ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY

Jacinto St., Davao City

Design of a 50-ton Banana Refrigerating Plant

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements in

ME Laboratory 3

Submitted by:
Dela Rama, Jemel
Sarifa, Rolly
Suyo, Jakal
Viola, Jessmar

October 13, 2016

I. INTRODUCTION

In the Philippines, Banana is a highly abundant and widely exported product.

Many plantations, storages, repacking areas and delivery units are found in this
country. This project then is able to play a significant part in the Banana production
process. This project aims to create a Banana refrigeration and ripening plant
through air temperature and humidity control.

II. RIPENING PROCESS

The plant is generally operated on 4-6 days ripening cycle. This 4-6 days ripening
cycle comprises of;

Operation: 14 to 23 C and >90% RH. Pull down time (16-20hrs) to 16 to 18

C

Ethylene injection, after 24 hrs at constant room temperature of 18 or 19 C

and >90% RH

Holding period 16-12 hrs (total 24 hours from start of ethylene injection)
temperature held at 18 or 19 C and 90% RH

Ventilation after 24 hrs after ethylene injection. Ethylene and CO2 is expelled
out and fresh air is injected in cold room. CO2 level not to exceed 5000ppm
during ripening process.

Holding period for 3-4 days till coloration. Temperature can be reduced
gradually to 14 to 16 C for enhancing the shelf life of the Fruit.

Air distribution system for uniform ripening of banana in palletized crates with
Suitable air bypass sealing system for the crates.
III. DESIGN

5-ton banana storage room (10 units typical)

Equipped with:

Condensing Unit Carbon Dioxide and Outdoor Ventilation

Fan Coil Unit and Evaporator

Views

Front View

Top View
IV. CALCULATIONS

General Specifications

Refrigerant: R314A

Assumptions:
Temp. of harvested banana = 27C
Temp. of ambient = 91.4F
Temp. of ground = 67F
Temp. of Storage = 13.5C = 56.3F

Cp of Banana = 3.56 kJ/kg*K

R-values:
Walls = 16 hr*F*sq.ft/BTU
Floor = 11 hr*F*sq.ft/BTU
Ceiling = 20 hr*F*sq.ft/BTU

Dimensions:
Floor area & Ceiling area = 47.25m^2 = (5.25mx9m)
Wall area = 57m^2 = (2(2x5.25m) + 2(2x9m))
10 rooms
420 crates/room
12 kg/crate
Heat Load Calculations

Qsensible = mCp(Dt)
Q = (12 kg/crate)(420 crate)(3.56)(27-13.5)
Q = 242,222.4 kJ/day (1 day/24hours)(1 hour/3600s)
Q = 2.8035 kJ/s = 2.8035 kW/room
Qsensibletotal = Qsensible x 10
Qtot1 = 2.8035 Kw/room x 10 rooms
Qtot1 = 28.035 kW

Qroomconduction = Qwalls + Qfloor + Qceiling

Qwall = (57m^2)(91.4-56.3F)/ (16 sq.ft*hr*F/btu)
Qwall = (57m^2)(3.281ft/1m)^2(91.4-56.3F)/ (16 sq.ft*hr*F/btu)
Qwall = 1345.93 BTU/hr

Qfloor = (47.25m^2)(67-56.3F)/ (11 sq.ft*hr*F/btu) = 494.77 BTU/hr

Qceiling assumption: Temp. at ceiling is 101.4F
Qceiling = (47.25m^2)(101.4-56.3F)/(20sq.ft*hr*F/btu)
Qceiling = (47.25m^2)(101.4-56.3F)/(20sq.ft*hr*F/btu)
Qceiling = 1146.85 BTU/hr

Qtot2 = 1345.93 + 494.77 + 1146.85 BTU/hr = 2987.55 BTU/hr = 875.56W

Service Load

Service Load: 10% (Qtot1+Qtot2)

Qtotal =
Qtotal = (1.10)(28.035+.87556kW)
Qtotal = 31.80 kW
Qtotal = 31.80 kW (1 tor/3.517kW) = 9.014 TOR

V. PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS

Refrigerant: R314A

Temp. of harvested banana = 27C

Temp. of Storage = 13.5C

Floor area & Ceiling area = 47.25m^2

10 rooms

420 crates/room

12 kg/crate

Design Factor: 10%

Refrigerating Capacity = 9.014 TOR

VI. CONCLUSION

In the course of the process, a 50-ton banana refrigeration plant was realized.
It consists of 10 typical rooms, each having its own air-conditioning units. Banana is
stored at a temperature of 13.5 degrees Celsius with the whole plant having a
capacity of 9 tons of refrigeration with a safety factor of 10%.