Ozone Vacuum Storage for Perishable Product Preservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for storing perishable products in low-pressure vacuum chambers face challenges in efficiently managing decay, metabolic activity, and pesticide residue reduction, while also dealing with gaseous growth hormones like ethylene, which affect shelf life and require complex storage solutions.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for controlling environmental conditions within a sealed vacuum container using ozone-containing gas mixtures to reduce pathogens, pesticide residues, and ethylene levels, while maintaining optimal oxygen and humidity levels, utilizing sensors and a control system to manage atmospheric conditions and extend the shelf life of perishable products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If low-pressure vacuum storage is used to slow degradation of perishables, then shelf life is extended, but complex control of atmospheric conditions is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling multiple atmospheric parameters (pressure, oxygen concentration, carbon dioxide concentration, temperature) simultaneously to extend shelf life. The system dynamically adjusts these parameters based on sensor feedback to maintain optimal storage conditions that slow degradation while managing the complexity through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by using sensors to continuously monitor atmospheric conditions (pressure, gas concentrations, temperature) and adjusting the storage environment accordingly. This closed-loop system manages the complexity of atmospheric control by automatically responding to measured conditions, ensuring optimal shelf life extension without requiring manual intervention.
2Reliability
If pesticides and fungicides are applied to combat pathogens, then pathogen growth is suppressed, but residue remains on perishable products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses ozone, a strong oxidant, to suppress pathogen growth and eliminate pesticide residues. Ozone oxidizes and breaks down harmful substances on the perishable products, providing effective pathogen suppression while simultaneously reducing or eliminating pesticide residues, thus addressing both concerns without the trade-off present in conventional approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of pesticide residues into a benefit by using ozone treatment to break down these residues. The same ozone that suppresses pathogens also degrades pesticide molecules, transforming the harmful residue problem into a beneficial purification process that enhances product safety while maintaining pathogen suppression.
3Stability of the object's composition
If gaseous growth hormones like ethylene are present, then natural ripening occurs, but senescence is accelerated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts or removes gaseous growth hormones like ethylene from the storage atmosphere through controlled ventilation and filtration systems. By taking out these hormones that accelerate senescence, the system maintains natural ripening processes while preventing excessive aging, thus extending the usable shelf life of perishable products.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the concentration of gaseous hormones in the storage atmosphere. Through automated control systems, the partial pressure and concentration of ethylene and other growth hormones are adjusted to optimal levels that allow natural ripening to proceed while preventing accelerated senescence, thereby extending shelf life.
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 effectively suppresses microbial growth, reduces pesticide residues, and manages ethylene levels, thereby extending the shelf life of perishable products and simplifying storage and transportation processes by maintaining controlled atmospheric conditions within the vacuum container.
Implementation Method 1
Ozone disinfects by directly oxidizing and destroying the microorganism's cell wall, causing cellular components to leak outside the cell. This causes protoplasmic destruction of the cell, damaging constituents of the nucleic acids, and breaks the carbon-nitrogen bonds
Implementation Method 2
Ozone can react with ethylene and produce carbon dioxide, water and oxygen
Implementation Method 3
A wide range of pesticides can be oxidized by ozone
Implementation Method 4
a vacuum pump configured to reduce total absolute pressure in the vacuum chamber to below a total gas pressure limit
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatus, and system for storing perishable products in a vacuum container. An atmosphere control system is coupled to the vacuum container for measuring and maintaining controlled atmospheric conditions within the vacuum container. The atmosphere control system includes a plurality of monitors configured to monitor atmospheric conditions within the vacuum container. The atmosphere control system further includes a vacuum pump configured to reduce total absolute pressure in the vacuum chamber to below a total gas pressure limit, an ozone generator configured to generate gaseous ozone, and an inlet valve coupled to the ozone generator and configured to admit an ozone-containing gas into the vacuum container.