Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere for Produce Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current controlled atmosphere storage systems for respiratory produce, such as fruits and vegetables, rely on static gas composition set-points, which can lead to significant firmness loss and postharvest disorders due to high biological variability, and fail to accurately account for gas leakage and environmental dynamics, limiting their effectiveness in maintaining optimal storage conditions.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic controlled atmosphere system that uses a mathematical model to calculate actual respiratory and fermentative rates of produce, incorporating gas exchange dynamics and leakage rates, allowing for real-time adjustment of oxygen and carbon dioxide levels to maintain optimal storage conditions, thereby reducing the workload and improving storage quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If static gas composition set-points are used in controlled atmosphere storage, then the system is simple to operate, but storage quality deteriorates due to firmness loss and postharvest disorders
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of gas composition by continuously monitoring O2 and CO2 levels and adjusting them in real-time based on actual produce respiration rates. This replaces static set-points with a dynamic control system that adapts to changing storage conditions, thereby maintaining storage quality while remaining operationally manageable through automated adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where gas sensors continuously measure O2 and CO2 concentrations, and this information is fed back to the control system. The control algorithm then adjusts gas composition based on actual measurements rather than predetermined values, ensuring optimal storage conditions are maintained throughout the storage period.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional CA storage with fixed gas composition is used, then the system is easy to implement, but it fails to account for gas leakage and environmental dynamics
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically monitors and adjusts gas composition without requiring manual intervention. It self-regulates by continuously measuring O2 and CO2 levels, calculating respiration rates, and making real-time adjustments to maintain optimal storage conditions, thereby adapting to environmental changes while remaining easy to implement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment of gas composition with an automated control system that uses sensors, processors, and actuators. This electronic control mechanism continuously adapts to environmental changes and gas leakage without requiring mechanical intervention, maintaining simplicity of implementation while enhancing adaptability.
3Device complexity
If static controlled atmosphere is used, then the system has low complexity, but it cannot accurately determine actual respiratory and fermentative rates
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors gas composition and calculates respiration rates throughout the storage period rather than taking single measurements. This continuous action provides accurate determination of actual respiratory and fermentative rates, maintaining high measurement precision while managing system complexity through ongoing automated measurements and calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces gas composition as an intermediary parameter to indirectly determine respiration and fermentation rates. Instead of directly measuring metabolic rates, the system uses O2 consumption and CO2 production levels as proxies, calculating physiological states from gas exchange data. This approach achieves accurate rate determination while keeping the system relatively simple.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables proactive and adaptive control of gas composition, reducing storage disorders and maintaining fruit quality by dynamically adjusting to changes in produce behavior, storage conditions, and environmental factors, thus extending storage life and preventing fermentative degradation.
Implementation Method 1
measuring O2 and CO2 concentrations as a function of time in the storage environment
Implementation Method 2
adapting the O2 and CO2 concentration in the confined storage environment
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for storage of respiratory produce includes a storage environment, a gas analyze, a CO2 scrubber, a gas sampling pump, a gas pump for the scrubber, an air supply, an N2 supply and valves for flow control. The control system is a software assisted measurement system and control algorithm that takes into account the gas exchange dynamics of both the produce and the storage environment and a mathematical model for determining the actual respiratory and fermentative rates of the produce. The system is suitable for low oxygen storage of respiratory produce.