JPH0445718A - Apparatus for preservation of perishable food - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To keep the gaseous atmosphere in a preservation chamber to a state most suitable for the preservation of perishable food and to enable the preservation of the perishable food over a long period by providing a carbon dioxide gas generator, a carbon dioxide gas absorber and an ethylene absorber in a preservation chamber for perishable food. CONSTITUTION:The ethylene content in a preservation chamber 1 is suppressed below a prescribed level to almost completely eliminate the influence of the gas on perishable food by providing a carbon dioxide gas generator 101, a carbon dioxide gas absorber 102 and an ethylene absorber 196 to keep the gaseous atmosphere in the preservation chamber 1 to a state most suitable for the preservation of perishable food and periodically operating the ethylene absorber in the perishable food preservation apparatus.

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, there is a longer term storage method that involves changing the air content within the storage room. In other words, by reducing the concentration of oxygen Q2 and increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide gas C○ in the storage, it is possible to suppress the respiration of fresh produce, and also to prevent chemical reactions such as alteration2 decomposition and oxidation caused by microorganisms. Are known.

Referring to the drawings below, this conventional Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 63-
Publication No. 201407 will be explained with reference to FIG. 6.

In the figure, 1 is a storage such as a prefabricated refrigerator for storing perishables, and a compressor 2. Condenser 3° Evaporator 4. A cooling device 7 consisting of blowers 6, 6 is mounted on the top.

Connected to the storage 1 are a carbon dioxide gas generator 8 for supplying carbon dioxide gas CC2 into the storage, and a carbon dioxide gaff adsorption device 9 for adsorbing and removing excess carbon dioxide gas CO2 in the combustion gas.

The carbon dioxide gas generator 8 is constructed between an inlet pipe 10 that introduces the air in the storage [1] and a connecting pipe 11 that leads the combustion gas generated here to the carbon dioxide adsorption device 9, and a combustion furnace 12.
．． Catalyst tube 13. It is composed of a preheater 14 and a cooler 16. Reference numeral 16 denotes a blower, which is installed in the connecting pipe 11 between the cooler 16 and the carbon dioxide gas adsorption device 9, and guides the air in the storage 1 to the carbon dioxide gas generating device 8 through the introduction pipe 1o.
Yoshishi carbonated moth? It is fed into the suction device 9. The combustion furnace 12 is
An inner casing 18 with a heat insulating pipe 17 on the inner surface, and a combustion 2
an outer casing 21 having an insulating pipe 2° on its inner surface forming an air passage 19 between it and the inner casing 18 for supplying air; and a grate 23 on which solid fuel 22 is placed within the insulating pipe 17. , an ignition heater 24 provided below the grate 23 to heat the combustion air and combust the solid fuel 22. The inner casing 18 and the outer casing 21 partition the air passage 19 into upper and lower sections with a partition plate 26. The air outlet is a branch part for the combustion air to be circulated to the combustion furnace 12, and this branch part 26 and the lower part of the combustion furnace 12 are connected by a connecting pipe 27, and the branch part 26 and the air passage 19 of the combustion furnace 12 are connected to each other by a connecting pipe 27. It is connected to the upper part of the body by a connecting pipe 28.

The solid fuel 22 is highly pure carbon and becomes C+ by combustion.
With the expansion of o2+N2→C○2+N2, the combustion gas becomes carbon dioxide Co2 and nitrogen N2.

Reference numeral 29 denotes a connecting pipe that guides combustion gas from the combustion furnace 12 to the catalyst layer 13, and has a heat insulating pipe 30 on its inner surface.

The catalyst tube 13 is provided with a shift filter 33 in the upper part and two catalysts 34 in the lower part thereof in a casing 32 equipped with a heat insulating pipe 31. 36 is a heater for heating the catalyst, and is installed between the two catalysts 34. Reference numeral 36 denotes a connecting pipe for guiding the combustion gas from the catalyst pipe 13 to the preheater 14, and is provided with a heat insulating pipe 37 on the inner surface. The preheater 14 includes a heat exchanger 40 within a casing 39 that includes an insulated tube 38 . The heat exchanger 40 is
It is composed of a plurality of pipes 41 and a plurality of fins 42 arranged on the outside of the pipe so that air flows in a meandering manner.

