Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/08
Outputs
The PI left the university. No new information to report.
Impacts
No new information to report.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
Various types of orchard heaters were evaluated as to their abliity to prevent frost and freeze protection of fruit buds and blooms during cold weather periods. Project is being phased out as the Investigator is retiring 12/07.
Impacts
Compartison of three orchard heating systems documented that AgHeat propane heaters were superior in heating a 2.25 acre test plot at 4'. 8', 12', and 16' levels. Propane heaters produced approximately one-fourth as much smoke emissions and do not present an environmental hazard to soil, ground and or surface water as do diesel heaters.
Publications
- Environmentally Safe Orchard Heating for Frost and Freeze Protection. Fianl Report submitted to the Propane Education & Research Council. 1140 Connecticut Avenue, Washington, DC 20046. January 2007.
- Clean-Burning Porpane-Fueled Orchard Heaters. Technology Fact Sheet. Propane Energy & Research Council, 1140 Connecticut Avenue, Washington, DC 20046. April 2007.
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
Instrumentation to measure temperatures at 4', 8', 12' and 16' elevations plus wind speed and direction was purchased via funding from the Propane Education and Research Council, and installed in an orchard near Hood River, OR. Three types of orchard heaters will be evaluated as to their abliity to prevent frost and freeze protection of fruit buds and blooms during cold weather periods. Data were recorded at 31 locations every five minutes during burner operation in early 2005. First year data were limited, but indicated that one type of propane heater was able to increase orchard temperatures approximately 7 degrees F when ambient temperatures were approximately 31 degrees F. Further testing will be recorded in early 2006.
Impacts
Prevention of fruit buds and or blooms could significantly impact grower production and profits should a killing frost or freeze occur. The information obtained from this study may be directly applicable to citrus, wine grapes and other commodities as well as apples and pears. Past events of this nature have caused millions of dollars in lost production in Florida, California, Washington, Oregon and other states.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
Information documenting room dimensions, evaporator sizes, capacities and locations in 353 controlled atmosphere fruit storage rooms at 12 different storage organizations has been assembled. Additional information gathered included precise documentation of actual bin placement within several of these rooms. This information is being used to develop stacking plans and bin placement protocals that will result in inporved uniformity of air flow/distribution in individual rooms. Uniform air distribution within rooms throughout the entire storage period is essential to maintainin maximum possible fruit quality.
Impacts
The financial impact of these findings is difficult to assess. However, as fruit quality decreases, so does attainable price. Lowering the grade of fruit one or two levels may drop price to where profit margin has been eliminated. These findings will help operators reduce fruit quality losses while in storage.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
The U.S. fresh fruit industry continuously faces increased competition for world market share from foreign producers. All phases of production, harvest, storage, packaging, transportation and sales of these commodities must become increasingly efficient and cost effective. The objective of this research was to improve air flow uniformity in fruit storage rooms to reduce losses in fruit quality, thereby increasing returns to growers. Air flow distribution patterns in fruit storage rooms filled with bins of fruit was documented by videoing movement of neutrally-buoyant soap bubbles injected into the air at various locations with the room. Analysis of these data showed that careful placement of bins to eliminate uneven open spaces, especially in the area under the evaporator units is essential in achieving uniform air distribution. Without uniform airflow throughout the room, areas of undetected localized fruit heating can develop which results in fruit quality losses in
some areas of the room as compared to others
Impacts
The financial impact of these findings is difficult to assess. However, as fruit quality decreases, so does attainable price. Lowering the grade of fruit one or two levels may drop price to where profit margin has been eliminated. These findings will help operators reduce fruit quality losses while in storage.
Publications
- Hellickson, M. L. 2003. Fruit Storage Systems. Encyclopedia of Agriculture, Food and Biological Engineering. Marcel Dekker, Inc., 270 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016. September.
- Hellickson, M. L. and R. A. Baskins 2003. Visualization of airflow patterns in a controlled atmosphere storage. Or. AES Tech. Paper No. 11788. Acta Horticulturae No. 600. Proceedings of the Eighth International Controlled Atmosphere Research Conference, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Vol. 1 (173-179). March.
- Sadi, S. and M. L. Hellickson 2003. Computational fluid dynamics simulation of airflow in a fruit storage room. Or. AES Tech. Paper No. 11790. Acta Horticulturae No. 600. Proceedings of the Eighth International Controlled Atmosphere Research Conference, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Vol. 2 (681-684). March.
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Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
Video recordings of air flow visualizations in a 1000 bin pear storage room in which nozzels were attached to evaporator fans will be compared to air flow data recorded in the same room without the nozzles. Fruit cool down efficiencies documented for both configurations will also be compared. Data to determine long-term storage mass loss of pears are currently being collected.
