JPS62198328A - Apparatus for storing perishables - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a fresh produce storage device that allows fresh produce such as vegetables and fruits to be stored for a long period of time at the production site or at the distribution stage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Refrigerated storage is a common means of storing perishables, but in addition to this, a longer term storage method involves changing the air composition within the storage room. In other words, the concentration of oxygen (02) in the storage chamber is reduced, and the concentration of carbon dioxide (Co2) is reduced.
) It is known that by increasing the concentration, it is possible to suppress the respiration of fresh foods and also prevent chemical reactions such as decomposition and oxidation caused by microorganisms (hereinafter referred to as CA).
storage).

An example of the above-mentioned conventional fresh food storage device will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 shows a system diagram of a conventional fresh food storage device. Reference numeral 1' denotes a storage, and a cooling device 4' consisting of an evaporator 2' and a condensing unit 3' is provided. 5′
is a propane gas cylinder, which is combusted by the carbon dioxide generator 6' using air introduced from the storage 1' through the introduction pipe 7' to produce C3H8+60 →3CO+4H20+531
, lal2 and carbon dioxide (CO2) is discharged into the storage 1' through a discharge pipe 8'. Reference numeral 9' denotes a carbon dioxide gas adsorption device, which is introduced from the storage 1' through an inlet pipe 10 to absorb excess carbon dioxide (Co2).
) After all the adsorption is carried out, it is returned to the storage 1' through the discharge pipe 11.

12' is a gas monitor which detects the gas concentration in the storage H1' and connects the carbon dioxide gas generator 6' and the waste acid gas adsorption device 9.
′ is controlled in a timely manner.

The operation of the fresh produce storage device configured as above will be described below.

First, the gas monitor 12' shows carbon dioxide gas (CO2), acid R (
02)+lI! Set eCO2; s%, 02; 5% K. The atmosphere inside storage 1' was initially N2; 79%;
02: 21%, and when the carbon dioxide gas generator 6' is operated, the air inside the refrigerator is transferred to the inlet pipe 7' by a blower (not shown).
The gas is introduced from the propane gas cylinder 5', mixed with gas supplied from the propane gas cylinder 5', and subjected to combustion. Carbon dioxide (Co2) generated by combustion is circulated into the storage 1' through the exhaust pipe 8'.

As a result, the gas composition in the storage chamber 1' is such that the oxygen (02) concentration decreases and the carbon dioxide (Co2) concentration increases.The gas monitor 12' detects that the carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration has reached 6%. and fully operate the carbon dioxide adsorption device 9′.
A blower (not shown) introduces the gas through the inlet pipe i o' into the gas-carbon dioxide adsorption device 9' in the storage 1', adsorbs excess carbon dioxide (Co2)', and removes it from the storage 1 through the discharge pipe 11'.
’.

On the other hand, the oxygen (O2) concentration gradually decreases because it is being used for combustion during that time, from the initial 02:21% to O2:6.
decreases to . The gas monitor 12' detects this and stops the carbon dioxide gas generator 6'. The gas composition in the storage chamber 1' is N2; 90 cm, Co2; s.

0□; When the predetermined value of 6% is reached, the carbon dioxide adsorption device 9' is stopped and the predetermined storage condition is reached.

By the way, during the above operation, the excess carbon dioxide in the storage 1' that has been adsorbed by the carbon dioxide adsorption device 9' is discharged outside the storage 1', so the pressure inside the storage 1' increases accordingly. The pressure becomes more negative than atmospheric pressure.

To solve this problem, outside air is supplied to the storage 1' from a pressure regulating valve (not shown) that maintains uniform pressure inside and outside the storage 1'.
will be replenished within. However, the air that is naturally replenished has 2
Since it contains 1% oxygen, it is also converted into carbon dioxide by combustion, adsorbed again by the carbon dioxide adsorption device 9', and discharged outside the storage 1'. On the other hand, at this time, 79% of the air replenished is nitrogen, and this amount makes up 1' of the storage space.
Although it is used to relieve the negative pressure inside, it is not enough,
The operation of replenishing the storage chamber 1' with outside air is repeated continuously.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the above configuration, the oxygen contained in the air that is replenished in order to eliminate the negative pressure in the storage chamber 1' is converted into carbon dioxide by combustion, and the carbon dioxide gas is converted into carbon dioxide gas by the carbon dioxide adsorption device. 9
′ is adsorbed and discharged outside the storage 1′,
It takes time to bring the inside of the storage 1' to a predetermined gas concentration, and as a result, there is a delay in suppressing the respiration of the fresh food in the storage 1', resulting in a significant deterioration in freshness during that time. By the way, as shown in Figure 4, there are moths in a 10 tsubo storage room.

It took as long as 20 hours to reduce the gas concentration to 6% CO2; 02 s%; 90% N2.

