Revealing intra- and inter-container fruit quality heterogeneity within overseas refrigerated container shipments using a physics-based digital twin
The air temperature and relative humidity inside refrigerated containers should be kept at optimal conditions to prevent fruit losses. However, each shipment evolves differently in terms of shipping duration and temperature. Moreover, due to the dense stacking of the pallets, non-uniform hygrotherma...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Agriculture and Food Research |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154325000869 |
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| author | Celine Verreydt Tarl Berry Leo Lukasse Deniz Turan Paul Cronje Thijs Defraeye |
| author_facet | Celine Verreydt Tarl Berry Leo Lukasse Deniz Turan Paul Cronje Thijs Defraeye |
| author_sort | Celine Verreydt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The air temperature and relative humidity inside refrigerated containers should be kept at optimal conditions to prevent fruit losses. However, each shipment evolves differently in terms of shipping duration and temperature. Moreover, due to the dense stacking of the pallets, non-uniform hygrothermal conditions develop throughout the cargo. Currently, little is known about the fruit quality evolution inside containers, inhibiting proper product management and causing fruit losses to occur. The goal of this study is to identify where and when fruit quality is lost during overseas transport. More specifically, it is aimed to pinpoint where quality issues are expected to occur: consistently on a specific location within the cargo, or only within certain shipments.To achieve this goal, a digital twin was developed of a refrigerated container filled with ‘Valencia’ oranges. This digital twin consisted of a multiphysics model in which airflow, heat, and moisture transport were calculated. Moreover, different fruit quality attributes were predicted. Supply air temperature sensor data of shipments from South Africa to Europe and Asia, as well as the fruit packaging type, were fed to the digital twin. Except for mass loss, the results showed limited quality gradients within the container. Also, when shifting the packaging type, the average quality of the cargo did not change significantly. In contrast to the limited intra-container quality heterogeneity, significant inter-container differences were observed. This indicates the added value of monitoring each shipment. Overall, the digital twin serves as a first step towards real-time quality monitoring within fresh fruit supply chains. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-90c2119431874a47b0a7ec29bdfc3731 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2666-1543 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Agriculture and Food Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-90c2119431874a47b0a7ec29bdfc37312025-02-11T04:35:29ZengElsevierJournal of Agriculture and Food Research2666-15432025-03-0119101715Revealing intra- and inter-container fruit quality heterogeneity within overseas refrigerated container shipments using a physics-based digital twinCeline Verreydt0Tarl Berry1Leo Lukasse2Deniz Turan3Paul Cronje4Thijs Defraeye5Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Laboratory for Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, CH-9014, St. Gallen, Switzerland; Food Quality and Design, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the NetherlandsCitrus Research International, Department of Horticultural Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa; Department of Horticultural Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South AfricaWageningen University and Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG, Wageningen, the NetherlandsFood Quality and Design, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the NetherlandsCitrus Research International, Department of Horticultural Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa; Department of Horticultural Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South AfricaEmpa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Laboratory for Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, CH-9014, St. Gallen, Switzerland; Food Quality and Design, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands; Corresponding author. Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Laboratory for Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, CH-9014, St. Gallen, Switzerland.The air temperature and relative humidity inside refrigerated containers should be kept at optimal conditions to prevent fruit losses. However, each shipment evolves differently in terms of shipping duration and temperature. Moreover, due to the dense stacking of the pallets, non-uniform hygrothermal conditions develop throughout the cargo. Currently, little is known about the fruit quality evolution inside containers, inhibiting proper product management and causing fruit losses to occur. The goal of this study is to identify where and when fruit quality is lost during overseas transport. More specifically, it is aimed to pinpoint where quality issues are expected to occur: consistently on a specific location within the cargo, or only within certain shipments.To achieve this goal, a digital twin was developed of a refrigerated container filled with ‘Valencia’ oranges. This digital twin consisted of a multiphysics model in which airflow, heat, and moisture transport were calculated. Moreover, different fruit quality attributes were predicted. Supply air temperature sensor data of shipments from South Africa to Europe and Asia, as well as the fruit packaging type, were fed to the digital twin. Except for mass loss, the results showed limited quality gradients within the container. Also, when shifting the packaging type, the average quality of the cargo did not change significantly. In contrast to the limited intra-container quality heterogeneity, significant inter-container differences were observed. This indicates the added value of monitoring each shipment. Overall, the digital twin serves as a first step towards real-time quality monitoring within fresh fruit supply chains.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154325000869 |
| spellingShingle | Celine Verreydt Tarl Berry Leo Lukasse Deniz Turan Paul Cronje Thijs Defraeye Revealing intra- and inter-container fruit quality heterogeneity within overseas refrigerated container shipments using a physics-based digital twin Journal of Agriculture and Food Research |
| title | Revealing intra- and inter-container fruit quality heterogeneity within overseas refrigerated container shipments using a physics-based digital twin |
| title_full | Revealing intra- and inter-container fruit quality heterogeneity within overseas refrigerated container shipments using a physics-based digital twin |
| title_fullStr | Revealing intra- and inter-container fruit quality heterogeneity within overseas refrigerated container shipments using a physics-based digital twin |
| title_full_unstemmed | Revealing intra- and inter-container fruit quality heterogeneity within overseas refrigerated container shipments using a physics-based digital twin |
| title_short | Revealing intra- and inter-container fruit quality heterogeneity within overseas refrigerated container shipments using a physics-based digital twin |
| title_sort | revealing intra and inter container fruit quality heterogeneity within overseas refrigerated container shipments using a physics based digital twin |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154325000869 |
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