JP2007209291A - Citrus sudachi pretreating method, and citrus sudachi pretreating apparatus to be used for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a Citrus sudachi pretreating method capable of suppressing occurrence of scald fruits and performing the shortening and controlling of a pretreatment period, and to provide a pretreating apparatus to be used for the method. <P>SOLUTION: This Citrus sudachi pretreating method comprises continuously supplying by differential pressure air which is controlled at 30-40°C and whose relative humidity is dried to <70% using a dehumidifier, to an air permeable container holding Citrus sudachi. The pretreating apparatus is formed by arranging in space sealed with a heat-insulating member, a pretreating chamber RD which holds the container holding Citrus sudachi, a pressure space dS which continuously circulates air by differential pressure to the pretreating chamber RD, and an air conditioning space AdS which temporarily stores circulating air discharged from the pretreating chamber RD. The pretreating apparatus has a differential pressure producing apparatus which is arranged between the air conditioning space and the pressure space, a dehumidifier, and a temperature control means which may be the same as the dehumidifier. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a pretreatment method for sudachi as a pretreatment for refrigerated storage of harvested sudachi and a pretreatment device for sudachi used therein.

  Sudachi, a special product of Tokushima Prefecture, is cultivated in one yen in the prefecture. It is said that maintaining this unique dark green color is necessary for maintaining its unique dark green color. Most Sudachi harvested by open-air cultivation from mid-August to mid-September is refrigerated and stored for shipment in the winter.

  Such refrigerated storage is generally performed on a farm-by-farmer basis, and harvested sudachi is always put in a refrigerator or the like after being treated as “preparation”. “Precaution” in Sudachi is a process of drying the skin of Sudachi, and the pores of the Sudachi epidermis are contracted by performing the precaution (drying of the skin). This increases the storage capacity of Sudachi.

  In general, it is said that the degree of precautions (precaution rate or precautionary measure) of sudachi before refrigerated storage needs to be 5% or more, so cultivated farmers place harvested sudachi in an airy warehouse However, natural preparation usually requires about one week, and shortening the preparation period is desired.

  In recent years, it has been confirmed that yellowing of Sudachi is likely to occur in a temperature range of 10 ° C to 25 ° C. In this way, as a condition for preserving sudachi while maintaining the green color, there is a phenomenon that the skin is not easily faded even if pretreatment is performed at a temperature higher than 30 ° C. (high temperature range) in addition to the method of maintaining low temperature. It attracted attention (Non-Patent Document 1). According to this non-patent document 1, the reason why yellowing of sudachi hardly occurs is that chlorophyll decomposition hardly occurs in a low temperature (3 to 5 ° C.) region or a high temperature (30 ° C. or higher) region. But it is explained that it will be possible.

  And this nonpatent literature 1 has proposed the possibility of a high temperature precaution by the verification test using two types of commercial drying apparatuses from the present condition where the precaution machine only for Sudachi was not developed. One drying device is a high-temperature precaution device used for pretreatment of other citrus fruits different from Sudachi, and this high-temperature precaution device is provided with an in-loss ventilation device and a temperature control device. The other drying device is a drying device used in straw or plum, and this drying device is a hermetic ventilation dryer provided with a forced dehumidification device. In any of the test apparatuses, a temperature setting exceeding 30 ° C. is possible, whereby a preliminary test is performed in a region exceeding 30 ° C.

In any test equipment, it is reported that the precaution period required for one week or more in natural precautions is shortened to about 1 to 3 days, and the normal fruit rate should be increased as compared with the case of natural precautions. It is explained that you can. As a result, the use of high-temperature precautionary machines is expected to improve productivity with increased storability in addition to workability and labor saving in cultivated farmers. Sudachi's precautions are carried out using a commercially available precautionary machine (referred to as a dredging precautionary machine) equipped with a ventilation device and a temperature control device.
Agricultural Research Institute for Agricultural and Biological Systems, Kinki Chugoku Shikoku Agricultural Research Center Information on research results in FY2002, Tokushima Fruit Research Institute, Evergreen Cultivation Breeding, “Improvement of storage quality of sudachi by improving the precautionary law”, [2006 Search January 12, 2012], Internet <http://www.naro.affrc.go.jp/top/seika/2002/kinki/ki271.html>

  However, when sudachi precautions are taken using a dredging precautionary device, the period required for precautions is shortened compared to natural precautions. There was a problem of becoming many. The problem that if the precautionary period is within a range of about 1 to 3 days, the plans for the farmer's work such as sorting, bagging, storage, etc. after the precaution are not stable, including the harvest time. There is.

  In addition, the harvest time of sudachi suitable for refrigerated storage is concentrated in a short period of time. For this reason, if the precaution period is different, a precaution machine with sufficient capacity is required to be able to cope with various precaution periods. In addition, when using this type of dredging precautionary machine, it is necessary to constantly monitor the progress of the precautions, and depending on the progress of the precautions, the optimal preparatory time is expected to be late at night There is also.

