STOREFRESH (DCA-RQ), new frontier of respiration control

Isolcell's STOREFRESH system controls CR to prevent scalding, improve quality and reduce energy consumption

STOREFRESH, by ISOLCELL, is a patented a new system to measure Respiratory Quotient to store at minimum O2 level.

Isolcell continuously at the forefront of technological development, has developed and patented a new system to measure Respiratory Quotient. The respiratory quotient is the relationship between the CO2 produced and the O2 consumed by the fruit.

The new revolutionary Storefresh system makes it possible to maintain the minimum O2, just above the point where fermentation starts. The program compares the RQ set-point with the level measured and changes the level of O2 in the cell accordingly in order to reach the set-point. The Storefresh system makes it possible to control scald, to improve quality and reduce energy consumption compared to a traditional CA system.

The benefits of the STOREFRESH system compared to the ACR system

ACR is a very risky system that involves measuring the RQ of the entire cell, unlike the STOREFRESH system which makes measurements inside containers placed inside the cell. Measuring with the STOREFRESH system solves many problems:

Reading problems

Issues concerning air-tightness, the drift of sensors, the lack of a comparative analysis that can lead to errors in the determination of the correct RQ and therefore to a product’s fermentation, cannot occur with the STOREFRESH system.

Sampling problems

The analysis of the RQ of an entire cell necessarily returns an average value of all the fruit it contains. Since it is is not possible to monitor the weakest lots, with higher than average RQ levels, there is a higher risk of fermentation of stored goods. The STOREFRESH system can monitor different lots independently, avoiding such problems.

Product quality problems

To limit external interference, the ACR system must stop the operation of refrigerating and air conditioning systems for several hours, both during the initial phase and during normal storage; and also, to determine the RQ a stress is continually induced to the entire storage and dry nitrogen is introduced. Since the STOREFRESH system does not have these issues, the preservation of the fruit is guaranteed.

CO2 diluition problems In the juice of fruits

Several researchers have found that the CO2 dissolves inside the cellular juice of the fruit. Hence the need for periods exceeding 9 hours of analysis to accurately measure the values. Since only STOREFRESH allows the normal operation of the refrigeration system and of the CA even during the measurement of the RQ, it is possible to have such long times of analysis without ruining the stored product.

Issues concerning the proper value of RQ

This is an issue at the core of all storage systems that rely on RQ. The starting point of these systems is to identify, for the different varieties of pome fruits and the different production conditions, the proper RQ, meant as the value that controls scald and also protects against the risk of fermentation. This value has not yet been identified by testing centers located in the different production areas.

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