atmosphere ripening equipment disclosed in an embodiment of the present application; Figure 3 This is a structural schematic diagram of another fruit and vegetable controlled atmosphere ripening equipment disclosed in an embodiment of the present application.

[0064] Combine Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the gas conditioning ripening equipment for fruits and vegetables at least includes a gas pressure tank 201, a solenoid valve 202, a ripening agent concentration sensor 203, a human-computer interaction device 210 and a controller 204. Figure 1 Only the gas pressure tank 201 and the solenoid valve 202 are shown. Figure 2The gas pressure tank 201 and the controller 204 are shown in FIG. Figure 3 The ripening agent concentration sensor 203 and the gas pressure tank 201 are shown in FIG. However, the control valve is not shown. Specifically, the gas pressure tank 201 stores the ripening agent, and the gas pressure tank 201 passes through the main line ( Figure 1 The pipeline connecting the gas pressure tank 201 and the electromagnetic valve 202 is connected to the refrigerated container 100, and the pipeline outlet 101 of the main pipeline is connected to the refrigerated container 100. The electromagnetic valve 202 is coupled to the main pipeline to control the gas flow of the ripening agent flowing through the main pipeline. The control valve is provided at the gas tank outlet of the gas pressure tank 201 to control the gas flow of the ripening agent released by the gas pressure tank 201 to the main pipeline. The ripening agent concentration sensor 203 is provided in the refrigerated container 100 and is used to monitor the current ripening agent concentration value of the ripening agent in the refrigerated container 100. The human-computer interaction device 210 is used to receive the user's ripening control instruction; wherein the ripening control instruction includes the target ripening agent concentration value of the ripening agent in the refrigerated container 100 set by the user. The controller 204 is coupled to the human-computer interaction device 210, the ripening agent concentration sensor 203, the solenoid valve 202 and the control valve. The controller 204 is configured to adjust the valve opening of the solenoid valve 202 or the valve opening of the control valve according to the current ripening agent concentration value sent by the ripening agent concentration sensor 203 and the target ripening agent concentration value sent by the human-computer interaction device 210, so as to regulate the concentration of the ripening agent flowing through the main line into the refrigerated container 100.

[0065] Furthermore, combined with Figure 1 As shown, the controlled atmosphere ripening equipment for fruits and vegetables can also be provided with a pressure sensor 208. Furthermore, when the ripening control instruction also includes a target gas flow value of the ripening agent in the main line set by the user, the pressure sensor 208 is coupled to the main line between the gas pressure tank 201 and the solenoid valve 202 to monitor the gas pressure in the main line between the gas pressure tank 201 and the solenoid valve 202. Thus, the controller 204, coupled to the pressure sensor 208, is used to calculate the ratio of the rated gas flow of the solenoid valve 202 at the rated valve opening to the target gas flow value, thereby obtaining a target duty cycle of the gas flow of the ripening agent in the main line; wherein the rated valve opening is used to represent the maximum valve opening of the solenoid valve 202, and the rated gas flow is used to represent the maximum gas flow of the solenoid valve 202 at the maximum valve opening. The controller 204 is configured to control the opening and closing cycles of the solenoid valve 202 within a preset period based on the target duty cycle and the air pressure of the main line between the gas pressure tank 201 and the solenoid valve 202 monitored by the pressure sensor 208, so as to ensure that the gas flow rate of the main line is the target gas flow rate value.

[0066] In other feasible technical solutions, when the ripening control instruction also includes a user-set safe ripening agent concentration value for the ripening agent in the refrigerated container 100 and a safe ripening agent concentration value for the main pipeline, the controller 204 is further configured to compare the current ripening agent concentration value sent by the ripening agent concentration sensor 203 with the safe ripening agent concentration value sent by the human-computer interaction device 210. If the current ripening agent concentration value is greater than the safe ripening agent concentration value, the controller 204 triggers a first-level interrupt mode to control the closing of the solenoid valve 202. The controller 204 is further configured to compare the main pipeline air pressure sent by the pressure sensor 208 with the safe pipeline pressure value sent by the human-computer interaction device 210. If the main pipeline air pressure is greater than the safe pipeline pressure value, the controller 204 triggers a second-level interrupt mode to control the closing of the solenoid valve 202. The controller 204 is further configured to trigger a third-level interrupt mode to control the closing of the solenoid valve 202 if the air pressure sent by the pressure sensor 208 or the current ripening agent concentration value sent by the ripening agent concentration sensor 203 is abnormal within a preset time.

