Select your language

Ventilation in fruit ripening

Operational effectiveness and energy efficiency: fruit at its point!

by Paz García*

Ripening is essential when it comes to marketing climacteric fruits ... although what is behind good practices in professional ripening processes? How can we guarantee quality products? Is there a key factor in achieving homogeneous batches of fruit at its ripening point?

Non-climacteric fruits only ripen completely on the plant, while climacteric fruits such as banana, avocado, kiwi, papaya, pear... continue this process once harvested, which provides good opportunities and advantages at a commercial level. We now have greater access to "exotic" or non-locally produced fruits thanks to the development of means of transport, the cold chain and modern ripening facilities. Of course, one would expect this democratization of consumption to bring with it a quality product; homogeneous ventilation is the real key to success.

- Publicidad -

While other determining factors such as temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide concentration or even ethylene are more or less exceeded today, air circulation is too often a pending issue in professional chambers ... from the point of view of the final product and also in terms of efficiency. Hot areas, turbulence sinks, insufficient or excessive ventilation and ultimately lack of uniformity in air distribution imply excessive energy consumption and high maintenance costs.

The real dilemma arises between reversible ventilation for the sake of a more homogeneous maturation or single-direction air fans, more energy efficient but often at the expense of the quality of the final product.

Beyond the propellers, it is important to consider the rest of the elements in a fan: bulky motors and supports that hinder the flow of air and can represent an inconvenience for the structure of the chambers and for conservation operations due to their weight; shells without mouths that penalize the aerodynamics of the set... there is still ample room for improvement.

Only by optimizing these components is it feasible to achieve energy savings of more than 30% in most of the fans dedicated to maturation in the world, much more if we incorporate into the formula the binomial structure of the camera + equipment and precise supervision; train the rooms, make them autonomous beyond just controlling them.

Professional maturation management must harmonize climatic parameters, sensors, ventilation systems and air velocity, all operating together and in harmony; wireless technology already offers the possibility of combining and managing field information to make real-time decisions today and learn for tomorrow.

Smart motors and fans, wireless sensors, network interconnection, internet of things, the cloud, predictive analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence... the future is already knocking on the door!

The main unknown of the ripened today is what happened to the fruit before reaching the chamber ... but what if we knew? Rather, when will we know? Luck will no longer be part of the equation. Only cameras capable of integrating data along the entire supply chain, analyzing it properly, predicting competently in a market context, making coordinated, accurate decisions and also learning for the future will succeed.

- Publicidad -

Thus, the current business model will evolve radically towards much more efficient operations (automation, remote monitoring, self-regulation), better productivity and job satisfaction, optimization of decision making, elimination of routine tasks, qualification and improved customer experience (transparency and accessibility of data and communication, integration of the digital and the analog for a personalized service) ... in short, do the job well and get the fruit at its perfect point of ripeness.

Will we be prepared for this scenario?
Fruit ripening consumes tens of billions of kWh annually worldwide, most of them "only" to move air and not always achieving the desired results. Energy efficiency and process effectiveness integrating the IoT technology already available to eradicate environmental stratification and minimize operating costs, that is the challenge of the maturation of the future.

* Paz García | Branch Food Manager, Ziehl-Abegg Se

Duván Chaverra Agudelo
Duván Chaverra AgudeloEmail: [email protected]
Jefe Editorial de las revistas AVI Latinoamérica, ACR Latinoamérica, Ventas de Seguridad, Zona de Pinturas, Aftermarket Internation, Gerencia de Edificios, TV y Video, y Director Académico en Latin Press, Inc,.
Comunicador Social y Periodista con experiencia de más de 18 años en medios de comunicación. Apasionado por la tecnología y por esta industria.

No comments

• If you're already registered, please log in first. Your email will not be published.

Leave your comment

In reply to Some User
The HVAC/R sector will meet in Panama with ACR Latin America

The HVAC/R sector will meet in Panama with ACR Latin America

Panama. ACR Latin America invites the Panamanian community in the air conditioning and refrigeration sector to an integration night that will take place on April 24 at the Hotel Riu Plaza.

Refrimundo announces the ninth edition of the Refricon 2025 National Air Conditioning Congress

Refrimundo announces the ninth edition of the Refricon 2025 National Air Conditioning Congress

Costa Rica.  Refrimundo announced the ninth edition of the National Congress of the Day of the Technician: Refricon 2025, which will take place next Saturday, May 24, at the Convention Center of...

Smart ventilation allows cruisers to reduce their fuel consumption by up to 10%

Smart ventilation allows cruisers to reduce their fuel consumption by up to 10%

International. Demand-driven technology optimizes energy use in galleys and staterooms on cruise ships. A key improvement in HVAC systems could be setting the course for more efficient and...

Case study: Lagleyze Hospital reinforces the safety of its operating theatres with new air conditioning technology

Case study: Lagleyze Hospital reinforces the safety of its operating theatres with new air conditioning technology

Argentina. The Hospital Oftalmológico Pedro Lagleyze has just incorporated a new air conditioning system that will allow optimal conditions of temperature, humidity and air purity to be maintained...

MAHLE launches bionic radial blower inspired by the penguin: quieter, more efficient and compact

MAHLE launches bionic radial blower inspired by the penguin: quieter, more efficient and compact

International. MAHLE presented an innovation that promises to transform air conditioning systems in the automotive industry: a bionic radial blower that reduces noise by 60% and improves efficiency...

Marcelo Contreras assumes the presidency of the Chilean Chamber of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

Marcelo Contreras assumes the presidency of the Chilean Chamber of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

Chile. The Chilean Chamber of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning A.G. announced the appointment of Marcelo Contreras Barrera as its new president for the period 2025-2026.

Siemens appoints Miguel D'Alessio as new CEO in Colombia

Siemens appoints Miguel D'Alessio as new CEO in Colombia

Colombia. Focused on sustainability, industrial digitalization and energy storage, Siemens, a global technology company for the electrification, automation and digitalization of industries and...

Finalists of the CALA AWARDS will travel as guests to RefriAméricas Santo Domingo

Finalists of the CALA AWARDS will travel as guests to RefriAméricas Santo Domingo

Latin America. Applications for the prestigious CALA AWARDS 2025 will be open until May 10. This award, organized by ACR Latin America, is a unique opportunity to highlight the best air conditioning...

Copeland to Showcase Innovative Cold Chain Solutions at Global Cherry Summit 2025

Copeland to Showcase Innovative Cold Chain Solutions at Global Cherry Summit 2025

Chile. Copeland, a global provider of sustainable climate solutions, will participate in the Global Cherry Summit 2025, which will be held on April 22 at the Monticello Conference Center, in San...

Carrier Receives Double Recognition at the 2025 Environment + Energy Leader Awards

Carrier Receives Double Recognition at the 2025 Environment + Energy Leader Awards

United States. The company was awarded in the Energy Innovation and Software Implementation categories for its Abound solutions, which optimize energy consumption in more than 2,500 stores in the...

Free Subscription
Remember Me
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
DO YOU NEED A SERVICE OR PRODUCT QUOTE?
LASTEST INTERVIEWS
SITE SPONSORS










LASTEST NEWSLETTER
Ultimo Info-Boletin