  On the other hand, the sealed draft dryer with a forced dehumidifier used in plum can shorten the pretreatment period compared to the drought precaution machine, but the time required for the pretreatment is the same as the drought. There is a problem of not doing. In addition, as described in Non-Patent Document 1, the use of fruits and points to keep in mind, as described in “There are many occurrences of burnt fruit, which are said to occur in low-temperature-impaired fruits and respiratory-disordered fruits during refrigerated storage.” In the sealed-type ventilation dryer, the occurrence of burnt fruit is expected, and it is inappropriate to adopt it as a precautionary device for Sudachi. If this discoloration fruit (low-temperature disordered fruit or breathing disorder fruit) occurs during refrigerated storage, it will be necessary to sort out and remove the sudachi where the discolored fruit has occurred during an appropriate period during refrigerated storage. However, there is a problem that the yield is lowered.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a sudachi pretreatment method and a pretreatment device used therefor that can suppress the occurrence of burnt fruit and that can shorten the pretreatment period and control the pretreatment period.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive sudachi pretreatment device that can suppress the occurrence of burnt fruit and that can shorten the pretreatment period and control the pretreatment period.

  In the Tokushima region, which is the production area that accounts for about 90% of the production of Sudachi nationwide, the harvest time of the Sudachi, a natural product suitable for refrigerated storage, is from mid-August to mid-September (especially early September). In this season, the average relative humidity is over 70%, the maximum temperature is often over 30 ° C, and the precipitation is the highest throughout the year (see Table 1). Therefore, the design of a dredging precautionary machine that takes in fresh air by replacing the humid circulating air generated by pretreatment with the outside air is the optimum condition for pretreatment of Sudachi, which is a season of high temperature, heavy rain, and high humidity. I thought there was a possibility that I could not set.

  Similarly, the occurrence of burnt fruit when converted to sudachi has been observed, either because the sealed ventilator for plums was not developed for straw. The reason for the occurrence of burnt fruit when using this sealed ventilation dryer is not clear, but the drying time required to dry plums using this sealed ventilation dryer is usually only a few hours. In Non-Patent Document 1, as a precaution for sudachi, drying is performed for 1 to 2 days straddling day and night.

  In addition, in the utilization aspect and points to be noted of Non-Patent Document 1, 2 and 4, “If the cold storage is performed immediately after the pretreatment, the storage may be poor and the storage stability may be poor. After returning to room temperature, bagging is performed, the storage temperature is 8 ° C. to 10 ° C., and then it is lowered at a rate of 0.5 ° C. for 2 weeks and finally managed at 4 ° C. ”. . In this regard, Sudachi seems to have been pointed out to be sensitive to temperature changes.

  Here, in this season in the Tokushima region, the difference in average temperature between day and night is about 6 to 7 ° C. on average, and in some cases exceeds 8 ° C. (see Table 1). If it is drying for several hours, it is considered that a temperature control device is unnecessary, but in the case of Sudachi's precautions for a long time of day and night, the average temperature changes by 6 ° C to 7 ° C day and night, so forced dehumidification In a sealed circulation system without a temperature control device with only a built-in device, precise control between 30 ° C and 40 ° C is practically difficult. Or, it may have exceeded 40 ° C and the optimum conditions necessary for sudachi precautions may not be set.

ここで、本発明者等は、柚の予措が３０℃を越える高温においても行えるという非特許文献１の知見を基にして、上述の課題点を解決すべくスダチ専用の予措機としての最適設計を試みたところ、３０℃〜４０℃の範囲内で所望の温度範囲に制御でき、かつ、予措室内の相対湿度を制御できる予措装置を用いれば、ヤケ果の発生が抑制できるスダチの予措が行えることを認めた。また、このような条件設定によれば、予措温度と予措室内の相対湿度を適切に設定することにより、例えば予措率が５％程度以上に予措が行える予措期間を、常に１日程度であって、計画的な作業が行いやすい予措時間、例えば、２０時間〜２８時間程度に制御することができることを認めた。

Here, the present inventors, based on the knowledge of Non-Patent Document 1 that the precautions for dredging can be performed even at high temperatures exceeding 30 ° C., as a precautionary device dedicated to Sudachi to solve the above-mentioned problems As a result of an optimum design, Sudachi can control the occurrence of burnt fruits by using a precaution device that can be controlled within a temperature range of 30 ° C to 40 ° C to a desired temperature range and can control the relative humidity in the pretreatment chamber. We admitted that we could do precautions. In addition, according to such a condition setting, by appropriately setting the pretreatment temperature and the relative humidity in the pretreatment room, for example, the pretreatment period during which the pretreatment rate can be made to be about 5% or more is always 1 It was recognized that it can be controlled to a preparatory time that is easy to carry out planned work, for example, about 20 to 28 hours.