The combustion gas that has circulated through the catalyst tube 13 passes through the pipe of this heat exchanger 4o, and the air in the storage *1 introduced through the introduction pipe 10 passes through the upper inlet 43 on the outside of the pipe.
The outside of the pipe is meandered and circulated up to the lower outlet part 44, and the connecting pipe 45 connected to the outlet part 44 is connected to the branch part 2e.
It is connected to Reference numeral 46 denotes a connecting pipe that guides the combustion gas from the preheater 14 to the cooler 15. 47 is a cooling fan for the cooler.

On the other hand, the carbon dioxide adsorption device '9 is for adsorbing excess carbon dioxide Co2 in the combustion gas and discharging it outside the storage 1. Inlet pipes 60, 51, . discharge pipe 52,
53, switching valve 64°66. The adsorber 48.49 is filled with adsorbent material 56.57, which adsorbs carbon dioxide gas Co2, and when the adsorption capacity decreases,
A valve 69 for switching outside air by the blower 58 and a discharge pipe 62
Air is blown to the adsorber 48 or 49 through the inlet pipe 6o or 61 connected to the inlet pipe 6o or 63 to desorb carbon dioxide gas, and the exhaust pipe 62, connected to the inlet pipe 6o or 51,
63, and is configured to be exhausted to the atmosphere from an exhaust pipe e6 through a switching valve 64.

For example, when the adsorber 48 is performing an adsorption action and the adsorber 4e is performing a desorption action, the switching valves 54 and 55 are set so that the combustion gas flows through the inlet pipe 5o, the adsorber 48, and the discharge pipe 62. The switching valves 59 and 64 are opened in the direction in which outside air flows through the inlet pipe 61, adsorber 49, and exhaust pipe 63 by the blower 68, and is exhausted to the atmosphere through the exhaust pipe e6. . The exhaust pipe 66 connects the switching valve 55 and the IT storage. Reference numeral 67 is a switching valve installed in the inlet pipe 1o, one side of which is open to the atmosphere. Reference numeral 88 denotes a switching valve, which is provided between the cooler 15 and the blower 16, and is connected to the introduction pipe 1o and the switching valve 6 by a connecting pipe 69.
8 is connected. T.

is a controller that controls the air volume of the air blower [16],
The air volume is determined by a signal from a gas monitor 71 that detects the gas concentration in the storage 1. γ2 is a chamber,
This is a container provided in the introduction pipe 10 between the storage MI*1 and the switching valve 67, and is connected to the sampling tube 73 of the gas monitor 71.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with the above configuration, only a small amount of ethylene can be removed from the soil through the respiration of stored perishables, so perishables that emit a large amount are particularly affected. It had some problems.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a fresh produce storage device that increases the amount of ethylene removed from the storage and prevents any fresh produce from being affected by ethylene.

Means for Solving the Problems Solving the above problems↓-Uni The perishables storage device of the present invention includes a carbon dioxide gas generator and a carbon dioxide adsorption device that maintains the gas atmosphere in the storage in an optimal state for storing perishables. The device is equipped with a device and an ethylene adsorption device.

Effects The present invention has the above-described configuration, and by periodically operating the ethylene adsorption device in the fresh produce storage device, it is possible to suppress ethylene to a certain amount or less, so that it has almost no effect on the fresh produce. disappears.

EXAMPLE Hereinafter, a fresh food storage apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a fresh produce storage device in an embodiment of the present invention.