[0067] Therefore, combined with the above description, it can be seen that in one preferred technical solution of the present application, the gas pressure tank 201 (or gas source module) can be a 2L aluminum pressure tank (filled with a mixture of 40% ± 2% ethylene and 60% ± 2% nitrogen, i.e., the ripening agent described above. For ease of understanding, the subsequent description of the ripening agent will use ethylene as an example). The tank body is fixed to the bottom of the cabin by an arc-shaped clamp, and the gas tank outlet is connected to the main pipeline via a high-pressure ball valve. Solenoid valve 202 is a high-precision solenoid valve 202, a core component of an integrated precision gas release unit. It is located on the left side of gas pressure tank 201 and is connected to gas pressure tank 201 via a pressure-resistant pipeline. Pressure sensor 208, control motherboard (i.e., controller 204 in this application), and interlock device assembly are located at the top of the fruit and vegetable controlled atmosphere ripening equipment, connecting gas pressure tank 201, pressure sensor 208, solenoid valve 202, etc. via signal lines. Furthermore, the piping between components is connected using compression fittings, while the circuits are modularly docked using aviation plugs, making it easy to inspect or replace individual modules. The overall structure is compact, with gaps between modules ≤5cm, ensuring a compact enclosure.

[0068] In this embodiment, a "solenoid valve 202 + closed-loop feedback" control logic is used to control ethylene release. Specifically, the flow rate is controlled by controlling the on / off pulse period and duty cycle of the high-precision solenoid valve 202 to precisely regulate the average flow rate. The solenoid valve 202 response time is ≤50ms, and the minimum pulse period is set to 100ms (to ensure stable valve operation).

[0069] First, the flow rate is set: the user inputs the target gas flow rate value (i.e., the flow rate value required to release ethylene when the target concentration value is reached) (unit: mL / min) through the human-computer interaction device 210 (or control panel, etc.), and the controller 204 automatically calculates the required duty cycle (duty cycle = target flow rate / rated flow rate × 100%) based on the rated flow rate when the solenoid valve 202 is fully open (preset parameters, such as 500 mL / min).

[0070] Secondly, real-time adjustment is performed: for example, when the target flow rate is 200 mL / min, the duty cycle is set to 40%, that is, it is open for 40 ms and closed for 60 ms in a 100 ms cycle (for the solenoid valve 202 or the control valve), and the average flow rate is stabilized at 200 mL / min; if an actual flow deviation is detected (indirectly calculated through the pipeline pressure), the controller 204 automatically corrects the duty cycle (adjustment is triggered when the deviation is ±5%).

[0071] Therefore, in the embodiment of the present application, the controller 204 (implementing safety monitoring) and interlocking device structure specifically adopt a three-tiered structure of "sensor-controller 204-actuator." Specifically, within the sensor group, pressure sensor 208 is a high-precision absolute pressure sensor (range 0-1.6 MPa), installed in the main line between the gas tank outlet and the solenoid valve 202, to monitor the output pressure of the gas pressure tank 201 in real time. Controller 204 can utilize an industrial-grade single-chip PLC as its core, receiving sensor group signals and performing logical judgments. For example, if abnormal pressure (less than 0.2 MPa or greater than 1.2 MPa), communication interruption (signal loss ≥ 5 seconds), or power failure (voltage <10V or >26V) is detected, an interlocking instruction is immediately triggered. Its actuator can realize alarm output, for example, triggering a buzzer (85dB) and a red LED indicator light, and at the same time sending a fault code (such as "E01-pressure abnormality" or "E02-communication interruption", that is, a first-level fault or a second-level fault, etc., which will be described in detail later and will not be repeated here) to the container control system through the communication interface.

