DE102004048081B4 - Process and device for producing ripening gas for the ripening of climacteric fruits in stationary ripening chambers and mobile ripening containers - Google Patents

Abstract

method for the production of ripening gas for the maturation of climacteric fruits in ripening chambers, characterized in that using a nitrogen generator Nitrogen from externally supplied compressed air is recovered, the nitrogen in a gas mixer with externally supplied ethylene to a desired Maturing gas concentration is mixed and the maturation gas thus generated on a Hose line or a pipeline network to the connected ripening chambers supplied becomes.

Description

The The invention relates to a method and a device for generating from ripening gas for the maturation of climacteric fruits in ripening rooms.

in the essential count to the climacteric fruits all fruits, by the conversion of strength edible in fructose be made or consumable. Mainly bananas, kiwis, Papayas, some types of melons, tomatoes, etc.

bananas For example, of which 60-70 million tonnes were harvested worldwide in 2001, are from the countries of origin (mainly Central and South America, Caribbean Islands) predominantly with the ship in the sales countries after North America, Europe and Asia transported. The transport of the so-called "green goods" takes place in refrigerated containers. The goal of refrigerated transport is it to increase the metabolism of the fruits one possible to reduce low levels without the fruit being too low Temperatures or too low humidity damage.

After unloading the bananas in the receiving port, depending on the demand and market situation, the ripening takes place in special ripening houses. Depending on the quality, the bananas are ripened in special ripening chambers with the addition of ripening gas (mixture of nitrogen and ethylene). After a temperature equalization time at a higher temperature level (14-18 ° Celsius) of 12-24 hours, the mature gas is metered added. During this phase, starch is converted into different types of fructose. The metabolic processes take place under higher oxygen consumption, while producing additional heat and CO ₂ . This process is referred to the skilled person as Klimakterium. This is followed by the Nachklimakterium, externally recognizable by the color change from green to green yellow to yellow. Then the ripening gas is rinsed out and the ripening chamber is ventilated. These processes are semi-automated because bananas are organisms with metabolism. The ripening operations are evaluated, monitored and if necessary intervened by the ripen master (shortening, lengthening the dwelling time of the bananas in the ripening chambers and / or increasing / reducing the supply of ripening gas).

At present becomes the maturation gas requirement of a ripening plant is covered by the receipt of ripening gas in pressure vessels. A pressure vessel contains 60 liters of mature gas at 200 bar pressure. The ripening gas exists 96% nitrogen and 4% ethylene.

Of the Food retail and with it the fruit and vegetable trade are subject to sustained price and margin declines. In this Environment becomes a modern ripening, in addition to the quality of the maturing result, increasingly measured by its cost effectiveness.

A Typical ripening consumes about 2-4 bundles of bottles (1 bundles of cylinders Ripening gas consists of 12 pressure vessels, Price / bundle: approx. EUR 460, -) maturing gas per year and chamber. At a number of 25 Chambers arise of ripening alone for the ripening gas cost of about EUR 23,000, - to EUR 46,000, -

In the EP 1 124 728 B1 and of US 3638 788 Describe an apparatus and method for maturing climacteric fruits. It also produces ripened gas by mixing ethylene and air. The exact production of the ripening gas is not allowed to be described.

It It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a device to develop a needs-based and cost-effective supply of optimally mixed ripening gas into the ripening chambers.

These Task is by the method or the device with the features according to claims 1 or 3 solved.

With the method according to the invention and the device it is possible that for the maturation of climacteric fruits Required ripening gas on-site in the ripening workshop as needed and to produce efficiently.

Me This new development can reduce the cost of maturing gas, depending on the ripening chamber concept to approx. EUR 2,500, - to EUR 4,000, - p.a. to reduce.

• – Anschaffungskosten für das Reifegas in Druckbehältern entfallen
• – Handlingskosten für das Reifegas in Druckbehältern entfallen (Auftragsabwicklung, Anlieferung, Einlagerung, Leerguthandling)
• – Rückgabe von ungenutztem Gas in Druckbehältern entfällt (ca. 10%–25% des Flaschenvolumens gehen – aufgrund des erforderlichen Restdrucks in den Druckbehältern- ungenutzt zum Hersteller zurück)
• – Mithilfe dieser Neuentwicklung lässt sich das Reifegas in jeder beliebigen Konzentration bedarfsgerecht erzeugen. Dies ist aufgrund der fixen Mischungsverhältnisse in den Druckbehältern derzeit nicht möglich. Dadurch sinkt die Gefahr von Ethylenüberdosierungen in der Kammeratmosphäre und damit die Gefahr von Beschädigungen an korrosionsempfindlichen Teilen in der Reifekammer.

