Ripening control device, air composition adjustment device, container, and freezer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for controlling fruit ripening in storage environments, such as those used in marine containers, are inadequate in managing the concentration of ripening components like ethylene gas, leading to inconsistent fruit freshness and ripening rates.
Innovation Solution
A ripening control device that includes an adsorption unit to absorb and desorb ethylene gas, allowing for its controlled release into the storage environment, using a hollow fiber membrane or metal organic framework, and a desorption unit with a heating mechanism to manage ethylene concentrations, integrated with a refrigeration apparatus and air composition adjustment system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ethylene gas is continuously adsorbed by a filter to maintain low concentration, then fruit freshness is maintained during transport, but the ability to accelerate ripening when needed is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the discarding and recovering principle by collecting ethylene gas that would otherwise be discarded during storage and transporting it for later reuse. The ethylene collection unit accumulates the gas released by fruits, and the subsequent release unit can then introduce this collected ethylene back into the storage space to accelerate ripening when needed, transforming a waste product into a useful resource for controlling fruit maturation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the ethylene gas concentration in the storage environment based on the desired outcome. The release unit controls the amount of ethylene introduced into the storage space, allowing the system to transition between maintaining low ethylene levels for freshness and introducing higher concentrations to accelerate ripening, thus changing the ethylene parameter to achieve different ripening objectives.
2Manufacturing precision
If ethylene gas concentration is kept low throughout storage, then fruit quality is maintained, but ripening cannot be accelerated before delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by alternating between two distinct operational phases: a first period where ethylene gas is adsorbed and maintained at low concentrations to preserve fruit quality during transport, and a second period where ethylene gas is introduced to accelerate ripening. This periodic switching between maintenance mode and acceleration mode allows the system to achieve both consistent fruit quality and controlled ripening speed at different stages of the supply chain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by maintaining low ethylene concentrations during the initial storage and transport period to ensure fruit quality is established and preserved before delivery. This preliminary quality maintenance phase prepares the fruits in optimal condition, after which the ripening acceleration phase can be activated if needed, ensuring both quality consistency and timely ripening are achieved.
3Device complexity
If a simple filter is used to manage ethylene gas, then device complexity is low, but control precision over ethylene concentration is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using a collection unit as a buffer between the fruits and the storage environment. Instead of directly controlling ethylene concentration with complex sensors and actuators, the system uses the collection unit to intermediate the ethylene gas flow, accumulating it from the fruits and then releasing it in a controlled manner. This intermediary mechanism provides precise control over ethylene concentration while maintaining relative system simplicity.
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 solution enables precise control over fruit ripening by adjusting ethylene gas concentrations, maintaining freshness during transport and accelerating ripening as needed, thereby improving fruit quality and consistency.
Implementation Method 1
using a hollow fiber membrane or metal organic framework
Implementation Method 2
a desorption unit with a heating mechanism to manage ethylene concentrations
Data Source
AI summary
A ripening controldevice includes a holding unit, a desorption unit, and a supply unit. The holding unit holds a ripening component that is generated from an object and ripens the object. The desorption unit desorbs the ripening component held in the holding unit from the holding unit. The supply unit supplies the ripening component desorbed by the desorption unit into the target spaces (S).