Mathematical modelling of diffusion channel length to maintain steady-state oxygen concentration for controlled atmosphere storage of tomato

Figures & data

Figure 1. Diffusion of O₂ into a storage chamber through the diffusion path.

Table 1. Treatment details of the experiments.

Treatments (T)	Diffusion channel dimensions
	Diameter of channel, D (mm)	Length of channel, L (mm)	Cross-sectional area of channel, AC (cm^2)
T1	3	60	0.071
T2	3	120	0.071
T3	3	180	0.071
T4	3	240	0.071
T5	6	60	0.283
T6	6	120	0.283
T7	6	180	0.283
T8	6	240	0.283
T9	9	60	0.636
T10	9	120	0.636
T11	9	180	0.636
T12	9	240	0.636
T13	12	60	1.131
T14	12	120	1.131
T15	12	180	1.131
T16	12	240	1.131

Figure 2. Experimental setup of diffusion channel system for storage of tomato.

Figure 3. Respiration rate of tomato: (a) function of O₂, (b) function of CO₂ concentration at 10°C.

Figure 4. Respiration rate of tomato as a function of O₂ mole fraction at 10°C.

Table 2. Different parameters for predicting the model for diffusion channel length.

Treatments	Ac	Ms		a1	a2
T1	0.071	0.805	1.824	0.273	4.135	0.025	32	0.189	0.106
T2	0.071	0.805	0.943	0.187	4.135	0.025	32	0.189	0.093
T3	0.071	0.805	0.801	0.076	4.135	0.025	32	0.189	0.073
T4	0.071	0.805	0.466	0.067	4.135	0.025	32	0.189	0.068
T5	0.283	0.805	1.355	0.089	4.135	0.025	32	0.189	0.113
T6	0.283	0.805	0.242	0.061	4.135	0.025	32	0.189	0.101
T7	0.283	0.805	0.114	0.029	4.135	0.025	32	0.189	0.081
T8	0.283	0.805	0.082	0.021	4.135	0.025	32	0.189	0.073
T9	0.636	0.805	0.943	0.061	4.135	0.025	32	0.189	0.130
T10	0.636	0.805	0.152	0.038	4.135	0.025	32	0.189	0.113
T11	0.636	0.805	0.067	0.017	4.135	0.025	32	0.189	0.086
T12	0.636	0.805	0.048	0.012	4.135	0.025	32	0.189	0.077
T13	1.131	0.805	0.478	0.045	4.135	0.025	32	0.189	0.141
T14	1.131	0.805	0.099	0.025	4.135	0.025	32	0.189	0.122
T15	1.131	0.805	0.049	0.013	4.135	0.025	32	0.189	0.094
T16	1.131	0.805	0.038	0.011	4.135	0.025	32	0.189	0.086

Figure 5. Predicted length of diffusion channel for maintaining the steady-state O₂ concentration at 10°C (error with 5% value).

Figure 6. Steady-state O₂ concentration in experimental storage chambers with diffusion channel at 10°C (error with 5% value).