In the explanation, parts that are the same as the conventional one will be given the same numbers, and parts that are different from the conventional one will be given the numbers 101 and 101.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a storage such as a pre-fabricated refrigerator for storing perishables, including a compressor 2, a condenser 3, an evaporator 4,
A cooling device 7 consisting of blowers 6, 6 is mounted on the top. The storage 1 is connected to a carbon dioxide gas generator 101 for filling the interior with carbon dioxide Co2, and a carbon dioxide adsorption device 102 for adsorbing and removing excess carbon dioxide Co2 in the combustion gas. . The carbon dioxide gas generator 101 is
It is arranged between an introduction pipe 103 that introduces air in the storage 1 and a connecting pipe 104 that leads the combustion gas generated here to the carbon dioxide adsorption device 102, and is connected to the combustion furnace 105 and the combustion furnace 10.
6. A preheater 106 which exchanges heat with combustion gas to preheat the air used for combustion, which is provided in contact with the upper part, and a combustion gas cooler 107.
It is made up of.

108 is a blower installed in the connecting pipe 104 between the cooler 107 and the carbon dioxide adsorption device 102, and guides the air in the storage 1*1 from the introduction pipe 103 to the combustion furnace 106, and further removes the air generated in the combustion furnace 105. After the grilling gas is cooled in the cooler 107, it is passed through the connecting pipe 104! ll is led to the carbon dioxide adsorption device 102. The combustion furnace 106 includes an inner casing 110 with a heat insulating pipe 109 on the inner surface, and an outer casing 113 with a heat insulating plate 112 on the inner surface with an air passage 111 formed between the inner casing 110 and the inner casing 110 for supplying combustion air. It is composed of

114 is a solid fuel, which is a heat insulating pipe 10 of the inner casing 110.
9 is filled in. 116 is a grate, solid fuel 1
14 are listed. Reference numeral 116 denotes an ignition heater, which is provided at the lower part of the heat insulating pipe 109, and burns the solid fuel 114 by heating the ignition air. The solid fuel 114 is highly pure carbon, and by combustion it produces C+ 02+ tsubo, -Co2
+N2 reaction, combustion gas is carbon dioxide Co2 and nitrogen N2
become.

117 is a partition plate that directs combustion air to the inner casing 10.
A heat insulating plate 112 provided on the inner surface of the outer casing 113 to form the air passage 111 for guiding the air into the inner casing 11o is provided between the inner casing 11o. The air passage 111 has an upper end open to a combustion air tube outer outlet 119 provided at a contact surface 118 between the combustion furnace 106 and the preheater 106 , and a lower end opened into the combustion furnace 105 communicating with the inner casing 110 . are doing. Reference numeral 120 denotes a secondary combustion air hole, which opens in the upper part of the partition plate 117 through which the combustion gas after reacting with the solid fuel 114 passes. The pre-purifier 106 is composed of a pipe 122 through which combustion gas having a higher temperature than the inside of the pipe 121 flows into the pipe, and fins 123 configured so that combustion air flows in a meandering manner on the outside of the pipe 122. The contact surface 118 is placed in contact with the contact surface 118. 124. j25 is a cover that covers the preheater 106. Further, a heat insulating plate 126 is provided on the inner surface of the cover 124. The cooler 107 is connected to the pipe 1 of the preheater 106.
22 and is provided with a cooling fan 127 for cooling the pipe 122.

128 is a catalyst, which functions to oxidize carbon monoxide generated by incomplete combustion in combustion gas and replace it with carbon dioxide. The catalyst 123 has a through-cylindrical portion 130 provided at the negative part of the case 129, which is provided to partition the flow path of combustion gas.
and is provided above the inner casing 110. 131 is a drawing board, and the inner casing 110
The combustion gas is allowed to pass through a throttle hole 132 which is provided at the center of the throttle plate 131 and has a 7-way groove at the periphery on the inner casing 11o side. 133 is solid fuel 11
It is a filter for removing ash contained in 4.
It is provided between the catalyst 128 and the aperture plate 131. 1
34 is a heater for heating the catalyst, and is provided on the upstream side of the catalyst 128.

