# Case: How to save "Innovator" sort French fries
15.08.2019 | Potatoes
Potatoes are one of the most common and important agricultural crops. It is this product, we have carefully developed storage technology and want to share it with the example of the "Belaya Dacha Farming".
"Belaya Dacha launched the production of Innovator sort French fries in accordance with all technical specifications and standards at the beginning of 2018 in the Lipetsk region. And now it is the main supplier of potatoes to McDonald's. We, in turn, have worked hard to create all the conditions for storage, let's look at them in more detail.
Terms and conditions:
Useful storage capacity: 20 x 30 x 4.5 m = 2700 m3.
In 1 m3 of volume - 0,650 tons of potatoes.
Storage weight: 2700 m3 x 0.65т\м3 = 1,755 tons
Storage Technology
Storage method: bulk
Bulk resistance: 150 Pa
Ventilation capacity: 120 m3 /h
Product storage temperature: + 6-8°C
Air humidity in storage: 92-95%
CO2 concentration: 2500 - 3000 ppm
Required cooling capacity: 100 Wt/t
It is important to ensure a constant temperature, good ventilation and the right
level of humidity in the room, as this is the only way to preserve the taste and
nutrients of the potatoes.
System components:
Fans
Ventilation required per tonne of product per hour: 120 m3 /h
Total air exchange: 120 m3/t/h x 1,755 tons = 210,600 m3/h
Number of fans: 210 600 m3/h /6 (number of fans) = 35 100 m3/h at 150 Pa
In the project we used fans of different diameters and capacities: 800, 900,
1000 mm, and installed EC motors contributed to the efficient use of electricity.
Inlets
The air flow rate through the inlets must not exceed 6 m/s to create an
optimum condition.
Calculation of the required inlet area:
S (total inlet valve area) = V (total air volume) / 6 m/s (required speed) /3600
(number of seconds per hour) = 210 600 m3/h / 6 m/s / 3600 s = 9.75 m2
To avoid freezing of the inlet, we used an aluminum frame with a thermal insert
and a non-combustible PIR insulator. In case of malfunctions, a system of
safety switches is provided.
Ventilation ducts and slots
Floor and underground channels were used in the project.
Advantages of underground channels
Savings in useful volume +7%
Easy to bookmark and retrieve
Reducing the number of injuries
Optimal air inlet velocity is 6-8m/s, and through the ventilation slots is 3.5-4 m/
s.
Humidification system
In order to ensure that the air humidity required for storage is maintained, the system is installed along the entire length of the ventilation chamber under the fans. Depending on the demand, the air from the fans can flow through the humidifier or directly from the ducts.
Advantages: No droplets during humidification, i.e. no moist product and no additional damage ability to humidify the supply air adiabatic cooling
Air purifier
The air purifier extends the shelf life by removing ethylene and other contaminants through photo-oxidation and UV radiation.
Advantages
Decomposition of organic compounds on H2O and CO, destruction of fungi and bacteria in the air
Removal of odor in the vault
Sterile air purity with the possibility of people working indoors
CO2 control and disposal
An increased CO2 level will impair the appearance and quality of the product and cause brown spots when frying. The CO2 control system allows the removal of excess concentrations without opening the main ventilation valves.
Refrigeration equipment
When the temperature is kept below normal, the sugar content of the potatoes increases and, as in the case of CO2, contributes to the appearance of dark spots. It is important to treat potatoes at a temperature of +12° - +18° C.To ensure comfortable temperature conditions, we used special refrigerants of vegetable series - glycol and freon cooling schemes.
Monitoring system
The system includes sensors for monitoring and analysis of information, as well as a remote access system. They can be used to monitor the climate, product status, shrinkage, monitor and control the system from anywhere in the world