  That is, according to the first invention, air that is controlled within a range of 30 ° C. to 40 ° C. with respect to a breathable container containing sudachi, and that has been dried to a relative humidity of less than 70% by using a dehumidifier is used. This is a Sudachi pretreatment method characterized by continuously supplying pressure.

  In the present invention, it is necessary that the temperature in the precaution chamber is controlled to a desired set temperature within the range of 30 ° C. to 40 ° C. regardless of the temperature of the outside air. That is, even if there is a difference in the temperature of the outside air, it is necessary that the temperature in the precaution chamber is substantially within a predetermined temperature range by temperature control regardless of the outside air temperature. Here, “substantially” means that, for example, even when the temperature at the start of the precaution is considerably lower than 30 ° C., it means that it has exceeded 30 ° C. after about 1 hour from the beginning, and it is 20 to 28 hours. It means that the precaution time of the degree is performed at a predetermined temperature substantially within the range of 30 ° C to 40 ° C.

  If the room temperature is less than 30 ° C., the preparatory time cannot be shortened sufficiently. On the other hand, when the room temperature rises above 40 ° C., the yield during pre-treatment or refrigerated storage is reduced due to the occurrence of burnt fruit.

  In the present invention, the preferred room temperature is in the range of 30 ° C. to 38 ° C., particularly preferably in the range of 35 ° C. ± 1 to 2 ° C. In terms of the average internal temperature during the preparatory operation, the temperature is preferably controlled within a range of 30 ° C. to 38 ° C., particularly preferably within a range of 35 ° C. ± 1 to 2 ° C.

  In addition, continuously supplying air, which has been dried to a relative humidity of less than 70% using a dehumidifier, to the precaution chamber by means of a differential pressure means that the relative humidity of the pretreatment chamber is substantially lower than 70%. This means that the relative humidity in the pretreatment chamber is controlled to 60% or less, particularly preferably 55% or less, except for about one hour at the beginning of the pretreatment. In a device that takes in fresh outside air and dries it, it is considered that it is substantially difficult to set these conditions due to the weather conditions in the Tokushima region. If preferable conditions are set for the average relative humidity during the preparatory operation, 70% or less is necessary, preferably 60% or less, and particularly preferably the average relative humidity during the operation time is 55% or less.

  Such a sudachi pretreatment method, for example, continuously circulates air between a pretreatment chamber in which containers containing sudachi are stacked and accommodated in a space sealed by a heat insulating member, and the pretreatment chamber by differential pressure. Therefore, a pretreatment chamber, a pressure space capable of increasing the pressure compared to the pretreatment chamber, and an air conditioning space for temporarily storing the circulating air discharged from the pretreatment chamber are disposed and stored in the air conditioning space. A differential pressure generator for generating a differential pressure between the pretreatment chamber and the pressure space by forcibly supplying the circulated air to the pressure space, and taking in the circulating air stored in the air-conditioned space Preliminary measures using a dehumidifying device that returns air of reduced humidity to the circulating air by removing moisture contained in the intake air and a heating and / or cooling device that may be the same as the dehumidifying device. Room Temperature can be performed by using a sudachi for 予措 device and a control means for controlling to a predetermined temperature.

  Further, the second aspect of the present invention provides a pretreatment chamber in which containers containing sudachi are stacked and accommodated in a space sealed by a heat insulating member and a pretreatment chamber for continuously circulating air by differential pressure in the pretreatment chamber. A circulating space stored in the air-conditioned space is provided with a pressure space capable of increasing the pressure compared to the pre-treatment chamber and an air-conditioned space for temporarily storing the circulating air discharged from the pre-room. A differential pressure generator for generating a differential pressure between the pretreatment chamber and the pressure space by forcibly feeding the pressure space to the pressure space, and taking in the circulating air stored in the air-conditioned space The cooling air with reduced humidity by removing the moisture contained in the air is returned to the circulating air, and the heat generated by dehumidification is taken in as part of the circulating air and exhausted as hot air by heat exchange. The Either the cooled dehumidifying device and the exhaust heat means, and the hot air discharged from the exhaust heat means is discharged to the air-conditioned space or the pressure space, or is released to the outside of the precaution device. Exhaust heat hot air switching device to switch to, an outside air intake device for taking in outside air corresponding to the amount of warm air released to the outside by the exhaust heat hot air switching device, and the exhaust heat hot air based on the internal temperature information And a control means for controlling the operation of the switching device so that the inside temperature becomes a predetermined temperature.

  In the second aspect of the invention, the cooling dehumidifier is disposed inside the precaution device. This cooling type dehumidifier generates heat when it is dehumidified by the cooling type. By taking all of this generated heat into the pretreatment device, the inside of the pretreatment device is heated even if the cooling type dehumidification device is used. be able to. Further, when a part of this heat is converted into hot air and released to the outside, this cooling dehumidifier functions as a cooling device that lowers the indoor temperature. Thereby, the waste heat hot air switching device can be connected to the cooling dehumidifier to control the amount of heat released to the outside as hot air, so that the inside of the precaution device can be controlled to a desired temperature with a simple configuration. It becomes possible.