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a fresh food storage device that can reach a predetermined gas concentration in a short time.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the fresh produce storage apparatus of the present invention is provided with means for introducing nitrogen gas into the storage.

Effects The present invention has the above-described configuration, in order to eliminate the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the storage, which is caused by discharging the excess carbon dioxide in the storage, which has been adsorbed by the carbon dioxide adsorption device, to the outside of the storage. By replenishing the storage with the same amount of nitrogen gas as the carbon dioxide gas to be discharged at the same time as the carbon dioxide being discharged, there is no need to introduce outside air, and the amount of oxygen reduced by combustion is only the oxygen in the storage. Since it is possible to reach a predetermined gas concentration in the storage in a short period of time, the respiration effect of fresh food can be quickly suppressed and deterioration of freshness can be prevented.

Example ・The following is a first example of a fresh food storage device according to an example of the present invention.
This will be explained with reference to FIG.

In the figure, 1 is a storage such as a pre-fabricated refrigerator for storing perishables, and a compressor 2. Condenser 3° Evaporator 4. A cooling device 7 comprising a blower 6.6 is mounted on the top.

The storage 1 includes a carbon dioxide gas generating device 8 for filling the interior of the storage with carbon dioxide (C02). Excess carbon dioxide gas in the refrigerator (
Carbon dioxide adsorption device 9 that adsorbs C02) and maintains it at a constant concentration
are connected to each other. The carbon dioxide generator 8 is constructed between an inlet pipe 10 that introduces air into the storage 1 and an exhaust pipe 11 that discharges combustion gas into the storage 1, and includes a blower 12. Pulp 13. Combustion furnace 14. Combustion exhaust gas cooler 1
It consists of 5. The blower 12 guides the air inside the storage 1 to the combustion furnace 14 through the introduction pipe 10, cools the combustion exhaust gas in the combustion furnace 14 with the cooler 16, and then circulates it into the storage 1 through the discharge pipe 11. The combustion furnace 14 also includes an inner casing 17 having a ceramic tube 16 on its inner surface, an outer casing 19 forming an air passage 18 between the inner casing 17 for supplying secondary combustion air, and a ceramic tube 16.
A grate 21 on which solid fuel 2o is placed, and a blower 12
The ignition heater 22 is configured to heat the air from the engine and combust the solid fuel 20. The solid fuel 20 is one with high carbon purity, such as charcoal, and is C+0 by combustion.
Due to the reaction of 20N2→Co2+N2, the combustion exhaust gas becomes only carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen (N2) and is introduced into the storage 1. 23 is a pulp for introducing air for combustion assistance from the outside air.

On the other hand, in the carbon dioxide adsorption device 9, the gas composition in the storage 1 is N2: 79% due to the carbon dioxide gas generation device 8.

When CO□: 16%, 02: 15%, a predetermined value is set.

For example, it is for adsorbing excess carbon dioxide gas (C02) to make it N2: 90%, Co2: 5%, and 02: 5%, and discharging it outside the storage 1. An inlet pipe 26. is used to alternately circulate the gas in the storage 1 to the two adsorbers 24.25. Discharge pipe 2 completed, blower 2 B * Hull 7” 29~
It consists of 36 pieces. The adsorber 24.25 is filled with adsorbent material 37.38, which adsorbs carbon dioxide gas (C02), and when the adsorption capacity decreases, it heats the heater 4o provided on the discharge side of the blower 39. , pulp hot air 33
, 35 to the adsorber 24.25.
The structure is such that air is blown, carbon dioxide is desorbed, and the carbon dioxide gas is discharged to the atmosphere through an exhaust pipe 42 which is led to the atmosphere via pulps 34 and 36. For example, when the adsorber 24 is performing adsorption and the adsorber 26 is performing desorption, the pulp 29, 30
, 33, 34 are open, pulp 31, 32, 35, 36 are closed, and carbon dioxide gas (Co2) is generated by the blower 28.
The excess gas in the storage 1 is passed through the adsorbent 37 of the adsorber 24 to adsorb carbon dioxide gas and returned to the storage 1 again, while the outside air heated by the heater 4o by the blower 39 is
Carbon dioxide is desorbed by passing it through the adsorbent 38 of the adsorber 26. 43 is a gas monitor that detects the gas concentration in the storage 1, and controls the operation of the carbon dioxide gas generator 8 and the carbon dioxide adsorption device 9 according to the gas concentration in the storage 1.

44 is a nitrogen gas cylinder, and the nitrogen gas in the cylinder is guided into the storage 1 through an air pipe 46. Reference numeral 46 denotes a pulp provided in the air supply pipe 45, and is configured to open and close in response to a signal from the gas monitor 43.

