JPH04210522A - Storage device of fresh material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To completely remove a gas harmful for preservation by releasing a gas evolved in combustion wholly through adsorbers to a reserve room and packing adsorbents of adsorbing an excessive carbon dioxide gas, ethylene, etc., into the adsorbers. CONSTITUTION:Air to be fed for combustion of a fuel 19 is circulated from a reserve room 7a to a combustion furnace 12 to burn the fuel 19 containing carbon so as to introduce a carbon dioxide gas to the reserve room 7a. Adsorbers 22 and 23 packed with adsorbents 30 and 31 of adsorbing an excessive carbon dioxide gas, ethylene, etc., evolved from the combustion furnace 12 are installed in the upper stream of the reserve room 7a. Consequently, gases harmful for preservation can be wholly removed. A storage house 1 is charged with a gas adjusted to gas concentration suitable for preservation from the reserve room 7a through a communicating pipe 7b by a blower 7c, simultaneously a release valve 7d on the ceiling of the storage house 1 is opened, air in the storage house is pushed out of the storage house to make a gas environment suitable for preservation.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention 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. [0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Refrigerated storage is a common means of storing perishables, but in addition to this, there is storage that changes the air composition within the storage room as a longer-term storage means. In other words, it is known that by reducing the oxygen concentration and increasing the carbon dioxide concentration in the storage room, it is possible to suppress the respiration of fresh produce and also to prevent chemical reactions such as decomposition and oxidation caused by microorganisms. There is. [00031] An example of the above-mentioned conventional fresh food storage device will be described below with reference to the drawings. [0004] FIG. 3 shows a system diagram of a conventional fresh produce storage device. Reference numeral 1' denotes a storage, and a cooling device 4' consisting of an evaporator 2' and a condensing unit 3' is provided. Reference numeral 5' denotes a propane gas cylinder, in which the air introduced from the storage 1' through the introduction pipe 7' is combusted in the carbon gas generator 6', and the generated combustion exhaust gas, that is, carbon dioxide gas, is sent to the storage 1' through the discharge pipe 8'. is being discharged. 9′
is a carbon dioxide adsorption device, and an inlet pipe 10 is connected from the storage 1'.
', and after adsorbing excess carbon dioxide gas, the discharge pipe 11
' is returned to storage 1'. Reference numeral 12' denotes a gas monitor which detects the gas concentration in the storage 1' and controls the carbon dioxide gas generator 6' and the carbon dioxide adsorption device 9' in a timely manner. [0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-described configuration, the gas generated from the carbon dioxide gas generator 6' contains gases other than carbon dioxide that are harmful to the storage of perishables, such as ethylene and propylene. Since the gas contained in large amounts is directly released into the storage chamber 1', it often has an adverse effect on the stored materials. In addition, gases such as ethylene generated from fresh produce during storage also had a negative impact. [0006] In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a fresh food storage device that can remove all gases harmful to storage. [0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the perishables storage device of the present invention includes: a storage for storing perishables; a spare storage for storing a regulated gas to be introduced into the storage;
A communication pipe that communicates the reserve storage with the storage, a blower installed in this communication pipe, an open valve installed on the top of the storage, and a fuel containing carbon that is combusted to introduce carbon dioxide gas into the reserve. A combustion furnace, a blower that circulates air from the reserve storage to be used for combustion of the fuel in the combustion furnace, and an adsorber containing an adsorbent to adsorb excess carbon dioxide gas generated from the combustion furnace. The combustion furnace is provided downstream of the reserve storage, the blower is provided downstream of the fuel furnace, the adsorber is provided downstream of the blower, and the reserve storage is provided downstream of the adsorber. be. [0008]

[Operation] According to the present invention, all the gases generated by combustion are discharged into the reserve storage through the adsorption device using the above-mentioned structure. This adsorber is filled with an adsorbent that not only adsorbs excess carbon dioxide gas but also adsorbs ethylene, etc., so all gases harmful to storage can be removed. In addition, gas adjusted to a gas concentration suitable for storage is introduced into the storage from the spare storage through a communication pipe using a blower, and at the same time, the release valve on the top of the storage is opened.