  For example, when an inexpensive spot air conditioner is used as such a cooling dehumidifier, the amount of heat dissipated from the spot air conditioner is small, so the temperature in the precaution room cannot be increased rapidly. Therefore, the use of a spot air conditioner as the cooling type dehumidifying device makes it possible to inexpensively provide a sudachi precautionary device that can suppress the occurrence of burnt fruit as a result.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a sudachi pretreatment method and a sudachi pretreatment device that can suppress the occurrence of burnt fruit and that can shorten the pretreatment period and control the pretreatment period.

  Further, according to the second invention, it is possible to provide an inexpensive sudachi precautionary device used in the first invention.

  As a result, farmers who cultivate sudachi can implement planned sudachi precautions economically with a good yield.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, FIGS. 1-5 is a figure explaining the precaution apparatus of Sudachi which concerns on one Example of this invention.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, this sudachi preparation device has a substantially rectangular frame structure that is easily assembled by disassembly by a joint J (J, J1, J2) and a frame F as a lightweight frame material. The body FC is roughly configured. Even if it is assembled using screws, etc., or is firmly assembled by welding, the precautionary effect of Sudachi is the same.

  Here, in this embodiment, the frame F that forms the air-conditioned space AdS described later is independent of the frame F that forms the precaution chamber RD described later even when the two joints J1 and J2 are disconnected. It is configured to be able to stand upright. This is to facilitate the dismantling and storage of the non-use period by separating the air-conditioned space AdS in which various equipments are disposed from the precaution chamber RD having an empty interior.

  On the floor surface of the frame structure FC according to this embodiment, a floor material YB is laid, and on the other outer peripheral surfaces (outer surface and roof surface), as shown in FIG. Thus, a sealed type precaution device 10 that is covered completely and is blocked from the outside is configured.

  As the heat insulating member SD, any material may be used as long as it has a heat insulating property that can seal the entire pretreatment device 10 together with the flooring YB and can block heat such as sunlight. A heat-insulating sheet material whose both surfaces are made of a light-reflective material such as aluminum is an example of a preferable material because it can be obtained at a low price. In the case of a sheet material, as shown in FIG. 5, an opening / closing port 12 that can be opened and closed can be provided on an appropriate side surface, or it can be configured as a tent-type preconditioner that can be easily assembled and disassembled. . Here, in FIG. 5, by providing the fastener members 11 on both sides of the entrance / exit 12 to open / close the entrance / exit 12 upward, it is possible to carry in / out the sudachi to / from the internal preparation chamber RD. ing.

  As the flooring YB, any material may be used as long as the worker can carry the sudachi stored in the container into the preparatory chamber RD with sufficient strength and substantially seal the inside of the apparatus. The preferable floor material YB is a heat insulating material, and examples of such a floor material YB include a plastic panel and a plastic board. Such a flooring YB may be laminated with a heat insulating material such as an aluminum heat insulating mat on the lower side.

  A pretreatment chamber RD for drying sudachi is disposed at the center in the longitudinal direction of the frame structure FC. The size of the pretreatment chamber RD is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that the pretreatment chamber RD is configured to be full when the containers for harvesting sudachi are arranged and stacked in the pretreatment chamber. Here, in this optimal embodiment, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 1, two rows are stacked in the longitudinal direction and stacked in eight columns, and as shown by the oblique double line in FIG. 4, two rows in the width direction. Arranged as a whole, it is configured to accommodate containers of 8 stages × 4 rows = 32 cases.

  A duct space dS as a pressure space is disposed above the pretreatment chamber RD (a ceiling surface of the pretreatment chamber) via a differential pressure sheet SS. This differential pressure sheet SS blocks direct air flow in and out of the preconditioning chamber RD and the duct space dS, and uses the space above the preconditioning chamber RD as a duct space.

  Here, the differential pressure sheet SS is fastened and fixed to both sides of the frame F in the longitudinal direction. The material of the differential pressure sheet SS is not particularly limited as long as it can block the inflow and outflow of air between the duct space dS and the preparatory chamber RD. For example, vinyl and tent fabric are inexpensive and have good handleability. It is illustrated as. An air impermeable panel (ceiling board) or the like may be used as a substitute for the differential pressure sheet.

  An air accumulation space AS is disposed on the upstream side (left side of the drawing) of the preconditioning chamber RD, and an air conditioning space AdS is disposed on the downstream side (right side of the drawing) of the preconditioning chamber. This air accumulation space AS is communicated with the duct space dS, and stabilizes the supply of circulating air to the pretreatment chamber by the differential pressure.

  A ceiling plate SB that is supported by the frame F and blocks outflow and inflow of air is fixed to the ceiling surface of the air-conditioned space AdS, and an electric blower unit 20 is fixed to the ceiling plate SB. The blower unit 20 forcibly supplies air in the air-conditioned space AdS to the duct space dS to generate a differential pressure between the duct space dS and the air-conditioned space AdS.