The operation of the fresh food storage apparatus constructed as above will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Initially, the atmosphere in the storage warehouse 1 is N2: 79%, 02: 21%, and when the carbon dioxide gas generator 8 is operated, the air inside the warehouse is introduced from the introduction pipe 1° by the blower 12 and passes through the pulp 13. The solid fuel 20 is then introduced into the combustion furnace 14, heated by the ignition torch 22, and used for combustion of the solid fuel 20. C
Due to the reaction +020N2→CO2+N2, the exhaust gas becomes only carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen (N2), which are cooled by the cooler 15 and then circulated into the storage 1 through the discharge pipe 11. The gas composition in the storage 1 is such that the oxygen (0°) concentration decreases and the carbon dioxide (CO2) a degree increases. After 2 hours and 30 minutes i
Then, N2; 79%, Co2; s%, 02; 1et%
Then, the predetermined ri is N2; 90%, co. ;5 chi.

o2: 6%, the gas monitor 43 detects that carbon dioxide (CO2) has reached a predetermined level of 6%, and the carbon dioxide adsorption device 9 is operated. Then, the gas in the storage 1 is introduced into the adsorption device 24 through the introduction pipe 26 by the blower 28, only carbon dioxide gas is adsorbed by the adsorbent 37, and only nitrogen is returned into the storage 1 through the discharge pipe 27. Adsorbers 24 and 25 alternately perform adsorption action.

The desorption action is repeated and carbon dioxide gas is adsorbed continuously by either adsorber. Therefore, the carbon dioxide concentration in the storage 1 is maintained at 5%, but the excess carbon dioxide in the storage 1 is removed by the adsorber 24.
．． 26 and discharged outside the storage 1 through the discharge pipe 42, the pressure inside the storage 1 becomes more negative than the outside atmospheric pressure.

To solve this problem, when the carbon dioxide concentration in the storage 1 exceeds 5% and the carbon dioxide adsorption device 9 is operated, the pulp 46 is switched from closed to open by a signal from the gas monitor 43, and the nitrogen cylinder 44 is opened. Nitrogen gas is introduced into the storage 1 through the air pipe 45 . The amount introduced is adjusted to be equivalent to the amount of excess carbon dioxide discharged by the carbon dioxide adsorption device 9. On the other hand, the concentration of oxygen (02) decreases because it is being used for combustion during that time, and after 16 hours, the concentration of oxygen (02) decreases.
reach %. The gas monitor 43 detects this and stops the carbon dioxide gas generator 8 and carbon dioxide adsorption device 9.

At the same time, the pulp 46 is switched from open to closed, and the supply of nitrogen gas from the nitrogen cylinder 44 is stopped.

Now the gas concentration inside storage 1 is N2; 90%, C02; 5
%, 02; 5%, reaching the predetermined storage conditions. Thereafter, when the carbon dioxide gas (C02) generated by the respiration of fresh food stored in the storage room 1 exceeds a predetermined value of 6, the gas monitor 43 detects this and activates the carbon dioxide adsorption device 9 to remove carbon dioxide gas. It is adsorbed and discharged until it reaches a predetermined value.

At the same time, the pulp 46 is also changed from closed to open, and the discharged nitrogen is replenished into the storage 1 to prevent the pressure inside the storage 1 from becoming a negative pressure.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention provides a carbon dioxide gas generation device, a carbon dioxide adsorption device, and a means for introducing nitrogen gas into the storage, thereby reducing the amount of excess gas in the storage that has been adsorbed by the carbon dioxide adsorption device. In order to eliminate the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the storage chamber caused by discharging carbon dioxide gas outside the storage chamber, at the same time as the carbon dioxide gas is discharged, the same amount of nitrogen gas as the discharged carbon dioxide gas is replenished into the storage chamber. There is no need to introduce outside air, and the amount of oxygen that is reduced by combustion is only the oxygen in the storage, so the predetermined gas concentration can be reached within the storage in a short period of time, which reduces the respiration of fresh produce. This can also be quickly controlled to prevent deterioration of freshness.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a structural diagram of a fresh produce storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a diagram of changes in gas components in the storage chamber shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a system diagram of a conventional fresh produce storage device. , FIG. 4 is a diagram showing changes in gas components in the storage. 1... Storage, 8... Carbon dioxide gas generator, 9... Carbon dioxide adsorption device, 12...
・Blower, 14... Combustion furnace, 2o...
Fuel, 24.25...Adsorber, 28...
・Blower, 37.38...Adsorbent, 44...;
...Nitrogen cylinder. Figure 2 Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] A carbon dioxide fuel cell system consisting of a storage for storing perishables, a combustion furnace for burning carbon-containing fuel to introduce carbon dioxide gas into the storage, and a blower for circulating air from the storage to the combustion furnace for combustion of the fuel. A carbon dioxide adsorption device includes a gas generator, an adsorbent containing an adsorbent to adsorb carbon dioxide in the storage, a blower that circulates gas in the storage through the adsorption device, and a carbon dioxide adsorption device that supplies nitrogen gas into the storage. A fresh produce storage device characterized by comprising means for introducing.