[0072] Furthermore, the controller 204 is configured to calculate the difference between the target ripening agent concentration value and the current ripening agent concentration value to obtain a ripening agent concentration deviation value. The controller 204 is configured to: based on the ripening agent concentration deviation value and a preset concentration deviation value set by the user, control the control valve to perform one of the following operations: if the ripening agent concentration deviation value is greater than the preset concentration deviation value, increase the valve opening of the control valve to increase the gas flow rate of the ripening agent released from the gas pressure tank 201; or, if the ripening agent concentration deviation value is less than the inverse of the preset concentration deviation value, decrease the valve opening of the control valve to reduce the gas flow rate of the ripening agent released from the gas pressure tank 201; or, if the ripening agent concentration deviation value is not greater than the absolute value of the preset concentration deviation value, maintain the valve opening of the control valve unchanged to maintain the gas flow rate of the ripening agent released from the gas pressure tank 201 unchanged.

[0073] At the same time, the fruit and vegetable atmosphere ripening equipment can also be equipped with a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a condensation module 205, a compressor module 206 ( Figure 2 As shown), pressure gauge 207 ( Figure 1 ) etc. A temperature sensor is provided in the refrigerated container 100 for monitoring the current temperature of the refrigerated container 100. A humidity sensor is provided in the refrigerated container 100 for monitoring the current humidity of the refrigerated container 100. A condensing module 205 is provided in the refrigerated container 100 for reducing the temperature of the refrigerated container 100. A compressor module 206 is provided in the refrigerated container 100 for reducing the humidity of the refrigerated container 100. A pressure gauge 207 is provided at the outlet of the gas pressure tank 201 for displaying the gas pressure value of the gas pressure tank 201.

[0074] Specifically, in an embodiment of the present application, the controller 204 is coupled to the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor, and the controller 204 is configured to: determine the target release amount of the ripening agent released by the gas pressure tank 201 according to the target ripening agent concentration value, the current ripening agent concentration value and the correction coefficient, and regulate the valve opening of the control valve according to the target release amount to control the gas flow rate of the ripening agent released by the gas pressure tank 201 to the main line; the correction coefficient is associated with the current temperature value and the current humidity value.

[0075] Furthermore, when the ripening control instruction also includes a user-set target temperature range and target humidity range within the refrigerated container 100, the controller 204 is coupled to the condensing module 205 and the compressor module 206. The controller 204 is configured to: control the condensing module 205 to adjust the temperature value within the refrigerated container 100 based on the current temperature value sent by the temperature sensor and the target temperature range sent by the human-computer interaction device 210, so as to control the temperature value of the refrigerated container 100 to be within the target temperature range. The controller 204 is configured to: control the compressor module 206 to adjust the humidity value within the refrigerated container 100 based on the current humidity value sent by the humidity sensor and the target humidity range sent by the human-computer interaction device 210, so as to control the humidity value of the refrigerated container 100 to be within the target humidity range.

[0076] Furthermore, when the ripening control instruction also includes a user-set upper and lower pressure limits for the gas pressure tank 201, the controller 204 is coupled to the pressure gauge 207. The controller 204 is configured to adjust the valve opening of the control valve to close the control valve if the pressure value sent by the pressure gauge 207 is greater than the upper pressure limit sent by the human-computer interaction device 210. The controller 204 is also configured to send a prompt to the human-computer interaction device 210 to prompt the user to replace the gas pressure tank 201 if the pressure value sent by the pressure gauge 207 is less than the lower pressure limit sent by the human-computer interaction device 210.

[0077] Therefore, combined with the above description, we can know that the calculation method of ethylene release is:

[0078] Q (mL) = (V × C 目标 -V×C 当前 )×K.