  Further, a spot air conditioner 30 for dehumidifying and heating the circulating air in the air-conditioned space AdS is disposed in the air-conditioned space AdS.

  The spot air conditioner 30 sucks air in the air-conditioned space AdS from the air suction port 31, cools and dehumidifies the taken-in air, and releases cold air from the cold air discharge port 32 into the air-conditioned space AdS.

  Further, in this spot air conditioner 30, heat (exhaust heat) generated when generating cold air inside the main body is exhausted by taking in ambient air from an intake port attached to an arbitrary periphery of the main body and exchanging heat. It is discharged from the mouth 33 as warm air. Here, in the present invention, the exhaust port 33 is connected to the intake port of the electric three-way shutter 50.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the electric three-way shutter 50 is ON / OFF controlled based on a signal from the temperature detection device 40 installed in the precaution room RD. The exhaust port 51 connected at the time of ON is configured such that the end 52a is discharged to the outside air from the opening of the heat insulating sheet SD through the duct 52. Further, the exhaust port 53 connected when the electric three-way shutter 50 is turned off is configured to be discharged as it is into the air-conditioned space AdS.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, a wind pressure shutter 60 is provided on one side of the air-conditioned space AdS to automatically take in external air when the internal pressure drops below the external pressure.

  As a result, when the electric three-way shutter 50 is on, the exhaust heat is discharged to the outside as warm air. When the internal pressure of the air-conditioned space AdS decreases, the wind pressure type shutter 60 takes outside air into the air-conditioned space AdS. In addition, when the electric three-way shutter 50 is off, the captured circulating air is heat-exchanged and circulated in the air-conditioned space AdS as hot air. Thus, when the electric three-way shutter 50 is off, the pretreatment chamber RD is dried in an environment shut off from the outside.

  In FIG. 5, reference numeral 70 denotes a control panel connected to a commercial power source. Various instruments and switches are disposed on the control panel 70.

  The instrument is an ammeter, a temperature indicating controller, or the like, and the temperature support controller is, for example, temperature information from the temperature detection device 40 so that the temperature can be adjusted within a range of 30 ° C to 35 ° C. Based on the above, on / off of the electric three-way shutter 50 as the exhaust heat hot air switching device is controlled. The temperature in the precaution room RD is configured so that the set temperature in the precaution room RD can be raised or lowered by operating a button or the like.

  The switches include a switch for starting and stopping a blower and a spot air conditioner. In addition, an operation lamp for notifying the operation status of the blower unit 20, the spot air conditioner 30, the temperature detection device 40, and the electric three-way shutter 50 is also provided.

  Thus, on / off control of the electric three-way shutter 50 is performed based on the information of the temperature detecting device 40 disposed at a predetermined position in the precaution chamber RD in accordance with the operation of each controller and switch, and the sudachi pretreatment device Ten entire systems can be driven. Details of the control of the control device will be described together with the action of the sudachi precaution device.

Next, the operation of the sudachi precautionary device 10 configured as described above will be described.
[Importing Sudachi]
The sudachi is stored in a state suitable for refrigerated storage in a state where the sudachi is housed in a harvesting container formed of a breathable material. Since the container for harvesting is formed of a breathable material, even if it is stored as it is in the pretreatment chamber as it is, it can be uniformly brought into contact with the circulating air to the Sudachi stored by the differential pressure.

In the present invention, since precautions can be performed in the container, labor saving and space saving can be achieved.
[operation]
When individual devices such as the blower unit switch and the three-way shutter operation switch are turned on and the system operation switch is turned on, the spot air conditioner 30 is activated and the circulating air stored in the conditioned space AdS is stored. Humidity is reduced and temperature is adjusted.

  Due to the operation of the blower unit 20, the circulated air whose humidity in the air-conditioned space AdS has been reduced and whose temperature has been adjusted is supplied to the duct space dS by the blower unit 20, and preliminarily passes through the air reservoir space AS according to the arrow by the generated differential pressure. It passes through the control room RD and circulates to the air-conditioned space AdS.

  The temperature adjustment is performed by a temperature sensor in the precaution chamber, information measured by the temperature sensor is input to the control device, and the electric three-way shutter 50 is turned on / off according to the temperature information input to the control device.

  When the temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature, the control device turns off the electric three-way shutter 50, and all the heat generated by the operation of the spot air conditioner 30 is dissipated inside the precaution device, so that the circulating air rises. Be warmed.

  When the temperature has reached a predetermined temperature, the electric three-way shutter 50 is turned on, whereby a part of the air in the air-conditioned space AdS releases hot air from the tip 52a via the duct 52. Thereby, when the whole precaution device becomes a negative pressure compared with the outside air, the wind pressure type shutter 60 operates and takes the outside air into the air-conditioned space.

