Abstract: An air handling heat exchanger humidifying apparatus (1) is provided with a humidifying cell (13) of a self supporting sheet like body with closely spaced air openings therein. Air is moved through the apparatus (1) so it passes through the openings in the humidifying cell (13). A humidifying liquid is deposited onto the body surfaces of the cell between adjacent openings. As the air moves through the openings it collects the humidifying liquid from the surfaces of the cell (13). The humidifying liquid can be cooled. The air then exits the apparatus (1) and can be used for cooling produce or other product. The cell (13) can be an expanded mesh with the openings having a somewhat diamond shape. The cell (13) body can be corrugated to assist in humidifying liquid retention.

Abstract: A chamber and a method for subjecting produce such as bananas to a controlled atmosphere is disclosed. The chamber has an end wall and produce is loaded into the chamber in two rows. A lower tier stack of produce rests on the floor of the chamber while an upper tier stack is supported above the lower tier stack by a frame structure. An atmosphere circulating space is provided at each side of the chamber between the stacks, and the spacing of the rows provides an upper intersitial volume and a lower intersitial volume. Sealing device seals the upper and lower intersitial volumes from each other while further sealing device in the form of two blinds seals the upper and lower intersitial volumes from the atmosphereic circulating space. A controlled atmosphere is caused to flow across the produce from the atmosphere circulating space into the intersitial volumes or in the reverse direction.

Abstract: A high humidity refrigeration apparatus and method are disclosed. The high humidity refrigeration apparatus has an air inlet at a top thereof and an air outlet in a front thereof. The arrangement is such that when the high humidity refrigeration apparatus is fitted at one end of a chamber, such as a shipping container, goods in stacks, such as on pallets, can be loaded into the chamber from the other end of the chamber. Because the air which exits the outlet is the coldest and of the highest humidity available from the apparatus it is then caused to contact those goods which have been first loaded into the chamber before it contacts any subsequently loaded goods. This ensures that the first loaded goods are always kept as cold and in as high a humidity environment as possible.