Register now After registration you will be able to apply for this opportunity online.
This opportunity is not published. No applications will be accepted.
Sensing and simulation to optimize fresh fruit cold chains
Description and objectives
Optimising cold chains of fruits across all unit operations is of key importance to maintain fresh food quality and to reduce food losses.
Optimising cold chains of fruits across all unit operations is of key importance to maintain fresh food quality and to reduce food losses. Temperature and the gas composition in the air (H2O, O2, CO2, C2H4) are affecting decay and fruit quality, so need to be controlled during precooling, refrigerated transport and cold storage. By optimizing these environmental parameters, shelf life can be maximised. Currently extensive monitoring is performed of the environmental conditions in food supply chains (air temperature and humidity). However, this information is not yet optimally used to quantify how the fruit feels and how its quality evolves throughout the cold chain. Making the link of the measured sensor data with the fruit quality decay is the key objective of this project. This project is performed in collaboration with a sensor company.
The project departs from measured air temperature and humidity data in fruit cold chains by commercial sensors. Additional input data are gathered in advance, including fruit size and geometry, thermal properties, the initial conditions prior to transport, quality decay data for the fruit of interest and the unit operation which the fruit is in (precooling, transport in refrigerated container or truck, storage). These data are fed into a physics-based, analytical model to provide theoretical estimates of following key performance indicators (KPI): (1) average fruit temperature, (2) mass loss, (3) remaining quality at the end of the chain, based on quality decay as a function of temperature.
The tasks include
• Organize and perform sensing in commercial cold chains of selected fruit.
• Process measured sensor data of commercial cold chains, analyze data for variability, and reformat data in databases.
• Develop a physics-based, empirically-calibrated model for the fruit (geometry, properties, quality decay, transport route).
The work will be performed at the facilities of Empa (St. Gallen). A stay of several weeks at the facilities of the sensor company is planned (the Netherlands). A MSc or internship is offered for at least 4-6 months, up to 1 year.
Optimising cold chains of fruits across all unit operations is of key importance to maintain fresh food quality and to reduce food losses. Temperature and the gas composition in the air (H2O, O2, CO2, C2H4) are affecting decay and fruit quality, so need to be controlled during precooling, refrigerated transport and cold storage. By optimizing these environmental parameters, shelf life can be maximised. Currently extensive monitoring is performed of the environmental conditions in food supply chains (air temperature and humidity). However, this information is not yet optimally used to quantify how the fruit feels and how its quality evolves throughout the cold chain. Making the link of the measured sensor data with the fruit quality decay is the key objective of this project. This project is performed in collaboration with a sensor company.
The project departs from measured air temperature and humidity data in fruit cold chains by commercial sensors. Additional input data are gathered in advance, including fruit size and geometry, thermal properties, the initial conditions prior to transport, quality decay data for the fruit of interest and the unit operation which the fruit is in (precooling, transport in refrigerated container or truck, storage). These data are fed into a physics-based, analytical model to provide theoretical estimates of following key performance indicators (KPI): (1) average fruit temperature, (2) mass loss, (3) remaining quality at the end of the chain, based on quality decay as a function of temperature. The tasks include • Organize and perform sensing in commercial cold chains of selected fruit. • Process measured sensor data of commercial cold chains, analyze data for variability, and reformat data in databases. • Develop a physics-based, empirically-calibrated model for the fruit (geometry, properties, quality decay, transport route).
The work will be performed at the facilities of Empa (St. Gallen). A stay of several weeks at the facilities of the sensor company is planned (the Netherlands). A MSc or internship is offered for at least 4-6 months, up to 1 year.
**Required skills**
The ideal candidate has knowledge in:
- Hygrothermal measurements
- Convective heat and mass transfer
- Food cold chain
**Other benefits and/or compensation**
For MSc students:
• Accommodation will be provided by Empa, if required.
• Lump sum remuneration for students at a university outside of Switzerland (max. CHF 750.-/month = approx. value CHF 25.-/day) depends on place of residence and expenses such as travel expenses, food expenses, technical literature etc.
For interns (mandatory internship during Master studies):
• A lump sum remuneration of 2000 CHF/month (accommodation is at the students expense).
**Remark**
Further background information on our research and contact details can be found on our website (https://www.empa.ch/web/det).
**Required skills** The ideal candidate has knowledge in: - Hygrothermal measurements - Convective heat and mass transfer - Food cold chain
**Other benefits and/or compensation** For MSc students: • Accommodation will be provided by Empa, if required. • Lump sum remuneration for students at a university outside of Switzerland (max. CHF 750.-/month = approx. value CHF 25.-/day) depends on place of residence and expenses such as travel expenses, food expenses, technical literature etc.
For interns (mandatory internship during Master studies): • A lump sum remuneration of 2000 CHF/month (accommodation is at the students expense).
**Remark** Further background information on our research and contact details can be found on our website (https://www.empa.ch/web/det).
If you want to apply, please send your CV, grades and motivation letter to thijs.defraeye@empa.ch
If you want to apply, please send your CV, grades and motivation letter to thijs.defraeye@empa.ch