Pushes the air inside the storage out of the storage to create a gas environment suitable for storage. Furthermore, even during storage, by periodically filling the storage with regulated gas and forcing the gas inside the storage out of the storage through the open valve, all gases harmful to storage can be removed. [0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A fresh produce storage apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [00101 FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a fresh food storage device in an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a storage such as a pre-fabricated refrigerator for storing perishables,
Compressor 2. Condenser 3. Evaporator 4. A cooling device 7 consisting of a blower 5.6 is mounted on the top. [00111] In order to introduce the regulated gas into the storage 1, the regulated gas is introduced into the storage 1 from the reserve 7a where the regulated gas is stored, by the blower 7C provided on the communication pipe 7b that communicates the reserve 7a and the storage 1. At this time, a release valve 7d is provided on the top surface of the storage 1- in order to push out the air inside the storage 1 to the outside of the storage 1. [0012] Further, a carbon dioxide gas generating device 8 for filling the reserve storage 7a with carbon dioxide gas and a carbon dioxide gas adsorption device 9 for adsorbing and removing excess carbon dioxide gas in the combustion gas are connected. The carbon dioxide gas generator 8 is arranged between an introduction pipe 10 that introduces 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 connects the combustion furnace 12 and the combustion gas. It is composed of a cooler 13. [0013] Reference numeral 14 denotes a blower, which is installed in the connecting pipe 11 between the cooler 13 and the carbon dioxide adsorption device 9, guides the air in the reserve storage 7a to the combustion furnace 12 through the introduction pipe 10, and further connects the combustion furnace 1 to the combustion furnace 1.
After the combustion gas generated in step 2 is cooled by a cooler 13, it is led to a carbon dioxide adsorption device 9 through a connecting pipe 11. [0014] The combustion furnace 12 includes an inner casing 16 having a heat insulating pipe 15 on its inner surface, an outer casing 18 having an air passage 17 formed between the inner casing 16 and the inner casing 16 for supplying secondary combustion air, and a heat insulating pipe 15. It is comprised of a grate 20 on which the solid fuel 19 is placed, and an ignition heater 21 for heating the combustion air to combust the solid fuel 19. [0015] The solid fuel 19 is highly pure carbon, and upon combustion, the combustion gas becomes carbon dioxide and nitrogen. [0016] On the other hand, the carbon dioxide adsorption device 9 is for adsorbing excess carbon dioxide in the combustion gas and discharging it outside the storage 1. The inlet pipes 24, 25 and the exhaust pipe 2 are connected to the two adsorbers 22 and 23 so that the combustion gas alternately circulates.
6.27, and a switching valve 28.29 for switching the flow. [0017] In the adsorber 22.23, the adsorbent 30, 3
1 is not fully filled and adsorbs carbon dioxide gas and the adsorption capacity decreases, the blower 32 switches the outside air to the switching valve 33. Inlet pipe 34 or 35 connected to outlet pipe 26.27
It is configured so that air is blown to the adsorber 22 or 23 through the inlet pipe 24 or 23, desorbs the carbon dioxide gas, and exhausts it to the atmosphere from the exhaust pipe 39 through the exhaust pipe 36, 37 connected to the inlet pipe 24 or 25 and the switching valve 38. . [0018] For example, the adsorber 22 has an adsorption effect, the adsorber 2
When the switching valves 28 and 29 are operating the combustion gas inlet pipes 24 and 24. Adsorber 22. It is open in the flow direction passing through the discharge pipe 26, and also has a switching valve 33.
38, outside air is supplied by the blower 32 to the inlet pipe 35° adsorber 23. It passes through the exhaust pipe 37, opens in the flow direction, and is exhausted to the atmosphere through the exhaust pipe 39. [0019] The exhaust pipe 40 is connected to the switching valve 29 and the reserve storage 7.
A is connected. 44 is a controller that controls the air volume of the blower 14, and the air volume is determined by a signal from a gas monitor 45 that detects the gas concentration in the reserve storage 7a. 46 is a chamber, which is a container provided in the introduction pipe 10, and a sampling tube 47 of the gas monitor 45.
are connected. [00201 The operation of the fresh food storage device configured as above will be explained using FIGS. 11 and 2. Initially, the atmosphere in the reserve storage 7a was nitrogen = 79% and oxygen = 21%.