On the other hand, the acid gas adsorption device 102 is for adsorbing excess carbon dioxide Co2 in the combustion gas and discharging it outside the storage 1. The carbon dioxide adsorption device 102 includes an adsorbent 136
Flow path switching section 13 provided upstream and downstream of this adsorbent 136
6,137, and the entire body is covered with a 138 outer box. Reference numerals 139 to 151 are internal partition plates, which partition each part to prevent leakage inside. 162 to 169 are dampers for flow path switching, and dampers 152 to 1 respectively
Ventilation holes 160 to 167 provided in the internal partition plate facing 69
It is designed to open and close. Reference numerals 168 to 171 are communication holes that communicate the flow path switching parts 136, 137 and the filter part 172. 173 to 176 are internal partition plates 142, 1
These are ventilation holes provided at 43, 147, and 148. 17
6′ and 166″ are side plates that cover the flow path switching units 136 and 137 and close off the outer box 138. 177 is a discharge pipe, and the flow path switching unit 137 on the downstream side of the carbon dioxide adsorption device 102
and storage 1 are connected. Reference numeral 178 denotes a blower for removal and removal, and is provided to discharge air to the flow path switching section 137.

179 is an exhaust pipe, and the flow path switching unit 1 Performs exhaust during playback.

Reference numeral 180 denotes a flow path switching section, which is provided between the carbon dioxide gas generator 101 and the carbon dioxide adsorption device 102. Outer box 18
1 is divided by internal partition plates 182 to 184 so that each part is not omitted. Dampers 186 to 188 are for switching flow paths, and are provided in ventilation holes 36 provided in the outer box 181 and inner partition plates 182, 183, and 184 facing each of the dampers 185 to 188, so as to open and close 189 to 192. It is set up. Reference numeral 193 is a gas monitor, which is connected through a sampling tube 194 so as to sample the gas inside the introduction pipe 103. 196 is a controller that controls the air volume of the blower 108; the air volume is determined by a signal from the gas monitor 193.

Reference numeral 196 is an ethylene adsorption device, and the inside thereof is filled with ethylene adsorption material 197. 198 is a flow path switching pulp that switches the flow path to the carbon dioxide adsorption device 102 and the ethylene adsorption device 196. A connecting pipe 199 connects the flow path switching pulp 198 and the discharge pipe 177, and connects the ethylene adsorption device 196.
is set up during this period. 200 is a water seal trap,
It is provided in the discharge pipe 1 and 7.

Regarding the fresh food storage device configured as described above, the first
The operation will be explained using the second section of the figure.

The atmosphere in storage 1 was initially N2-79%, O2-21.
%, when the carbon dioxide gas generator 101 is operated, the air inside the refrigerator is moved by the blower 105 through the inlet pipe 103 and the ventilation hole 190. It is introduced to the outside of the preheater 106 through the introduction pipe 103 and is heated to a high temperature through heat exchange, and then
The solid fuel 114 is introduced into the combustion furnace 105 through the air passage 111, heated by the ignition heater 116, and used for combustion of the solid fuel 114.

Through the reaction of C+020N2→C○2+N2, the combustion gas becomes carbon dioxide Co2 and nitrogen N2, passes through the throttle hole 132 and filter 133, and completely converts carbon monoxide generated by incomplete combustion into oxidizers at the catalyst 128. l! T! After passing through the inside of the tube of the container 108 and being cooled by the cooler 107, the connecting tube 104
Ventilation hole 192 of flow path switching section 180, blower 1o8. It passes through the flow path switching pulp 198 and further passes through the connecting pipe 104, ventilation holes 173, 161 . It passes through the communication hole 168 and enters the adsorbent 135 on the left side.

