Carrier Transicold’s new XtendFRESH container atmosphere control system uses innovative technologies to help maintain quality of shipped produce, while extending shipping distances to enable growers reach new customers.
The XtendFRESH system is designed to be more affordable than Carrier’s prior atmosphere control systems and relatively easy to install on existing equipment.
This system actively controls oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) levels and removes ethylene, a hormone given off by ripening produce that will accelerate ripening if left unchecked. O2 and CO2 levels can be independently set at levels that produce optimum results for a given commodity. The system’s ability to remove ethylene, while managing O2 and CO2, is key to its performance and distinguishes it from other products for container atmosphere control.
Speaking at the Cool Logistics Global conference in Rotterdam, Netherlands recently, Kartik Kumar, director, marketing and strategic planning, global container refrigeration, Carrier Transicold, said, “By helping prevent premature ripening, the XtendFRESH system will aid in maintaining optimum quality of delivered produce, which can also result in less spoilage per shipment.”
By slowing ripening, XtendFRESH lengthens the amount of time produce can spend in refrigerated transit—by more than double in some cases. For example, bananas can be shipped for up to eight weeks rather than four, and beans for up to four weeks rather 10 days.
XtendFRESH has a patented self-regenerating activated carbon scrubber assembly that removes ethylene and CO2 created by the ripening processes occurring inside the container. As O2 is consumed by ripening produce, automated, on-demand fresh-air ventilation helps maintain the optimum O2 level for the specific cargo inside.
O2 typically will be managed to a range of between 3% to 21%, and CO2 typically will be managed within a range of zero to 19%.
Modular by design, XtendFRESH can be added to Carrier container refrigeration units equipped with the Micro-Link 3 (ML3) controller. Key components include the scrubber assembly, a ventilation panel with integral blower, control software, and sensors for monitoring O2 and CO2. Adding a humidity sensor increases atmosphere control, enabling humidity to be reduced to as low as 50% for cargo protection.
XtendFRESH will be available as an option with new equipment purchases. A special XtendFRESH provision will also be available for new units, making it easier to upgrade them with XtendFRESH later.
The system is completing trials, and Carrier Transicold anticipates availability later in 2013. For more information, access www.carrier.com/container.