When the carbon dioxide generator 8 is operated, the reserve storage 7
The air inside a is introduced into the combustion furnace 12 from the introduction pipe 10 through the chamber 46 by the blower 14, heated by the ignition heater 21, and used for combustion of the solid fuel 19. [0021] The combustion gas becomes carbon dioxide and nitrogen, and after being cooled by the cooler 13, it is sent to the blower 1.4 through the connecting pipe 11.
and further passes through the switching valve 28. It passes through the introduction pipe 24 and enters the adsorber 22. [0022] Here, carbon dioxide gas is adsorbed by the adsorbent 30, and only nitrogen is discharged from the exhaust pipe 26. It passes through the switching valve 29 and circulates through the exhaust pipe 40 to the reserve storage 7a. After a certain period of time has passed, the switching valves 28 and 29 are switched so that the adsorber through which the combustion gas circulates is switched from 22 to 23. It passes through the introduction pipe 25 and enters the adsorber 23. [0023] Then, carbon dioxide gas is adsorbed again by the adsorbent 31 and only nitrogen is discharged from the exhaust pipe 27. It passes through the switching valve 29 and circulates through the exhaust pipe 40 to the reserve storage 7a. After a certain period of time has elapsed again, the adsorbers 22 and 23 are switched, and the combustion gas is alternately circulated. During this time, the adsorbents 30 and 31 filled in the adsorbers 23 and 23 reach the limit of their adsorption capacity for carbon dioxide gas, and the carbon dioxide gas in the combustion gas is no longer able to be adsorbed. The gas is exhausted into the storage 7a, and the carbon dioxide concentration in the reserve storage 7a begins to gradually increase. The reserve storage 7a has a size of 75 m2 and has been in operation for about 2 hours since the start of operation. [0024] During this time, the oxygen concentration in the reserve storage 7a continues to decrease from the initial 21%. If the gas concentration in the reserve storage 7a is set to the predetermined values of oxygen = 5%, carbon dioxide = 5%, and nitrogen = 90%, then the carbon dioxide gas in the reserve storage 7a has increased to reach 5%. When the gas monitor 45 detects this by sampling the gas in the chamber 46, the blower 32 for desorption of the carbon dioxide adsorption device 9 is operated, and regeneration of the adsorbent in the adsorption device is started. [0025] For example, when the adsorber 22 is adsorbing carbon dioxide gas through circulation of combustion gas, the adsorber 23 is adsorbed by the blower 3
2, the outside air is switched off by the switching valve 33. Introductory tube 35. The carbon dioxide gas is desorbed and regenerated by passing through the exhaust pipe 27 and being blown onto the adsorbent 31 . Since this is performed alternately at regular intervals, the carbon dioxide concentration in the reserve storage 7a is maintained at a predetermined 5%. [0026] On the other hand, the oxygen concentration continues to decrease because it is being used for combustion during that time, and reaches the predetermined 5% after 10 hours.The gas monitor 45 detects this, and the carbon dioxide gas generator 8 and the carbon dioxide gas The adsorption device 9 is stopped. Now, the predetermined gas concentration in the reserve storage 7a is set to oxygen = 5% and carbon dioxide = 5%.
%, nitrogen = 90%. [0027] At the same time, the blower 7c is operated, the open valve 7d is opened, the regulated gas in the spare compartment 7a is introduced into the storage compartment 1, and at the same time, the air in the storage compartment 1 is pushed out through the open valve 7d. [0028] Since the volume of the reserve storage 7a is much larger than that of the storage 1, the air in the storage 1 is replaced with the full amount adjustment gas, and after a certain period of time, the blower 7c is stopped, and the open valve 7
d is closed. [00291 Now, the inside of the storage 1 has become the optimal gas environment for storage. From then on, in order to remove gases such as carbon dioxide and ethylene generated by the respiration of fresh foods stored in the storage 1, adjustment gas is periodically introduced into the storage 1 from the reserve storage 7a. , the gas inside is released to the outside of the refrigerator from the open valve 7d. [00301 As described above, the present invention provides a storage 1 for storing perishables, a reserve 7a for storing a regulated gas to be introduced into the storage 1, and a communication pipe 7 for communicating the reserve 7a and the storage 1.
