POST HARVEST COLD CHAIN OPTIMIZATION OF LITTLE FRUITS

This paper presents heat transfer 3-D models of a passive refrigeration system, called Icepack, used to improve the shelf life and the quality of the perishable fruits. Passive refrigerator system uses the changing phase of a material to keep temperature close to the melting temperature. A multi-step COMSOL Multiphysics (ver 4.2a) study was performed: - a 3-D heat transfer model on the empty box; - a 3-D heat transfer model on the box containing a slab with apparent thermal properties obtained from the air and the fruit; - a 3-D heat transfer model on the box filled with randomized diameter spheres, simulating the fruits, created with an original MatLab® script and imported in COMSOL Multiphysics® (ver. 3.5a). The temperature profile inside the box and the melting time of the ice slab were studied. Results of the models agree with experimental data. The modeled melting time of the empty Icepack gives an error of about 7%. Modeled temperature profile inside the box filled with fruits reflects real temperature profile.