Here, carbon dioxide gas C○2 is adsorbed by the adsorbent 136, and only nitrogen N2 is present in the communication hole 170 and the ventilation hole 165.
6 and the water seal trap 200 by the discharge pipe 177.
After passing through, it is circulated to storage 1. After a certain period of time has passed, the dampers 152 to 159 are switched so that the adsorbent 136 in which the combustion gas circulates is switched from the left side to the right side, passing through the ventilation holes 173, 160, and the communication hole 169 to the adsorbent 135 on the right side. enter. Here, the carbon dioxide gas CO2 is again adsorbed by the adsorbent 135 on the right side, and only the nitrogen N2 passes through the communication hole 171 and the ventilation holes 164 and 175, and passes through the discharge pipe 1 and 7.
After passing through the water seal trap 200, it is circulated to the storage 1. After a certain period of time has elapsed again, the adsorbent 135 switches from the right side to the left side, and the combustion gas alternately circulates. During this time, the adsorbent 136 on the left side reaches the limit of its ability to adsorb carbon dioxide (Co2), and the carbon dioxide (Co2) in the combustion gas cannot be adsorbed and is discharged into the storage 1 through the discharge pipe 177. The concentration of carbon dioxide gas C○2 in 1 begins to increase gradually. This is the state of the storage 1, which has a size of 757 F/, and has been in operation for about 2 hours since the start of operation. During this time, oxygen o in storage 1 is
The 2 concentration initially continues to decrease by 21%. The gas concentration in the stored MI*1 is oxygen O2-5%.

Assuming that carbon dioxide gas Co2-5% and nitrogen N2 = 9o% are predetermined values, the gas monitor 193 detects that the carbon dioxide gas in the storage 1 has increased to 6% by sampling the gas in the inlet pipe 103. When detected by doing this, the air is blown for desorption of the carbon dioxide adsorption device 102! ! 1 Ryo9 is operated and regeneration of the adsorbent 136 is started. For example, when the adsorbent 136 on the right adsorbs carbon dioxide Co2 as combustion gas circulates, the adsorbent 136 on the left adsorbs carbon dioxide
78 allows the outside air to flow through ventilation holes 176, 167 and communication holes 17.
0 and is blown to the adsorbent 135 on the left side, whereby carbon dioxide gas Co2 is desorbed and regenerated. Since this is performed alternately at regular intervals, the carbon dioxide C02 concentration in the storage 1 is maintained at a predetermined 5%.

Meanwhile, the oxygen O2 concentration continues to decrease as it is being used for combustion, reaching the predetermined 6% after 10 hours, which is detected by the gas monitor 193 and the carbon dioxide gas generator 10
1 and the carbon dioxide adsorption device 102 are stopped. with this,
The predetermined gas concentration in storage 1 is oxygen 02 = 5%, coal e
, Co2-5% l Nitrogen lN2-90% υ, start storage. At the same time as detecting that the oxygen O2 concentration has reached the predetermined 6%, the damper 186.18 of the flow path switching section 180
7.188 is introduction pipe 103, ventilation hole 191, ventilation 1!
! 108, the communication pipe 104 is switched to communicate. Thereafter, by operating the air blower 108 at regular intervals and detecting the gas in the introduction pipe 103 with the gas monitor 193,
When the carbon dioxide gas CO2 generated by the respiration of fresh food stored in the storage room 1 exceeds a predetermined 6%, the carbon dioxide adsorption device operates and absorbs carbon dioxide gas until the concentration reaches a predetermined concentration.
adsorbs. To explain this operation, the gas monitor 19
3 exceeds a predetermined concentration, the blower 10
8 is operated, and the gas in the storage 1 passes through the introduction pipe 103, ventilation hole 191, ventilation [108, flow path switching pulp 198, connection pipe 104, ventilation holes 173, 161, and communication hole 168] and reaches the adsorbent on the left side. 135, excess carbon dioxide ♂C
○2 is adsorbed by the adsorbent 135, and furthermore, the communication hole 17
0, the air passes through the ventilation holes 166° and 176, the discharge pipe 177, and the water seal trap 20o, and circulates to the storage 1. On the other hand, the absorbent material 136 on the cloth side is exposed to the outside air through the ventilation hole 1 by the air blower 11178.
76.166, passes through the communication hole 1A1 and absorbs the adsorbent 1 on the right side.
The carbon dioxide gas C○2 is desorbed and regenerated by being blown to 36. Since this is applied alternately at regular intervals, the carbon dioxide CO2 concentration in the storage returns to the predetermined concentration.