[0079] Where Q is the target release amount of ethylene, and V is the effective volume of 100 liters of refrigerated container (fixed value, such as 40-foot container ≈ 67m³, converted to 67,000L). 目标 is the target ethylene concentration in the preset program (ppm, 1ppm=1mL / m³, i.e. the target ripening agent concentration value). 当前 is the initial detection concentration (the default value is 0ppm when no sensor is installed, which is the current ripening agent concentration value); K is the correction coefficient, which can be dynamically adjusted according to temperature and humidity (see Table 1). Example: 40-foot container transports bananas (C 目标 =200ppm), , the temperature inside the box is 13℃ (K=1.0), and the humidity is 85% (K=1.0), then Q=67000L×(200-0)ppm×1.0=1340mL.

[0080]

[0081] For different types of fruits and vegetables, please refer to Table 2.

[0082]

[0083] Furthermore, in the closed-loop feedback regulation logic, after using the ripening agent concentration sensor 203, its sampling frequency is set to 1 time / 30min, and its deviation is calculated as ΔC (ripening agent concentration deviation value) = C 目标 (Target ripening agent concentration value)-C 实测 (Current ripening agent concentration value). Therefore, the adjustment rule is:

[0084] If ΔC>2ppm: increase the release amount (according to the deviation ratio, K factor 0.3);

[0085] If ΔC < -2ppm: stop releasing and start ventilation of the container (if the refrigerated container 100 supports it);

[0086] If |ΔC|≤2ppm: maintain the current release frequency.

[0087] Therefore, in the safety interlock priority design within the controller 204 and the interlocking device structure, a "three-level interruption" mechanism (priority from high to low) can be adopted. Specifically:

[0088] Level 1 interruption: Ethylene sensor > 500ppm, sensor triggered → immediately cut off solenoid valve 202 (relay de-energized), close the gas tank main valve, the buzzer sounds continuously, and an "emergency fault" message is sent to the remote platform.

[0089] Secondary interruption: Gas tank pressure > 1.2 MPa, power failure → Close solenoid valve 202, retain communication function, and send a "fault alarm".

[0090] Level 3 interruption: Communication interruption, sensor abnormality → stop releasing, local LED flashes as an alarm, and try to restart communication.

[0091] In other feasible technical solutions, the fruit and vegetable atmosphere ripening equipment can also be equipped with an evaporation coil module 209, an oxygen concentration sensor 211 or a carbon dioxide concentration sensor 211 (the oxygen concentration sensor 211 or the carbon dioxide sensor is uniformly marked as 211), etc. (see Figure 2 and Figure 3). The evaporating coil module 209 is disposed in the refrigerated container 100 and is used to evaporate and dry the ripening agent flowing through the main pipeline, and allow the dried ripening agent to flow into the refrigerated container 100. The oxygen concentration sensor 211 is disposed in the refrigerated container 100 and is used to monitor the current oxygen concentration value of the refrigerated container 100; the carbon dioxide concentration sensor 211 is disposed in the refrigerated container 100 and is used to monitor the current carbon dioxide concentration value of the refrigerated container 100. The controller 204 is coupled to the oxygen concentration sensor 211 and the carbon dioxide concentration sensor 211. The controller 204 is configured to: when the current oxygen concentration value is less than the oxygen concentration range set by the user, reduce the valve opening of the solenoid valve 202 according to the current oxygen concentration value monitored by the oxygen concentration sensor 211; or when the current carbon dioxide concentration value is greater than the carbon dioxide concentration range set by the user, reduce the valve opening of the solenoid valve 202 according to the current carbon dioxide concentration value monitored by the carbon dioxide concentration sensor 211.

[0092] To further understand the acquisition logic or specific parameter input logic for each of the above sensors and gas concentrations, please refer to Table 3.

