CFD-Based Analysis of 1-MCP Distribution in Commercial Cool Store Rooms: Porous Medium Model Application

摘要

1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) is a synthetic plantgrowth regulator used commercially to delay ripening of fruits.1-MCP (SmartFreshTM) is applied in gaseous form (as a fumigant)in the cool store room. This paper uses a porous mediumcomputational fluid dynamics model to numerically analyzethe distribution of 1-MCP in cool store rooms for apple fruit.The effects of air circulation, room shape, and bin materialwere investigated. Dose calculation based on filling densitywas explored. The 1-MCP distribution in commercial coolstores, under room cooling condition,was uniform irrespectiveof room shape. Rooms filled with fruit in wooden bins deplete25 % more of the active substance than rooms filled with fruitin plastic bins. The calculated dose increases linearly with theamount of fruit in the cool store (filling density). Hence,this study suggests that dose prescription based on fillingdensity is feasible.