In addition, oxygen 02 becomes insufficient due to the respiration of fresh food.
When the amount falls below a predetermined value of 5%, outside air is introduced into the storage 1 by the blower 178 and replenished.

The introduction route is the ventilation Im! 178, ventilation hole 176.186
184, 176, passes through the discharge pipe 177, and is introduced into the storage 1. At the same time, the gas in the storage H and warehouse 1 is discharged from the exhaust pipe 179.
More exhaust pressure. The exhaust route includes the ventilation hole 191 and the blower 10.
8, communication pipe 104, ventilation hole 173, 161°163.1
74, and is exhausted through an exhaust pipe 179.

Ethylene, which is emitted by the respiration of fresh food, is
During the above operation, the adsorbent 135 adsorbs carbon dioxide and at the same time adsorbs it, but since the amount to be removed is small, it is adsorbed by the ethylene adsorption device 197. This operation will be explained. After the start of storage, the blower 108 is operated at regular intervals, the flow path switching valve 198 is switched to flow to the ethylene adsorption device, the ethylene is passed through the ethylene adsorbent 197, and after adsorbing and removing ethylene, the connecting pipe 199, After passing through the discharge pipe 177 and the water seal trap 200, it circulates to the storage 1. By performing this operation at regular intervals for a certain period of time, ethylene is suppressed to a certain amount or less. The water seal trap 200 uses the adsorbent 136 of the carbon dioxide adsorption device 102.
, or the ethylene adsorbent 1 of the ethylene adsorption device 196
A certain amount of water is also adsorbed and removed during the 9-hour period, so this is replenished by bubbling.

Next, the operation of ventilating the gas in the storage 1 in order to finish storage and take out the perishables in the storage 1 will be explained.

Ventilation switch (not shown) on control panel (not shown)
By turning ON, the blower 108 is operated, and the gas in the storage 1 is transferred to the inlet pipe 103, the ventilation hole 191, the blower 108, the connecting pipe 104, and the ventilation holes 173, 161, 163.
, 174, and is discharged into the atmosphere through the exhaust pipe 9.

At the same time, outside air is introduced into the storage 1 by the blower 178.

The path is the blower 178, the ventilation hole 176.166°1
64.175, discharge pipe 177. When the gas monitor 193 detects that the gas in the storage 1 has become equal to the outside air, the blowers 108 and 178 are stopped, and the damper 152 is turned off.
~159, 185~188 are ventilation holes 160~167.
189 to 192 are switched to close.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the carbon dioxide gas generator 101, the carbon dioxide adsorption device 102, and the ethylene adsorption device 198 are provided to maintain the gas atmosphere in the storage warehouse 1 in an optimal state for storing fresh food. By periodically operating the ethylene adsorption device 196 in the fresh produce storage device,
Ethylene can be suppressed to a certain amount or less, and it will have almost no effect on fresh produce.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention provides a carbon dioxide gas generation device, a carbon dioxide adsorption device, and an ethylene adsorption device for maintaining the gas atmosphere in the storage in an optimal state for storing fresh food. By periodically operating the ethylene adsorption device, ethylene can be suppressed to a certain amount or less, and there is almost no effect on fresh produce.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a fresh food storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a carbon dioxide adsorption device, Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a carbon dioxide adsorption device, and Fig. 4 is a schematic sectional view of a fresh food storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional fresh food storage device, showing changes in gas components within the refrigerator due to the food storage device. 1... Storage, 101... Carbon dioxide gas generator, 102... Carbon dioxide adsorption device, 196.
...Ethylene adsorption device. Name of agent: Patent attorney Shigetaka Awano and one other person

Claims (1)

[Claims] The present invention is characterized by comprising a storage for storing perishables, a carbon dioxide gas generating device for maintaining the gas atmosphere in the storage in an optimal state for storing perishables, a carbon dioxide gas adsorption device, and an ethylene adsorption device. Perishable storage equipment.