PURPOSE: To keep the selected controlled atmosphere in a container and a ship's hold where fruits and vegetables are stored to be shipped even when a considerable leakage is generated by supplying a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen generated in selected quantities according to the stored products in the container, and constantly keeping the container at an overpressure.
CONSTITUTION: A mixture of nitrogen and oxygen with a ratio selected according to the products to be shipped, is generated in a molecular separator. The maximum quantity of the mixture is supplied to a container or a hold first in a working condition with the variable flow rate, and then the oxygen is reduced from 21% to 3-5% in several hours. Then the supply of the mixture is reduced corresponding to the actual leakage ratio of the container or the hold and CO2 generated from the products. In this method, the container is constantly kept at a slight overpressure, and the invasion of CO2 from the external can be prevented. Further by changing the flow rate of the mixture supplied to the container or the hold, and maintaining the same at the slight overpressure, the selected values of O2 and CO2 can be kept.
PURUNERI DORIO
BIIRA IBANO
