SHE2016: III International Symposium on Horticulture in Europe: Reduced Energy Usage in Commercial Apple Storage with Improved Air Circulation

Abstract
Air circulation determines the homogeneity of the climatic conditions in an apple storage room.
During one fruit storage season, the effect of changes in fan power on fruit quality parameters and
energy demand for ventilation were investigated. Two identical commercial storage rooms (each 48
t) were used for experiments in 2015, one without and one with air deflection and evaporator
sealing-off, respectively. Fruit temperature probes were placed at 9 fixed positions, air temperature
probes at 27 positions and rel. humidity probes at two fixed positions inside each room. The air
velocity was measured with a hand held anemometer at 12 positions in each storage room. The fan
power needed for ventilation and air circulation was lowered stepwise from 100% to 75%, 50%, 25%
and 0% in both rooms, and mean air velocity decreased linearly from 100% to 0%. Air velocity was
generally higher in the modified room when compared to the standard room. The modified room
was supplied with 50% less fan power than the standard room and with less fan run-time, this
resulted in a 40% reduction in energy usage. The fruit temperature probes measured with Pt100,
gave similar readings in both rooms. The results and data from the storage trials will be presented
and the potential for energy savings during fruit storage will be discussed. In further experiments, the effects of air turbulence will be determined to allow a comprehensive interpretation of the air
velocity measurements.
Authors: S. Bottling1, V. Siegismund1, M. Spuhler2,3, J. Wünsche3, and D.A. Neuwald2,3
1 University of Applied Science Biberach, Institute for Building & Energy Systems, Biberach, Germany
2 Competence Centre for Fruit Growing at Lake Constance, Ravensburg, Germany
3 University of Hohenheim, Institute of Crop Science, Crop Physiology of Specialty Crops, Stuttgart, Germany

Details

Activity type

Participation in scientific conference

Activity work package

Secure sustainable fruit production

Activity number

UHOH-WP1-A13

Activity contact

Prof. Dr. Jens Wünsche

Activity partner

Universität Hohenheim

Activity country

Germany

Last edit

02-11-2017

Event

Event location

Chania, Greece