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Exploring next generation packaging systems in a refrigerated container using CFD Modelling
Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2020.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | en_ZA |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2020
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| _version_ | 1867614120324366336 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Tiamiyu, Nurayn Adewale Tiamiyu |
| author2 | Coetzee, C. J. |
| author_browse | Coetzee, C. J. Tiamiyu, Nurayn Adewale Tiamiyu |
| author_facet | Coetzee, C. J. Tiamiyu, Nurayn Adewale Tiamiyu |
| author_sort | Tiamiyu, Nurayn Adewale Tiamiyu |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2020. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/109368 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | en_ZA |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:46:59.291Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2020 |
| publishDateRange | 2020 |
| publishDateSort | 2020 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/109368 Exploring next generation packaging systems in a refrigerated container using CFD Modelling Tiamiyu, Nurayn Adewale Tiamiyu Coetzee, C. J. Berry, T. M. Opara, U. L. Tsige, A. A. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering. Computational fluid dynamics Airflow Refrigerated container Porous media UCTD Packaging Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2020. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The ineffective utilisation of refrigerated container's (RC) space is a pressing problem for the South African fruit industry. Current packaging systems do not optimally make use ofthe refrigeration unit for airflow distribution and cooling efficiency of fruit. This results in heterogeneous airflow circulation and ineffective cooling of fruit. The aim of this research wasto develop a validated computational fluid dynamics (CFD)model. The model was then used to explore novel packaging system for improved RC space utilisation and cooling performance. Both cooling and space utilisation aspects of the container need to be improved simultaneously, as market trends are increasingly demanding higher-quality fresh produce at lower costs. Firstly, a 3D CFD model of a fully packed RC was developed and validated experimentally. Pallets were considered as a porous media, and their directional loss properties were experimentally determined. A functional refrigeration unit was incorporated in the model to account for the dynamic cooling modes of the container. The resulting model predicted acceptable results with respect to airflow and temperature. Modelling prediction error was 17% for airflow distribution and 11% for the temperature prediction. Subsequently, the developed CFD model was used to evaluate conceptual packaging systems for space utilisationand cooling efficiency. Numerical simulations were performed to characterise the airflow distribution and cooling performance of the packaging system in a fully loaded refrigerated container. A multi-parameter approach was used to evaluate the performance of five loading scenarios, namely: Standard A, Standard B, Standard C, Hex and Tes in a fully loaded refrigerated container. The average convective heat transfer coefficient (CHTC)relative standard deviation (RSD) of the Standard packaging system is 47% higher than the Hex design and 51% higher than the Tes design. Overall, Tes design shows significant improved performance for space utilisation and quality preservation of packaged fruit. The results thus highlighted the substantial improvements that are possible concerning shipping costs and quality preservation if alternative packaging system designs are considered in the future.Lastly, the pallet stack ventilation requirements of the Standard packaging system in a refrigerated container was characterised.The influence of packaging system directional loss properties (i.e. the pallets ventilation) on airflow patterns within the pallet stacks was demonstrated. This has significant implications on the cooling uniformity and quality preservation of packaged fruit. The study further provides, for the first time, a benchmark for the design of ventilation in fresh produce packaging towards improved usage of refrigerated containers. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die ondoeltreffende benutting van koelhouers (KH) se ruimte is 'n dringende probleem vir die Suid-Afrikaanse vrugtebedryf. Huidige verpakkingstelsels maak nie optimaal gebruik van die koelhouer vir die verspreiding van lugvloei en die verkoeling van vrugte nie. Dit lei tot heterogene lugvloeisirkulasie en oneffektiewe verkoeling van vrugte. Die doel van hierdie navorsing was om 'n gevalideerde BVM-model te ontwikkel. Die model is toe gebruik om ʼn nuwe verpakkingstelsel te ondersoek vir verbeterde KH-ruimtebenutting en verkoeling. Die afkoeling-en ruimtebenuttingsaspekte van die houer moet gelyktydig verbeter word, aangesien markneigings al hoe meer vars produkte van hoër gehalte teen laer koste vereis.Eerstens is 'n 3D berekeningsvloeidinamika (BVM) model van 'n volgelaaide KH ontwikkel en eksperimenteel bekragtig. Palette word as 'n poreuse medium beskou en die rigtinggewende verlies-eienskappe daarvan is eksperimenteel bepaal. 'n Funksionele verkoelingseenheid is in die model ingesluit om voorsiening te maak vir die dinamiese verkoeling vandie houer. Die gevolglike model het aanvaarbare resultate met betrekking tot lugvloei en temperatuur voorspel, met ʼn fout van 17% in die verspreiding van lugvloei en 11% vir die voorspelling van die temperatuur. Vervolgens is die ontwikkelde BVM-model gebruik om konseptuele verpakkingstelsels vir ruimtebenutting en verkoelingsdoeltreffendheid te evalueer. Numeriese simulasies is uitgevoer om die verspreiding van lugvloei en verkoeling van die verpakkingstelsel in 'n volgelaaide koelhouer te karakteriseer. 'n Multi-parameter benadering is gebruik om die prestasie van vyf laai-scenario's te evalueer, naamlik: Standaard A, Standaard B, Standaard C, Hex en Tes. Die gemiddelde konveksie warmteoordragkoëffisiënt se relatiewe standaardafwyking (RSD) van die standaard verpakkingstelsel is 47% hoër as dié van die Hex-ontwerp en 51% hoër as dié van die Tes-ontwerp. In die algemeen toon die Tes-ontwerp aansienlike verbeterde prestasies vir die gebruik van die ruimte en die behoud van gehalte van verpakte vrugte. Die resultate beklemtoon dus die aansienlike verbeterings wat moontlik is ten opsigte van die versendingskoste en die behoud van gehalte indien alternatiewe verpakkingstelselontwerpe in die toekoms oorweeg word.Laastens word die ventilasievereistes van die paletstapel van die standaard verpakkingstelsel in 'n koelhouer gekarakteriseer. Die invloed van verpakkingstelsel se rigtingverlies-eienskappe (d.w.s. die paletsventilasie) op lugvloeipatrone binne die paletstapels is aangetoon. Dit het beduidende gevolge virdie verkoeling van die verpakking en die gehalte van verpakte vrugte. Verder verskaf hierdie studie, vir die eerste keer, 'n maatstaf vir die ontwerp van ventilasie in varsprodukteverpakkings en vir 'n beter gebruik van koelhouers. Masters 2020-11-26T15:25:40Z 2021-01-31T19:46:59Z 2020-11-26T15:25:40Z 2021-01-31T19:46:59Z 2020-12 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/109368 en_ZA Stellenbosch University 106 pages application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Computational fluid dynamics Airflow Refrigerated container Porous media UCTD Packaging Tiamiyu, Nurayn Adewale Tiamiyu Exploring next generation packaging systems in a refrigerated container using CFD Modelling |
| title | Exploring next generation packaging systems in a refrigerated container using CFD Modelling |
| title_full | Exploring next generation packaging systems in a refrigerated container using CFD Modelling |
| title_fullStr | Exploring next generation packaging systems in a refrigerated container using CFD Modelling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring next generation packaging systems in a refrigerated container using CFD Modelling |
| title_short | Exploring next generation packaging systems in a refrigerated container using CFD Modelling |
| title_sort | exploring next generation packaging systems in a refrigerated container using cfd modelling |
| topic | Computational fluid dynamics Airflow Refrigerated container Porous media UCTD Packaging |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/109368 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tiamiyunuraynadewaletiamiyu exploringnextgenerationpackagingsystemsinarefrigeratedcontainerusingcfdmodelling |