  When the temperature in the precaution chamber is lower than the set value, the electric three-way shutter 50 is turned off, and the hot air generated by heat exchange is supplied from the exhaust port 53 to the air-conditioned space AdS. As a result, all the exhaust heat generated by driving the spot air conditioner is taken in, so that the temperature in the preconditioning room RD is raised.

  As a result, in the preparatory room RD, the low-humidity predetermined temperature hot air from which moisture has been removed in the air-conditioned space circulates from the side by the differential pressure with respect to the whole of the Sudachi, Air can be evenly supplied to all Sudachi.

  When Sudachi's precautions progress and reaches a predetermined precaution rate (usually about 5% or more), the system operation is stopped and the precautions are completed.

  Then, according to a conventional method, when Sudachi is packed in a small bag and refrigerated, the generation of burnt fruit is suppressed, and Sudachi suitable for refrigerated storage can be obtained. It can be returned to room temperature over about half a day in the preparatory room.

According to the calculations by the present inventors, it is possible to prepare sudachi with the sudachi preparation device according to the present invention in the season from mid-August to mid-September when Sudachi is harvested in the Shikoku region. It is. Even in this season, the temperature rises to about 35 ° C. or more in the daytime, and the temperature may drop to about 20 ° C. at night, but the system can be generally operated.
[Verification test]
Using the prototype of Sudachi's pretreatment device equipped with the tent-type pretreatment room RD described above, a demonstration test of Sudachi's pretreatment was conducted from the beginning to the middle of September 2005 in Sanauchinai Village, Meito-gun, Tokushima Prefecture. .

  As the frame F used, an evacuator pipe having a diameter of 28 mm was used, and the outline dimensions of the sudachi pretreatment device 10 were 2000 mm high, 1200 mm wide and 2700 mm long, and the precaution room RD was high. The length was 1500 mm, the width was 1200 mm, and the length was 1500 mm.

  A duct space dS is provided on the pretreatment chamber RD, and an upstream air accumulation space AS having a length of about 580 mm is assembled integrally with the pretreatment chamber RD on the upstream side of the pretreatment chamber RD. .

  On the other hand, the air conditioning space AdS having a longitudinal length of about 620 mm arranged on the downstream side of the precaution chamber RD is assembled as a separate body from the pretreatment chamber RD, and the pretreatment chamber RD is joined by a joint. The air-conditioned space AdS can be removed at the time of dismantling.

In addition, equipment such as a spot air conditioner, a blower unit, and a three-way shutter having the following specifications was attached to the air-conditioned space AdS. Further, a vinyl sheet was used as the differential pressure sheet SS on the ceiling surface of the precaution room RD, and a tent material having a thickness of 9 mm in which double-sided aluminum foil was laminated as the heat insulation sheet SD was covered around the entire surface of the prototype.
[Equipment specifications]
Blower unit; Power consumption: Single phase 100V 175W, Air volume: 60m ³ / min Cooling dehumidifier (spot air conditioner); Power consumption: Single phase 100V880W, Dehumidification capacity 37L / day (at 35 ° C relative humidity 70%)
Electric three-way shutter; power consumption: single phase 100V 3.7W, control panel for exhaust heat switching; temperature control function (adjustable range: 30 ° C to 35 ° C)
[Production conditions]
The experiment started at 6 pm on September 14, 2005, and 614.62 kg of freshly harvested sudachi fruits stored roughly evenly in 39 cases of 600 × 400 × 180 H container cases were used for the test.

  Each container case was stacked and stored in the precaution chamber, and the control panel set temperature was set to 35 ° C. (± 0.5 ° C.), and the entire system was operated to prepare.

  The outside air temperature, outside air humidity, inside temperature, and inside humidity under the measurement conditions were measured and shown in FIG. The experiment was terminated at 6:00 pm the next day after driving for one day and night, and the total power used during this period was 26.1972 kWh.

  At the beginning of operation, the relative humidity in the storage was high, but the relative humidity in the storage decreased to about 55% within 30 minutes from the start of operation, and then the relative humidity stabilized and finally about 47%. Gradually decreased. As a result, the relative humidity of the outside air during this period averaged 75.8%, while the inside humidity was able to ensure an average of 50.5%.

  On the other hand, the temperature inside the cabinet that originally divided 30 ° C. exceeded 30 ° C. immediately after the start of operation, while the outside temperature during this period averaged 23.8 ° C., whereas the inside temperature averaged 35.4 ° C. I was able to secure it.

  Since the weight loss of Sudachi fruit after the completion of pre-treatment was 35.62 kg, the pre-treatment rate was calculated to be 5.8%, and Sudachi with a pre-treatment rate of 5% or more could be obtained.

  When sudachi was refrigerated and stored in a conventional manner, as of the end of January 2006, almost no (or less) burn fruit was observed, so sudachi could be refrigerated and stored with good yield.