[0093]

[0094] Among other feasible technical solutions, in one preferred embodiment, the refrigerated container 100 can also utilize a compact rectangular box (e.g., dimensions 450mm × 300mm × 200mm), with an outer shell made of 304 stainless steel (1.5mm thick) and a sandblasted surface for corrosion protection. Its overall protection rating is IP54 (dustproof and splashproof), and silicone rubber seals are used at the hull joints to withstand the refrigerated container's temperature fluctuations of 100°C to 30°C and high humidity. For ease of operation, it features a transparent PC front viewing window, a built-in touch control panel with backlight, and a side access door secured with quick-release snaps. For controlled atmosphere ripening equipment for fruits and vegetables, it can be fixed to the front wall of the container (≤1.5m from the refrigeration unit control panel) using the container's existing reinforcement bars and secured with M8 expansion bolts (four fixing points, load capacity ≥50kg). Therefore, its adaptability is enhanced by: Leveling pads (±5mm adjustment range) are provided on the bottom to ensure the device remains level even when the container is slightly deformed; two standard DN15 pipe connections are reserved for direct connection to the container's ventilation piping. It should also be noted that the IP54 protection of the housing, the stainless steel material, and the targeted mounting location design are all customized solutions adapted to the specific environment of the refrigerated container 100, distinguishing it from conventional indoor equipment (which typically has an IP20 protection rating and flexible installation methods). Furthermore, the human-machine interaction device 210 and its associated controller 204 can be configured as a standalone embedded controller 204 (Solution 1) or integrated into an existing refrigeration control system (Solution 2).

[0095] Solution 1 uses a microcontroller 204 (e.g., a 400MHz STM32H743) as its core, integrating the following modules: communication interfaces: RS485 (for connecting to the refrigeration system), CAN bus (for connecting to safety sensors), and Ethernet (optional, for remote communication expansion); storage module: 16GB eMMC flash memory (for storing preset programs and operation logs); and power supply: wide-voltage input (9-36VDC), compatible with refrigerated container 100V / 24V power supply systems. Its adaptability: modular interface boards enable compatibility with different brands of refrigeration systems.

[0096] For Option 2, integration is achieved through the following methods: Hardware: Connect the module to the expansion slot of the control motherboard as a functional module, sharing the power supply and communication bus; Software: Develop an adaptive driver and embed the ethylene control logic into the main program (accounting for ≤5% of system resources); Advantages: Reduce equipment redundancy and utilize the existing computing power of the refrigeration system (main controller 204 with a main frequency of 300MHz), and increase the response speed by about 20%.

[0097] Combined with the above Figure 1 、 Figure 2 and Figure 3As described above, in the interaction design of the human-computer interaction device 210 shown in the embodiment of the present application, local interaction and remote monitoring can be achieved.

[0098] Specifically, in the parameter setting process of local interaction (available on the refrigerated container 100 display screen / independent touch screen): 1. Main interface → Select "Fruit and Vegetable Type" (the drop-down menu contains 10+ preset types); 2. Automatically load the default parameters, and support manual modification (target concentration ±2ppm, time ±2h); 3. Click "Start", the system displays the countdown (remaining maintenance time), current release amount, and temperature inside the box.

[0099] In the status display content: 1. Operation status: "Releasing", "Standby", "Alarm"; 2. Key data: current ethylene concentration (if there is a sensor), gas tank pressure, remaining gas volume (converted by pressure).

[0100] For remote monitoring, the communication protocol is MQTT (data upload frequency: once every 30 minutes in normal status, once every 10 seconds in alarm status). Remote functions include: real-time viewing of operating status, chamber environmental parameters, and fault codes; remote operation: modifying target concentration (with administrator-level permissions) and forcing a release halt; and historical records: release curves and temperature change curves for the past 30 days (supports Excel export).

