Effect of tight-stacking bins on fruit temperature reduction.
Hellickson, M. L.; Baskins, R. A.;
Postharvest Horticulture Series - Department of Pomology, University of California Year: 1997 Issue: No. 15 Pages: 64-69 Ref: 1 ref.
1997
บทคัดย่อ
Two nearly identical controlled atmosphere pear storage rooms at Duckwall-Pooley Fruit Company, Odell, Oregon, USA were used to compare cool-down performance in conventionally stacked vs tight-stacked rooms. Rooms CA 13 and CA 16 each measured approximately 18.6 m long, 9.0 m wide and 7.6 m high. In 1995-96 and 1996-97, CA 16 was loaded as normal with 14 stacks of bins (of D'Anjou [Beurre d'Anjou] fruits) front-to-back, 6 rows wide and 10 bins high. Total capacity was 825 bins. Room CA 13 was the tight-stack room. Space between bin rows was eliminated, thus bin placement was 14 stacks front-to-back, 7 rows wide and 10 bins high in 1995-96 and 11 bins high in 1996-97. Total capacity was 945 bins in 1995-96 and 1049 bins in 1996-97. Pre-sized fruits were placed into the rooms during 1995-96 and orchard-run fruits were stored in 1996-97. Because fruits entered the stores at different temperatures and times, comparison of cooling performance based only on time to reach 0 deg C was misleading. Two no
rmalization methods were employed to compare room performance. One method divided the time required for the fruits in each monitored bin to cool to 0 deg by initial temperature minus 0 deg . The value received was termed 'cooling efficiency'. Overall results indicated superior cooling efficiency in the tight-stacking room during 1995-96. In 1996-97, the conventionally stacked room was more efficient. Overall average cooling efficiencies were 5.56 and 6.56 in 1995-96 and 5.17 and 3.88 in 1996-97 in CA 13 and CA 16, respectively. Additionally, the time required for fruits to cool to storage temperature was predicted using a predefined mathematical relationship. Significant differences in cooling efficiency values were observed at various locations throughout the rooms. These findings demonstrate the need for a comprehensive study documenting air movement patterns and ventilation characteristics within storage rooms.