  In this experiment, it took about 5-6 hours to raise the temperature to the set value of 35 ° C. However, this experiment started in the evening and the outside air temperature gradually decreased to around 20 ° C. Considering this, it seems possible to shorten the time for the internal temperature to reach the set temperature by increasing the operation start time in the normal season.

  In addition, for example, a container case of 600 × 400 × 180H is preliminarily large enough to accommodate a total of 32 columns in two rows and two rows and eight heights (height 1500 mm, width 1200 mm, length 800 mm). If the treatment room is designed, the outline dimensions of the sudachi pretreatment device may be external dimensions of height 2000 mm, width 1200 mm, and length 2000 mm, and the total volume may be about 75% of the tester.

As a result, by using a spot air conditioner with the same capacity as the prototype, it is possible to smoothly raise the temperature in the preconditioning room to a predetermined set temperature of 35 ° C even when storing approximately 500 kg of sudachi. Therefore, it is expected that the preparation time can be further shortened and the work of the farmers is further reduced.
(Comparative example)
This comparative example is an example in the case of diverting a commercially available drought precaution machine as a precaution for Sudachi as a general high-temperature precaution machine used in other citrus fruits.

Commercially available dredging precaution machines are generally composed of a prefabricated warehouse with heat insulation, and an electric heater with a capacity of 200 V, 2 kW as a warming machine, and an air circulation in the warehouse for circulating the air in the warehouse. Fan (pressure ventilation fan: power consumption 100V, 175W), vinyl differential pressure sheet for circulating this internal air to the target path, and high humidity air in the internal compartment are replaced with outside air Heat exchanger type ventilation fan (so-called loss ventilation device: power consumption 100 V, 40 W, air volume 155 m ³ / h), and the inside temperature can be controlled within a range of 20 ° C. to 35 ° C. by the control device.

  Using such dredging precautionary machines, the sudachi immediately after harvesting is put into the warehouse together with the container, and for example, it is a production area of sudachi that has been subjected to a verification test by setting the inside temperature to be 30 ° C. When operating in the Tokushima region, it is expected that the period required for Sudachi's preparatory measures can be shortened compared to natural precautions, but the outside air is highly humid and the effect of reducing the time required for preparatory measures is implemented. Compared to the example, it takes a long time, and the number of days required for precautions is expected to be unstable and unstable.

  This is imagined with reference to the weather data of Tokushima City shown in Table 1, for example. That is, this period is so humid that 15 days in which the average relative humidity exceeds 70% is counted as 10 days. In addition, the average relative humidity during this period varies greatly within a range of 61% to 90%.

The drought precaution machine is a device developed for use in winter, which is a harvesting season for straw that has a low relative humidity and a stable climate. In the case of diverted as a precautionary device for sudachi, it was found by the present inventors that "the air-permeable container containing sudachi is controlled within a range of 30 ° C to 40 ° C, and It seemed to be extremely difficult to set a condition comparable to the optimum condition of “continuously supplying air dried to a relative humidity of less than 70% by a differential pressure using a dehumidifier”.
(Modification 1)
In the above embodiment, the wind pressure shutter 60 is used to supplement the air corresponding to the warm air discharged from the electric three-way shutter to the outside. As the wind pressure shutter 60, a heat exchange type ventilation device, so-called LOSSNAY is used. By using, a further energy-saving precaution device can be obtained.

Other functions and effects can be substantially the same as those of the embodiment.
(Modification 2)
In the above embodiment, the spot air conditioner 30 is disposed inside the air-conditioned space AdS. However, the spot air conditioner 30 may be disposed outdoors adjacent to the air-conditioned space AdS, for example. In this case, the intake air inlet 31 and the cold air outlet 32 of the spot air conditioner 30 are connected to the air conditioning space AdS via a duct or the like, and the exhaust side of the electric three-way shutter 50 is discharged toward the indoor side and the outdoor side. Configured as follows. When the temperature information by the temperature sensor is high, the exhaust heat of the spot air conditioner 30 exhausted through the electric three-way shutter 50 is released to the outside as warm air. When the temperature is low, the hot air discharged through the electric three-way shutter 50 is discharged into the air-conditioned space AdS.

The amount of heat energy collected by the spot air conditioner 30 is smaller than that of the embodiment, and the energy efficiency is somewhat inferior, but depending on the design conditions, the same effect as the embodiment can be obtained.
(Modification 3)
In the above embodiment, other heat sources such as an electric heater are not used by utilizing the exhaust heat of the spot air conditioner, but other heat sources may be used. In particular, when the temperature in the preconditioning chamber RD is lower than 25 ° C. in the initial stage of operation, the inside of the preconditioning chamber RD may be heated using another heat source. After achieving the predetermined temperature, the use of the exhaust heat of the spot air conditioner 30 may be controlled with priority over other heat sources. Thereby, further power saving can be performed. Other functions and effects are substantially the same as those of the embodiment.
(Modification 4)
In the above embodiment, the flow of air in the pretreatment chamber is in the left-right direction, but the flow of circulating air in the pretreatment chamber can be changed in the vertical direction.