[0101] Therefore, the beneficial effects of the embodiments of the present application include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. Safety and Compliance: Utilizing a small capacity (≤4L) and a specific mixing ratio (40% ethylene / 60% nitrogen), the system meets the requirements of IMDG Special Provision 963, achieving a safety exemption for ocean shipping and resolving a core pain point in the industry. 2. Precision Ripening: Accurate and controllable addition of ethylene concentration within the container significantly improves the uniformity of ripening and quality consistency of fruits and vegetables. 3. Reduced Losses: Avoiding damage and disease spread caused by centralized ripening, significantly reducing post-harvest losses. 4. Improved Efficiency: Ripe fruits upon arrival, shortening the time to market, improving supply chain responsiveness, and enhancing product freshness. 5. Reduced Costs: Reduced investment and operating costs for ripening facilities at the destination. 6. Convenient Operation: Integrated into the container, it interfaces with existing control systems, achieving a high degree of automation. 7. Wide Applicability: Suitable for long-distance ocean transportation of a variety of late-ripening fruits and vegetables. 8. Manageable Risks: Multiple safety features (safety ratios, small gas tanks, explosion-proof components, leak detection, and automatic shut-off) maximize transportation safety.

[0102] See also Figure 4 , Figure 4 This is a flow chart of a method for ripening fruits and vegetables using controlled atmosphere disclosed in an embodiment of the present application, including steps 401 and 402.

[0103] 401. Obtain the current ripening agent concentration value and ripening control instructions of the ripening agent in the refrigerated container.

[0104] In this embodiment, the above Figures 1 to 3 The illustrated controlled atmosphere ripening device for fruits and vegetables implements controlled atmosphere ripening of fruits and vegetables. Specifically, the ripening agent concentration sensor can monitor the current ripening agent concentration within the refrigerated container, i.e., the current ripening agent concentration. Simultaneously, the user can input ripening control commands on the display screen of the human-computer interaction device. It should be noted that these ripening control commands include the user-set target ripening agent concentration within the refrigerated container.

[0105] 402. According to the target ripening agent concentration value and the current ripening agent concentration value, the valve opening of the solenoid valve is adjusted to control the concentration of the ripening agent flowing through the main line into the refrigerated container.

[0106] In one specific embodiment, the valve opening of the solenoid valve can be adjusted according to the target ripening agent concentration value and the current ripening agent concentration value, thereby regulating the concentration of the ripening agent flowing through the main line into the refrigerated container to complete the ripening of fruits and vegetables in the refrigerated container.

[0107] Specifically, in this embodiment, there are three control logics, which calculate the deviation between the target ripening agent concentration value and the current ripening agent concentration value. The deviation value is calculated as ΔC (ripening agent concentration deviation value) = target ripening agent concentration value C 目标 -Current ripening agent concentration value C 实测 Therefore, the adjustment rule is:

[0108] If ΔC>2ppm: increase the release amount (according to the deviation ratio, K factor 0.3);

[0109] If ΔC < -2ppm: stop releasing and start container ventilation (if the refrigerated container supports it);

[0110] If |ΔC|≤2ppm: maintain the current release frequency.

[0111] It is not difficult to understand that the above-mentioned gas-controlled ripening method for fruits and vegetables is mainly used in Figures 1 to 3 The working mode of the fruit and vegetable controlled atmosphere ripening equipment shown is not further described in this embodiment.

[0112] It should be understood that, although the various steps in the flowcharts involved in the various embodiments described above are displayed in sequence as indicated by the arrows, these steps are not necessarily executed in the order indicated by the arrows. Unless otherwise specified herein, there is no strict order restriction on the execution of these steps, and these steps can be executed in other orders. Moreover, at least a portion of the steps in the flowcharts involved in the various embodiments described above may include multiple steps or multiple stages, and these steps or stages are not necessarily executed at the same time, but can be executed at different times. The execution order of these steps or stages is not necessarily to be carried out in sequence, but can be executed in turn or alternately with other steps or at least a portion of the steps or stages in other steps.

Claims

1. A fruit and vegetable atmosphere ripening equipment, characterized in that: include: A gas pressure tank storing a ripening agent and connected to the refrigerated container via a main pipeline; a control valve, disposed at the gas tank outlet of the gas pressure tank, for controlling the gas flow of the ripening agent released from the gas pressure tank to the main pipeline; a solenoid valve coupled to the main line for controlling a gas flow rate of the ripening agent flowing through the main line; a ripening agent concentration sensor, disposed in the refrigerated container, for monitoring a current ripening agent concentration value in the refrigerated container; A human-computer interaction device, configured to receive a ripening control instruction from a user; wherein the ripening control instruction includes a target ripening agent concentration value in the refrigerated container set by the user; a controller coupled to the human-computer interaction device, the ripening agent concentration sensor, the solenoid valve, and the control valve, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the valve opening of the solenoid valve or the valve opening of the control valve according to the current ripening agent concentration value sent by the ripening agent concentration sensor and the target ripening agent concentration value sent by the human-computer interaction device, so as to regulate the concentration of the ripening agent flowing through the main line into the refrigerated container.