Impacts
Verification of air flow patterns with and without flow enhancing nozzles supports previous findings that bin stacking patterns, especially underneath evaporator units is critical to establishing uniform air distribution throughout the storeroom. Adoption of improved bin stacking schemes will reduce localized areas of fruit quality losses, result in overall quality improvement thereby increasing profits.
Publications
- Hellickson, M.L. 2002. Energy savings and air flow patterns in fruit storages. 2002 Apple Growers Annual Meeting, Czech Republic. (Jan)
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Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01
Outputs
Neutrally buoyant helium-filled soap bubbles were dispersed within a commercial sized fruit storage room filled with either wooden or plastic bins. Bubble movement was video taped and analyzed with either multiple frame capture software or slow motion to determine air movement at various locations. Three-dimentional summaries were developed to verify the effects of bin stacking patterns on uniformity of air distribution. Fruit cool-down data showed that improving stacking patterns by eliminating spaces between bins and the use of nozzles provided more efficient fruit cooling at all locations. Simulations of airflow in a scale model of the storage room continues.
Impacts
Improved fruit cool-down efficiencies will reduce the amount of energy expected to remove field heat from fruit stored in bulk bins and result in less moisture loss from the fruit during this critical beginning time the fruit are held in storage.
Publications
- Hellickson, M. L. and R. A. Baskins 2001. Visualization of airflow patterns in a controlled atmosphere storage. Or. AES Tech. Paper No. 11788. Atca Horticulturae. Accepted for publication.
- Sadi, S. and M. L. Hellickson 2001. Computational fluid dynamics simulation of airflow in a fruit storage room. Or. AES Tech. Paper No. 11790. Atca Horticulturae. Accepted for publication
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Progress 01/01/94 to 12/30/94
Outputs
ORE00463 Research of energy conservation and quality preservation in apple and pear storages equipped with flooded coil evaporators (ammonia as the refrigerant) continues to made significant progress. Investigations into the effects of operating evaporator fans under several management schemes has provided information valuable to storage operators, electrical utilities, and officials setting Mexican export requirements that may encourage energy conservation practices in storages preparing fruit for export. Data have been recorded during which evaporator fans were operated under the following schemes: continuous fan operation with thermostatic control of the back pressure regulator valve (BPR) continuous fan operation with computer control of the BPR, computer controlled fan-cycling based on fruit temperature, fan cycling controlled by a timer (all fans operated 2 hours on/2 hours off), and one-half of the fans in a room operated full speed. Results indicate that
highly stable fruit temperatures are maintained in rooms fan cycled based on average fruit temperature ((0.1oC)and that energy conservation during winter months may be 65 to 75%. Air temperature variations near the ceiling were approximately 1.5oC. Fruit temperatures in bins under the evaporator coils on the floor were consistently the warmest in all rooms (6 were used). Fruit temperatures rose approximately 0.5 oC during periods when 1/2 of the fans were operated continuously.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- ADRE, N., L. D. ALBRIGHT AND M. L. HELLICKSON. 1995. Control of non-isothermal air flow patterns in livestock confinement facilities equipped with slotted-inlet ventilation systems. ASAE Technical Paper No. 954643. 1995 ASAE International M ADRE, N., M. L. HELLICKSON AND R. BASKINS. 1995. Energy use simulation of refrigeration systems in controlled atmosphere can cold storage warehouses. ASAETechnical Paper No. 956634. 1995 ASAE International Meeting. June.
- ADRE, N., M. L. HELLICKSON AND R. BASKINS. 1995. Fruit temperature in apple and pear controlled atmosphere storage rooms as influenced by different evaporator fan operations. ASAE Technical Paper No. 956633 1995 ASAE International Meeting.
- ADRE, N. AND M. L. HELLICKSON. 1995. Effect of Evaporator Operation on Storage Temperatures. Or. AES Tech. Paper No. 10,704. Proceedings of the 11th Annual Washington Tree Fruit Postharvest Conference. Wash. State Horticultural Association.
- HELLICKSON, M. L., N. ADRE, J. STAPLES AND J. BUTTE. 1995. Computer controlled evaporator operation during fruit cool-down. Or. AES Tech. Paper No. 10.618. Proceedings of the Harvest and Postharvest Technologies for Fresh Fruits and Vegetab HELLICKSON, M. L. AND N. ADRE. 1994. Energy conservation and fruit quality preservation in controlled atmosphere apple storages. Progress report sent to t.
