Climacteric Fruit Ripening Control Using Ethylene Peak Prediction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for ripening climacteric fruits, such as artificial ripening using ethylene gas or calcium carbide, result in non-uniformity, health hazards, and economic losses due to over-ripening during transportation, while natural ripening is challenging to predict and control.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing an artificial neural network (ANN) and IoT-enabled sensors to monitor and control temperature, humidity, CO2, O2, and ethylene levels in a custom enclosure, mimicking natural ripening conditions and predicting optimal ripening times for climacteric fruits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If artificial ripening is used to accelerate the ripening process and reduce transportation time, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to non-uniformity in color, flavor, and quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes physical parameters (temperature, humidity, gas composition) of the storage environment to create optimal conditions for natural ripening. By precisely controlling these parameters, the system accelerates ripening while maintaining uniformity in color, flavor, and quality across all fruits.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors ripening parameters (ethylene concentration, temperature, humidity, color changes) and uses this feedback to adjust environmental conditions in real-time. This closed-loop control ensures uniform ripening progression and prevents over-ripening or non-uniform development.
2Manufacturing precision
If natural ripening is allowed to proceed without control to maintain quality, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to extended ripening period and risk of over-ripening during transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, gas composition) based on the ripening stage and fruit characteristics. This dynamic control allows the system to maintain optimal quality uniformity while adapting the ripening speed to meet transportation timelines, preventing both premature and delayed ripening.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary monitoring and adjustment of environmental conditions before significant ripening occurs. By detecting early signs of ripening progression and pre-adjusting parameters, the system ensures uniform quality development while controlling the overall ripening timeline to prevent over-ripening during transit.
3Productivity
If conventional artificial ripening methods are used to meet consumer demand, then productivity is improved, but object-affected harmful factors increase due to health hazards from chemical residues
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses controlled atmosphere with specific gas compositions (oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen) to create an inert-like environment that promotes natural ripening without harmful chemicals. This approach maintains high supply capacity while eliminating health hazards associated with conventional chemical ripening methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts and removes harmful chemical substances (ethylene gas, calcium carbide) from the ripening process while retaining the beneficial natural ripening mechanism. By using only safe gases and environmental controls, the system achieves both high productivity and safety.
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
This approach ensures uniform, safe, and efficient natural ripening of climacteric fruits, reducing waste and maintaining quality, by accurately predicting ripening times and conditions, thus enhancing transportation and distribution efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
obtain periodic, synchronized data streams from a collection of select sensors including CO 2 , O 2 , ethylene, temperature, and humidity
Implementation Method 2
compute a respiration rate of the climacteric fruit based on the levels of the environment condition parameters
Data Source
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AI summary
This disclosure relates generally to a system and method for managing ripening conditions of climacteric fruits. The method includes obtaining levels of environment condition parameters (e.g. CO2 emitted, O2 consumed, Ethylene emitted, temperature and relative humidity) associated with ripening of the climacteric fruit over time at periodic intervals by using an enclosure enclosing the climacteric fruit. A respiration rate of the climacteric fruit is computed based at least on the levels of the environment condition parameters using Michaelis Menten kinetics model. A level of ethylene is monitored to determine a climacteric peak of Ethylene for the climacteric fruit. The climacteric peak is indicative of complete natural ripening of the climacteric fruit. An ANN model predicts optimal ripening condition of the climacteric fruit based on the respiration rate of the climacteric fruit and the climacteric peak of ethylene