2. The fruit and vegetable controlled atmosphere ripening equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: The controller is configured to calculate a difference between the target ripening agent concentration value and the current ripening agent concentration value to obtain a ripening agent concentration deviation value; The controller is configured to control the control valve to perform one of the following operations according to the ripening agent concentration deviation value and a preset concentration deviation value set by a user: If the ripening agent concentration deviation value is greater than a preset concentration deviation value, increasing the valve opening of the control valve, thereby increasing the gas flow rate of the ripening agent released from the gas pressure tank; or, if the ripening agent concentration deviation value is less than the inverse of the preset concentration deviation value, reducing the valve opening of the control valve and reducing the gas flow of the ripening agent released from the gas pressure tank; Alternatively, if the ripening agent concentration deviation value is not greater than the absolute value of the preset concentration deviation value, the valve opening of the control valve is kept unchanged, and the gas flow rate of the ripening agent released from the gas pressure tank is kept unchanged.

3. The fruit and vegetable controlled atmosphere ripening equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that: The fruit and vegetable controlled atmosphere ripening equipment also includes a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor; The temperature sensor is provided on the refrigerated container and is used to monitor the current temperature value of the refrigerated container; The humidity sensor is provided on the refrigerated container and is used to monitor the current humidity value of the refrigerated container; The controller is coupled to the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor, and is configured to: determine a target release amount of the ripening agent released by the gas pressure tank according to the target ripening agent concentration value, the current ripening agent concentration value, and a correction coefficient, and regulate the valve opening of the control valve according to the target release amount to control the gas flow rate of the ripening agent released by the gas pressure tank to the main line; The correction coefficient is associated with the current temperature value and the current humidity value.

4. The fruit and vegetable controlled atmosphere ripening equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that: If the ripening control instruction further includes a target temperature range and a target humidity range in the refrigerated container set by the user, the fruit and vegetable controlled atmosphere ripening equipment further includes: a condensing module, provided in the refrigerated container, for lowering the temperature of the refrigerated container; a compressor module, provided in the refrigerated container, for reducing the humidity of the refrigerated container; The controller is coupled to the condensing module and the compressor module, and is configured to: control the condensing module to adjust the temperature value in the refrigerated container according to the current temperature value sent by the temperature sensor and the target temperature range sent by the human-computer interaction device, so as to control the temperature value of the refrigerated container to be within the target temperature range; The controller is configured to control the compressor module to adjust the humidity value in the refrigerated container according to the current humidity value sent by the humidity sensor and the target humidity range sent by the human-computer interaction device, so as to control the humidity value of the refrigerated container to be within the target humidity range.

5. The fruit and vegetable controlled atmosphere ripening equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that: If the ripening control instruction further includes a gas tank pressure upper limit value and a gas tank pressure lower limit value set by the user, the fruit and vegetable controlled atmosphere ripening device further includes: a pressure gauge, disposed at the gas tank outlet of the gas pressure tank to display the gas tank pressure value of the gas pressure tank; The controller is coupled to the pressure gauge, and is configured to: if the gas tank pressure value sent by the pressure gauge is greater than the gas tank pressure upper limit value sent by the human-computer interaction device, adjust the valve opening of the control valve to close the control valve; The controller is further configured to send a prompt message to the human-computer interaction device to prompt the user to replace the gas pressure tank if the gas tank pressure value sent by the pressure gauge is less than the gas tank pressure lower limit value sent by the human-computer interaction device.