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Progress 01/01/93 to 12/30/93
Outputs
Evaporator fan cycling based on fruit temperature and computer control of the back pressure regulator that controls evaporator coil temperature has resulted in significant improvements in stability of room temperature, increased relative humidity levels and reduced fruit mass loss throughout storage periods. Annual electrical energy saving achievable through this fan cycling procedure may reach 65%. Adoption of this technology could result in annual electrical energy savings of over 80 million kWh in the Pacific Northwest. The technology developed in this study is applicable to flooded-coil ammonia refrigeration systems any where in the world. Based on this and related research, programs that funding fruit storage warehouses to purchase and install this technology have been initiated by several electrical utilities. Over 50% of the controlled atmosphere storages in the region have installed this technology accounting for the majority of storage space. Many more
facilities will implement this technology in 1994. A USDA/OICD/RSED cooperative project with the Federal Research Center for Nutrition in Karlsruhe, Germany has documented respiration activity and total mass loss of Yakima, WA red delicious apples for three years. Data show that respiration rates of red delicious apples held in commercial CA conditions are significantly less than data currently published in USDA Handbook 66. Simultaneous data recorded at Or. State Univ.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- KOCA, R. W., M. L. HELLICKSON. 1993. Energy savings in evaporator fan cycled apple storages. Or. AES Tech. Paper No. 10062. APPLIED ENGINEERING IN AGRICULTURE. 9:6(553-560).
- KOCA, R. W., M. L. HELLICKSON. 1993. Computer controlled refrigeration in evaporatory fan-cycled apple storages. Or. AES Tech. Paper No. 10061. APPLIED ENGINEERING IN AGRICULTURE. 9:6(561-569).
- KOCA, R. W., M. L. HELLICKSON, and P. CHEN. 1993. Mass transfer from d'Anjou pears in CA storage. Or. AES Tech. Paper No. 9904. TRANSACTIONS of the ASAE. 36:3(821-826).
- HELLICKSON, M.L., YU WANG. 1993. Modified operation of evaporators during fruit cool down. Or. AES Tech. Paper No. 10,388. ASAE Technical Paper No. 936507. International Winter Meeting of the ASAE. December.
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Progress 01/01/92 to 12/30/92
Outputs
A two year study documenting energy conservation and fruit quality preservation in a fancycled controlled atmosphere apple storage was completed in November 1992. This study funded by Pacific Power and Light Company, Portland, OR and Snokist Growers, Yakima, WA and OSU AES, Innovative computer control of evaporator fans and of the back pressure regulator that controls refrigerant temperature within the evaporator coils resulted in significant improvements in fruit temperature stability, increased relative humidity levels and reduced fruit mass loss throughout storage periods of 300 days. Electrical energy savings achievable through these procedures are expected to be 65%. Adoption of this technology could result in annual electrical energy savings of 80 million kWh in Washington alone. The technology developed is applicable in CA apple storages that utilize flood-coil ammonia refrigeration systems anywhere in the world. Based on this research, two programs that provide
funding for fruit storage warehouses to purchase and install this technology have been initiated by the Bonneville Power Administration and Pacific Power and Light Company. By the end of 1992, approximately 12 fruit storage warehouses have either installed this technology or are in the process of having it installed. Many more facilities are expected to adopt this technology in the coming years.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- KOCA, R.W., HELLICKSON, M.L. and CHEN, P. 1992. Mass transfer from d'Anjou pears in CA storage. TRANSACTIONS of the ASAE. (in-press).
- HELLICKSON, M.L. 1992. Jet set apple research bears fruit. OSU International 8:2(2). Office of International Education. Oregon State University. Winter.
- HELLICKSON, M.L. and KOCA, R.W. 1992. Energy conservation and fruit quality preservation in controlled atmosphere apple storages. OSU AES Tech. Paper No. 9854. Proceedings of the 8th Annual Washington Tree Fruit Postharvest Conference.
- HELLICKSON, M.L. 1992. Automated sweetness testing of melons. Final project report submitted to Market Research Branch, Ag. Mktg. Service, USDA. April.
- KOCA, R.W., HELLICKSON, M.L. and CHEN, P.M. 1992. Mass transfer from d'Anjou pears in CA storage., OSU AES Tech. Paper No. 9904. ASAE Tech. Paper No. 926013. International Meeting of the ASAE. June.
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Progress 01/01/91 to 12/30/91
Outputs
Design of an apparatus to automate sorting melons to be processed into melon balls was completed. The apparatus utilizes a needle, syringe, air cylinder, digital refractometer, digitally controlled valving and timing devices and a microprocessor to sort melons by soluble solids content prior to being processed. Results from the first year of a two year study of fan-cycling in CA apple storages indicated improvements were needed in control of the refrigeration system. Four 1200 bin CA rooms were instrumented to provide dry-bulb and dew-point temperatures, evaporator fan energy use, refrigerant flow rates and fruit mass loss. Quality parameters monitored included fruit firmness, soluble solids, acid and starch content. Fan cycling was initiated with a 0.2 F increase in temperature experienced by five thermistors placed within the fruit mass at various locations. Seasonal average energy savings attributable to reduced evaporator fan operation was 73.1 and 79.0
percent in the fan cycled rooms. The second year of this study is in progress. Eight boxes of red delicious apples were transported from Yakima, WA to Karlsruhe, Germany and placed into respiration analysis experiments at the Federal Research Center for Nutrition on September 26, 1991. Samples of the same apples were placed in mass loss experiments in the Postharvest Engineering Research Laboratory in the Bioresource Engineering Department at Oregon State University and in a Snokist Growers warehouse in Yakima, WA.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- HELLICKSON, M.L. and KOCA, R.W. 1991. Energy conservation in controlled atmosphere storages. Proceedings of the 8th Annual Washington Tree Fruit Postharvest Conference. Washington State Horticultural Assn. Wenatchee, WA 98807. March.
