SETTING GUIDE CO Perishable commodities are alive and respiring during transport to end user. O 2 Demand-based air exchange Fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers are all alive and respiring, carrying out a metabolic conversion of internal sugars and starches with oxygen (O2) from the air, releasing heat, carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapor and sometimes ethylene. 2 A reduction in oxygen, and/or an increase in carbon dioxide can have detrimental effects on produce. For this reason, it is necessary to have a process that allows the internal atmosphere of the container to remain healthy for the produce. Traditionally, a fixed open air exchange has been used to ensure sufficient air exchange inside the reefer. This poses an inherent risk of excessive ventilation. This is because the setting of the open air exchange never changes during transportation, no matter how the atmosphere inside the reefer may change. The solution is to use an air exchange system based on demand from the produce inside the reefer. Allowing respiration to manage air exchange Star Cool AV+ is a demand-based air exchange system that has the ability to accurately adjust the inside atmosphere through regulating the air exchange based on the input of a CO2 sensor and a max CO2 level (e.g. 1.0% CO2 max) set via the main reefer controller. Key advantages of demand-based ventilation: Reduced energy consumption. Minimal fresh air intake allows less warm air to enter the reefer. This leads to reduced energy consumption and faster pull down. Less dehydration of produce. The humidity level of excessive ambient air disturbs the desired humidity environment in the reefer. Increased cooling leads to increased dehydration of air and thereby also of the valuable produce. Controlled provision of the necessary fresh air. Traditional CMH/CFM on an open air exchange do not adjust for 50/60 Hz power supply differences, software type/fan speed (Quest, DTMS, eco mode, etc), packing patterns/materials, or respiration rate changes as cargo temperature reduces. AV+ provides the necessary amount of fresh air, regardless of the above factors. Reduced ripening and improved quality. Some produce types benefit from increased CO2, resulting in improved firmness, reduced ripening and better appearance. Reduced external gasses. Unrequired ambient air increases the risks associated with undesired gasses entering the reefer, such as ethylene from motor exhausts or gensets and trucks. This is minimized with AV+. Setting guide on the reverse è Example with bananas: 5 4 3 2 1 0 Star Cool with AV+ Without AV+ Tests show that AV+ enables you to reach and maintain the chosen safe amount of CO2 in the reefer, which can reduce ripening due to decreased O2 levels.
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