Airflow optimisation approaches in refrigerated containers loaded with citrus

The fresh produce industry depends on refrigerated containers to maintain low temperatures during shipping, which reduces respiration rates and inhibits decay-causing microorganisms.
Additionally, containers can be used for low-temperature phytosanitary treatments to eliminate potential pests, as required by some niche importing markets.
However, such treatments are often applied with large safety factors, leading to unnecessary quality losses.
Enhancing refrigerated container usage could enable more appropriate set-point temperatures and reduce food losses.
Rapid simulation-based prototyping is employed to improve container loading arrangements and loading aids.
This study assesses various container floor covers, examining their ability to manipulate airflow and achieve uniform cooling profiles within the fruit cargo.
Floor covers show potential in directing more airflow to the cargo’s sensitive, low-airflow rear region, with the most promising variant achieving a 50% improvement.

VII International Conference Postharvest Unlimited

T. Berry, J. van Zyl, P. Cronje, C. Coetzee

citrus fruit, phytosanitary treatment, reefer transport, cooling profile, floor covers

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2024.1396.44