- HELLICKSON, M.L. and KOCA, R.W. 1991. Energy conservation in fan-cycled apple storages. Progress Report. Submitted to Pacific Power and Light Company, Portland, OR. November. pp. 750.
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Progress 01/01/90 to 12/30/90
Outputs
Ben Ayed (1990) reported mass transfer rates and calculated transpiration coefficients for d'Anjou pears stored in regular and controlled atmosphere (CA) chambers as 0.029 and 0.062 mg/s-kg-kPa, respectively. Chau et al. , 1988 and Hatch, 1989, presented transpiration coefficients for d'Anjou pears stored in common atmosphere conditions to be 0.057 mg/s-kg-kPa and 0.04 mg/s-kg-kPa, respectively. Hatch reported an overall transpiration coefficient for d'Anjou pears in CA conditions similar to those used by Ben Ayed as 0.08 mg/s-kg-kPa. Differences were attributed to higher environmental temperatures used in Chau's study and the bulk storage conditions used versus individual fruit samples. Fruit stored in bulk presents less surface area per unit mass for transpiration than do individual fruit. Fairly close agreement was observed between the data presented by Hatch and Ben Ayed. Test conditions for these two studies were similar. Primarily differences included the amounts
of fruit used and fruit having only natural wax on the surface versus fruit having experienced pre-sizing operations and rewaxing. Controlled atmosphere environmental conditions used by both Hatch and Bey Ayed included CO(subscript 2 ) at 2-3%, O(subscript 2 ) at 1%, air temperature of approximately -0.5(degree)C, relative humidity of 95% and still air. Additional studies are planned. These data may be potentially useful in improvement in the design of CA storage refrigeration systems.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
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Progress 01/01/89 to 12/30/89
Outputs
Experiments to determine mass transfer rates and cooling characteristics of Benton strawberries, Meeker raspberries, Jersey and Early Blue blueberries, and d'Anjou pears were conducted. Two environmentally controlled test chambers were used. One was gas-tight enabling development of controlled atmosphere (CA storage) conditions. The second was not gas-tight (common storage), but also protected the fruit within from high air velocities induced by the evaporator coil fan of the chamber refrigeration system. Mass loss data along with dry bulb & dew point temperatures of the fruit and its surroundings were simultaneously recorded for each test chamber. Transpiration coefficients for each fruit treatment were determined. Berries in the common storage exhibited a transpiration rate 2 to 34 times greater than fruit stored in the CA storage. Average relative humidity in the CA storage tests ranged from 87.9% to 98.4%. Average relative humidities in the common storage
tests ranged from 63.5% to 74.1%. The average transpiration coefficient for d'Anjou pears held for 114 days in an average environment of -0.3C, 96.3% relative humidity, 1% O(2) and 2% CO(2) was 0.08 mg/s bold center dot kg bold center dot kPa. Additional studies to compare transpiration coefficients to fruit held in similar humidity environments are planned.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- HELLICKSON, M.L. 1989. Challenges for changes in the structures and environment division of ASAE-Research. Technical Paper No. 8396.OAES. TRANSACTIONS of the ASAE 32:4 (1454-1458).
- ADRE, N. and HELLICKSON, M.L. 1989. Simulation of transient refrigeration load in a cold storage for apples and pears. Technical Paper No. 8543.OAES. TRANSACTIONS of the ASAE 32:3 (1038-1048).
- CHADWICK, J.M. and HELLICKSON, M.L. 1989. Transpiration coefficients of fresh fruits stored in bulk. Technical Paper No. 9084. OAES. ASAE Technical Paper No. 896517. December.
- CHADWICK, J.M. and HELLICKSON, M.L. 1989. Cooling rates of packaged apples and pears. Technical Paper No. 9086 OAES. ASAE Technical Paper No. 896560. December.
- CHADWICK, J.M. and HELLICKSON, M.L. 1989. Fruit temperature variation during processing operations. Technical Paper No. 9085. Oregon Ag. Exp. Station. ASAE Technical Paper No. 896561. December.
- HATCH, W.E. 1989. Mass transfer characteristics of fresh fruits stored in regular and controlled atmosphere conditions. Unpublished M.S. Thesis, Oregon State University. March. 136 pp.
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