  In this case, for example, an air reservoir space is provided, air permeability such as punching metal is used, and other heat sources such as an electric heater are not used by utilizing the exhaust heat of the spot air conditioner. May be used. In particular, when the temperature in the preconditioning chamber RD is lower than 25 ° C. in the initial stage of operation, the inside of the preconditioning chamber RD may be heated using another heat source. After achieving the predetermined temperature, the use of the exhaust heat of the spot air conditioner 30 may be controlled with priority over other heat sources. Thereby, further power saving can be performed. Other functions and effects are substantially the same as those of the embodiment.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and the present invention can be changed even if there is a design change or the like without departing from the gist of the present invention. included.

  For example, the spot air conditioner is inexpensive as an integrated type, but may be a separate type. Moreover, it can also be used not only for floor mounting.

  Moreover, although adjustment of the humidity in a store | warehouse | chamber was unnecessary from the above Example, the apparatus which adjusts the humidity in a store | warehouse | chamber may be used.

It is a front view explaining the precaution device 10 for Sudachi based on this invention with the frame structure of the state which removed the tent of the outer peripheral surface. It is a left view of FIG. It is a right view of FIG. It is a top view of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the pretreatment apparatus for sudachi which concerns on this invention. It is a figure explaining arrangement | positioning of each meter of a control panel. It is a figure explaining the control condition of the external temperature which concerns on an Example, external air humidity, internal temperature, and internal humidity.

Explanation of symbols

F: Frame FC: Frame structure J, J1, J2: Joint RD: Precaution room dS: Duct space (pressure space)
AS: Air storage space AdS: Air conditioning space SB: Ceiling board (differential pressure member)
SD: Heat insulation member (heat insulation sheet)
SS: Differential pressure sheet YB: Floor material 10: Prep device for Sudachi 11: Fastener member 12: Entrance / exit 20: Blower unit (Differential pressure generator)
21: Air duct 30: Cooling dehumidifier (spot air conditioner)
31: Air inlet 32: Cold air outlet 33: Heat exhaust port 40: Temperature detection device 50: Waste heat hot air switching device (electric three-way shutter)
51: Exhaust port (connected when on)
52: Duct 52a: Terminal 53: Exhaust port (connected when off)
60: Wind pressure shutter (outside air intake device)
70: Control panel (control means)

Claims (4)

  Air that is controlled within a range of 30 ° C. to 40 ° C. and is dried to a relative humidity of less than 70% using a dehumidifier is continuously supplied to a breathable container containing sudachi by a differential pressure. Sudachi's precautionary method characterized by this. A pretreatment chamber in which containers containing sudachi are stacked and accommodated in a space sealed by a heat insulating member, and a pretreatment chamber and the pretreatment chamber in order to circulate air continuously by differential pressure in the pretreatment chamber A pressure space capable of increasing the pressure and an air-conditioning space for temporarily storing the circulating air discharged from the pretreatment chamber are provided,
A differential pressure generator for generating a differential pressure between the pretreatment chamber and the pressure space by forcibly feeding the circulating air stored in the air-conditioned space to the pressure space;
A dehumidifying device that takes in the circulating air stored in the air-conditioned space and returns the air of reduced humidity to the circulating air by removing moisture contained in the intake air;
And a control means for controlling the temperature in the precaution chamber to be a predetermined temperature using a heating and / or cooling device that may be the same as the dehumidifying device. apparatus. In the space sealed by the heat insulating member, the pretreatment chamber in which the containers containing sudachi are stacked and housed and the pretreatment chamber and the pretreatment chamber are arranged to continuously circulate air by differential pressure in the pretreatment chamber. A pressure space capable of increasing the pressure and an air-conditioning space for temporarily storing the circulating air discharged from the pretreatment chamber are provided,
A differential pressure generator for generating a differential pressure between the pretreatment chamber and the pressure space by forcibly feeding the circulating air stored in the air-conditioned space to the pressure space;
By taking in the circulating air stored in the air-conditioned space and removing the moisture contained in the intake air, the cooling air with reduced humidity is returned to the circulating air, and the heat generated by dehumidification is returned to a part of the circulating air. A cooling dehumidifier equipped with a heat exhausting means that exhausts heat as a hot air by heat exchange,
Exhaust hot air switching that is connected to the exhaust heat means and that switches the hot air discharged from the exhaust heat means to either the air-conditioned space or the pressure space or to the outside of the precaution device Equipment,
An outside air intake device that takes in outside air corresponding to the amount of hot air discharged to the outside by the exhaust heat hot air switching device;
And a control means for controlling the operation of the exhaust heat hot air switching device based on the internal temperature information to control the internal temperature to be a predetermined temperature. Precautionary device. The sudachi pretreatment device is assembled by a lightweight frame material that can be disassembled and assembled,
The sudachi pretreatment device according to claim 3, wherein the downstream space can be assembled and disassembled independently from the pretreatment chamber.

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