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

Abstract

1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) is a synthetic plant growth 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 medium computational fluid dynamics model to numerically analyze the distribution of 1-MCP in cool store rooms for apple fruit. The effects of air circulation, room shape, and bin material were investigated. Dose calculation based on filling density was explored. The 1-MCP distribution in commercial cool stores, under room cooling condition, was uniform irrespective of room shape. Rooms filled with fruit in wooden bins deplete 25 % more of the active substance than rooms filled with fruit in plastic bins. The calculated dose increases linearly with the amount of fruit in the cool store (filling density). Hence, this study suggests that dose prescription based on filling density is feasible.