Controlled Atmosphere Storage Using Metabolic Coefficient Feedback
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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 require frequent leakage measurements and external gas introduction, making them inefficient and inaccurate.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic control system that calculates a metabolic coefficient based on internal gas composition and pressure measurements, allowing for real-time adjustment of gas composition to maintain optimal respiratory conditions without estimating leakage parameters or introducing external gases, thereby reducing 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 operation is simple, but the storage quality deteriorates due to high biological variability causing firmness loss and postharvest disorders
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of gas composition by continuously monitoring respiration rates and adjusting O2 and CO2 levels in real-time based on actual metabolic activity of the produce, replacing static set-points with adaptive control that responds to biological variability
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms by measuring respiration rates and using this information to adjust gas composition, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to the actual metabolic state of the produce rather than relying on predetermined static values
2Measurement precision
If frequent leakage measurements and external gas introduction are performed, then the gas composition control accuracy is improved, but the system complexity and workload increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the produce's own respiration activity as the measurement signal, eliminating the need for separate leakage measurement procedures and external gas introduction operations. The metabolic processes of the produce themselves provide the information needed for control
Solution Approach 2:
The gas composition adjustment serves multiple functions simultaneously: it maintains optimal storage conditions while using the same process to infer respiration rates and compensate for leakage, eliminating the need for separate measurement and correction procedures
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 system provides more accurate and efficient control of gas composition, reducing metabolic disorders and fermentative degradation, and optimizing storage conditions for respiratory produce by continuously monitoring and adapting to the produce's metabolic activity and storage environment dynamics.
Implementation Method 1
a gas analyser indicative of a gas composition in the confined environment and a pressure sensor indicative of a pressure in the confined environment
Implementation Method 2
a pressure sensor indicative of a pressure in the confined environment
Implementation Method 3
calculating a metabolic coefficient as a function of the measured gas composition in the confined environment and as a function of the pressure in the confined environment
Implementation Method 4
an operator/actuator to adapt the gas composition in the confined environment
Data Source
AI summary
A control system for controlling the storage of metabolically active produce in a defined confined environment. The control system comprises gas analyzing and pressure measurement means including a control unit for determining an adjusted gas medium composition of the confined environment for protecting the produce against metabolic degradation. An operating/actuating means for adapting the gas medium in the confined storage environment is based on the determined adjusted gas medium composition. The control unit is adapted for determining the adjusted gas medium composition based on a mathematical model of the system that determines a metabolic coefficient of the produce by combining measured changes of gas composition in the confined environment with dynamic pressure changes in the confined space. The value of the metabolic coefficient is used as input for a control algorithm to continuously adjust the gas composition in the confined space in response to the metabolic activity of the produce.