6. The controlled atmosphere ripening equipment for fruits and vegetables according to claim 1, characterized in that: If the ripening control instruction further includes a target gas flow value of the ripening agent in the main pipeline set by the user, the fruit and vegetable gas-controlled ripening equipment further includes: a pressure sensor coupled to the main line between the gas pressure tank and the solenoid valve for monitoring the gas pressure of the main line between the gas pressure tank and the solenoid valve; The controller is coupled to the pressure sensor and is configured to calculate a ratio of a rated gas flow rate of the solenoid valve at a rated valve opening to the target gas flow rate, thereby obtaining a target duty cycle of the gas flow rate of the ripening agent in the main pipeline; wherein the rated valve opening is used to represent the maximum valve opening of the solenoid valve, and the rated gas flow rate is used to represent the maximum gas flow rate of the solenoid valve at the maximum valve opening; The controller is configured to: within a preset period, control the opening period and closing period of the solenoid valve according to the target duty cycle and the air pressure of the main line between the gas pressure tank and the solenoid valve monitored by the pressure sensor, so as to ensure that the gas flow rate of the main line is the target gas flow rate value.

7. The fruit and vegetable controlled atmosphere ripening equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that: If the ripening control instruction further includes a safe ripening agent concentration value of the ripening agent in the refrigerated container and a pipeline safety pressure value of the main pipeline set by the user; The controller is further configured to compare the current ripening agent concentration value sent by the ripening agent concentration sensor with the safe ripening agent concentration value sent by the human-computer interaction device, and if the current ripening agent concentration value is greater than the safe ripening agent concentration value, trigger a first-level interrupt mode to control the solenoid valve to close; The controller is further configured to compare the air pressure of the main line sent by the pressure sensor with the pipeline safety pressure value sent by the human-computer interaction device, and if the air pressure of the main line is greater than the pipeline safety pressure value, trigger a secondary interruption mode to control the solenoid valve to close; The controller is further configured to trigger a third-level interruption mode to control the solenoid valve to close if the air pressure sent by the pressure sensor is abnormal or the current ripening agent concentration value sent by the ripening agent concentration sensor is abnormal within a preset time.

8. The controlled atmosphere ripening equipment for fruits and vegetables according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: The evaporating coil module is disposed in the refrigerated container and is used for evaporating and drying the ripening agent flowing through the main pipeline, and allowing the dried ripening agent to flow into the refrigerated container.

9. The controlled atmosphere ripening equipment for fruits and vegetables according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fruit and vegetable atmosphere ripening equipment also includes an oxygen concentration sensor and a carbon dioxide concentration sensor; The oxygen concentration sensor is provided on the refrigerated container for monitoring the current oxygen concentration value of the refrigerated container; the carbon dioxide concentration sensor is provided on the refrigerated container for monitoring the current carbon dioxide concentration value of the refrigerated container; The controller is coupled to the oxygen concentration sensor and the carbon dioxide concentration sensor, and the controller is configured as follows: When the current oxygen concentration value is less than the oxygen concentration range set by the user, the valve opening of the solenoid valve is reduced according to the current oxygen concentration value monitored by the oxygen concentration sensor; Alternatively, when the current carbon dioxide concentration value is greater than a carbon dioxide concentration range set by a user, the valve opening of the solenoid valve is reduced according to the current carbon dioxide concentration value monitored by the carbon dioxide concentration sensor.

10. A method for ripening fruits and vegetables by controlled atmosphere, characterized in that: The ripening equipment is the controlled atmosphere ripening equipment for fruits and vegetables according to any one of claims 1 to 9, and the method comprises: Obtaining a current ripening agent concentration value and a ripening control instruction of a ripening agent in a refrigerated container; wherein the ripening control instruction includes a target ripening agent concentration value of the ripening agent in the refrigerated container set by a user; According to the target ripening agent concentration value and the current ripening agent concentration value, the valve opening of the solenoid valve is adjusted to regulate the concentration of the ripening agent flowing through the main line into the refrigerated container.

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