a, the blower 7c provided in this communication pipe 7b, and the storage 1
a combustion furnace 12 for burning fuel 19 containing carbon to introduce carbon dioxide gas into the reserve storage 7a; and an air supply for combustion of the fuel 19 in the combustion furnace 12. a blower 14 that circulates carbon dioxide from the reserve storage 7a, and an adsorber 2 containing adsorbent 30, 31 to adsorb excess carbon dioxide gas generated from the combustion furnace 12.
2.23, the combustion furnace 12 is downstream of the reserve storage 7a, the blower 14 is downstream of the combustion furnace 12, the adsorbers 22 and 23 are downstream of the blower 14, and the adsorber 22 .23, the reserve storage 7a is disposed downstream of the combustion engine, so that all the gases generated by combustion are discharged into the reserve storage through the adsorption device. [00311 Since this adsorber is filled with an adsorbent that not only adsorbs excess carbon dioxide gas but also adsorbs ethylene, etc., all gases harmful to storage can be removed. [0032] In addition, gas adjusted to a gas concentration suitable for storage is introduced into the storage from the spare storage through a communication pipe with a blower, and at the same time, the open valve on the top of the storage is opened, and the gas inside the storage is opened. Pushes air out of the storage chamber to create a gas environment suitable for storage. [0033] Furthermore, even during storage, by periodically filling the storage with conditioning gas and forcing the gas in the storage out of the storage through the open valve, all gases harmful to storage can be removed. [0034]

As described above, the present invention provides a storage for storing perishables, a reserve for storing the regulated gas to be introduced into the storage, a communication pipe for communicating the reserve and the storage, and a system provided in the communication pipe. an open valve installed on the top of the storage, a combustion furnace that burns fuel containing carbon to introduce carbon dioxide into the reserve storage, and a combustion furnace that supplies air for combustion of the fuel. The combustion furnace is equipped with a blower that circulates air from the reserve storage, and an absorber containing an adsorbent to adsorb excess carbon dioxide gas generated from the combustion furnace. The blower is installed downstream of the blower, the adsorber is placed downstream of the blower, and the reserve storage is provided downstream of the adsorber, so that all the gas generated by combustion passes through the adsorber to the reserve storage. It is emitting. [0035] Since this adsorber is filled with an adsorbent that not only adsorbs excess carbon dioxide gas but also adsorbs ethylene and the like, it is possible to remove all gases harmful to storage. [0036] In addition, gas adjusted to a gas concentration suitable for storage is introduced into the storage from the spare storage through a communication pipe with a blower, and at the same time, the open valve on the top of the storage is opened, and the gas inside the storage is opened. Pushes air out of the storage chamber to create a gas environment suitable for storage. [0037] Furthermore, even during storage, by periodically filling the storage with conditioning gas and forcing the gas in the storage out of the storage through the open valve, all gases harmful to storage can be removed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a fresh food storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2] Diagram of changes in internal gas components due to the fresh food storage device in Figure 1

[Figure 3] System diagram of conventional fresh food storage equipment

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Storage 12 Combustion furnace 14　Blower 19 Fuel 22, 23 Adsorption device 30.31 Adsorbent 7a Reserve storage 7b Communication pipe 7c Blower 7d Open valve

[Figure 1]

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A storage for storing perishables, a reserve for storing regulated gas to be introduced into the storage, a communication pipe for communicating the reserve and the storage, a blower installed in the communication pipe, and a ceiling for the storage. An open valve provided on the surface, a combustion furnace that burns fuel containing carbon to introduce carbon dioxide gas into the reserve storage, and a blower that circulates air from the reserve storage to the combustion furnace for combustion of the fuel. and an adsorber containing an adsorbent to adsorb excess carbon dioxide gas generated from the combustion furnace, the combustion furnace downstream of the reserve storage, the blower downstream of the combustion furnace, A fresh produce storage device characterized in that the adsorption device is provided downstream of the blower, and the reserve storage is provided downstream of the adsorption device.