In particular, this new method offers the following advantages over current practice:

• - Acquisition costs for the maturation gas in pressure vessels omitted
• - Handling costs for the maturing gas in pressure vessels are eliminated (order processing, delivery, storage, empties handling)
• - Return of unused gas in pressure vessels is omitted (about 10% -25% of the volume of the bottle is - due to the required residual pressure in the pressure vessels - unused to the manufacturer)
• - With the help of this new development, the ripening gas can be produced as required in any concentration. This is currently not possible due to the fixed mixing ratios in the pressure vessels. This reduces the risk of ethylene overdoses in the chamber mosphäre and thus the risk of damage to corrosion-sensitive parts in the ripening chamber.

• – Reifegas wird direkt vor Ort erzeugt
• – Gasmischer an der Anlage ermöglicht die Erzeugung von Reifegas in jeder gewünschten Konzentration und Menge.
• – Die Neuentwicklung kann bis zu 5 Reifekammern/Std. gleichzeitig versorgen.
• – Durch die Installation eines zusätzlichen Vorratstanks kann das Reifegas in nahezu beliebiger Menge bevorratet werden.
• – Eine speziell für die Reifegasanlage entwickelte Steuerungs-Software ermöglicht eine einfache und sichere Ansteuerung und Begasung der Reifekammern. Dadurch ist eine exakte Versorgung der Reifekammern mit einem optimalen Reifegasgemisch in der Kammeratmosphäre garantiert.
• – Über eine standardisierte Schnittstelle lässt sich die Reifegasanlage in jede beliebige Visualisierung zur Reifesteuerung integrieren.

The device according to the invention or the method work according to the following principles:

• - Ripening gas is produced directly on site
• - Gas mixer on the system allows the production of ripening gas in any desired concentration and quantity.
• - The new development can hold up to 5 ripening chambers / hr. supply at the same time.
• - By installing an additional storage tank, the ripening gas can be stored in almost any quantity.
• - A control software specially developed for the ripening gas plant enables easy and safe control and gassing of the ripening chambers. This guarantees an exact supply of the ripening chambers with an optimal mixture of mature gas in the chamber atmosphere.
• - Via a standardized interface, the ripening gas plant can be integrated into any visualization for ripening.

Furthermore For example, this technology is suitable for use with mobile hoop containers e.g. to supply them with ripening gas on ships. This development makes it opposite the current one Practice possible, that on Ships can be worked without explosion protection.

mobile Permit ripe containers the use of the transport route for the maturation of climacteric fruits. The fruits ripened in the containers can thus directly bypassing further handling processes in the destination port from the ship to the customer. This leads to a shortening of the transport times and costs.

An embodiment, as the drawing shows, is explained in more detail below:
The compressed air is supplied to the nitrogen-generating components of the system. The generated nitrogen is then buffered for further use in a tank. From the tank, the pressurized nitrogen enters a gas mixer. Ethylene from high pressure vessels is fed to the gas mixer. In the gas mixer, a gas mixture between 0 and 5 percent by volume is produced depending on the gas mixture to be produced, both in terms of time and quantity.

The Plant is in a housing built-in. To exploit the natural convection of the conversions Plant are e.g. provided in the pages supply and exhaust ports.

Claims (5)

A process for producing ripening gas for the ripening of climacteric fruits in ripening chambers, characterized in that nitrogen is obtained from externally supplied compressed air using a nitrogen generator, the nitrogen is mixed in a gas mixer with externally supplied ethylene to a desired ripening gas concentration and the ripening gas thus produced over a hose or a pipe network is supplied to the connected ripening chambers. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that that it in stationary Ripening chambers or in mobile CA containers can be used. Apparatus for carrying out the method according to one the claims 1 or 2 Device according to claim 3, characterized in that that means one for the ripening gas plant developed control software the ripening chambers, according to the in the gassing cycles and gas mixing ratios stored in the program are automatically supplied with ripening gas. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that that the Control software via has a standard interface, the integration of the ripening plant into any visualization allows for ripening.