Abstract

In pressure cooling system, produce were packed in vented box and cooled rapidly by producing a difference in air pressure on opposite faces of stacks of vented box. So, energy requirements and performance of pressure cooling system depended upon the air flow rate and the static pressure drop through packed produce in vented box. The static pressure drop across packed produce in vented box normally depended upon air flow rate, vent area of box and conditions of produce bed (depth, porosity, stacking patterns, size and shape of products) in box. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of vent area and air flow rate on airflow resistance of empty box and packed produce in vented box, and to investigate the relationship between the air flow resistance of packed products in vented box and sum of air flow resistance of empty box only and products in bulk only. Mandarins and tomatoes were used in the experiment. The airflow rate were in the range of 0.02~1.0$m^3$/s.$m^2$, the opening ratio of vent hole were in the range of 2.5~20% of the side area. The results were summerized as follows. 1. The pressure drops across vented box increased in proportion to superficial air velocity and decreased in proportion to opening ratio of vent hole. A regression equation to calculate airflow resistance of vented box was derived as a function of superficial air velocity and opening ratio of vent hole. 2. The pressure drops across packed produce in vented box increased in proportion to superficial air velocity and decreased in proportion to opening ratio of vent hole. 3. Because of the air velocity increase in the vicinity of vent hole in box, the airflow resistances of packed products in vented box were always higher than sum of air flow resistance of empty box only and products in bulk only. 4. Based on the airflow resistance of empty box and products in bulk, a regression equation to calculate airflow resistance of packed products in vented box was derived.

Keywords

• Air Flow Resistance;
• Pressure Pre-cooling

• 송풍저항;
• 차압통풍 예냉;