Abstract: Provided is a refrigeration system for a transport unit. The refrigeration system has a refrigeration cycle comprising a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser fluidically coupled downstream of the compressor and upstream of the evaporator, an expansion valve fluidically coupled downstream of the condenser and upstream of the evaporator, and a suction gas heat exchanger comprising a liquid line side and a suction line side. The liquid line side is fluidically coupled downstream of the condenser and upstream of the expansion valve, and the suction line side is fluidically coupled downstream of the evaporator and upstream of the compressor. The suction gas heat exchanger is configured to transfer heat between refrigerant in the liquid line side and refrigerant in the suction line side.

Abstract: Provided is a cascade refrigeration system for a transport unit. The cascade refrigeration system has a first refrigeration cycle comprising a first compressor and a first expansion valve, a second refrigeration cycle comprising a second compressor and a second expansion valve, and a cascade heat exchanger. The cascade heat exchanger comprises a condenser side fluidically coupled downstream of the first compressor and upstream of the first expansion valve, and an evaporator side fluidically coupled downstream of the second expansion valve and upstream of the second compressor. The cascade refrigeration system also comprises a pre-cooler comprising a first side and a second side. The first side is fluidically coupled downstream of the first compressor and upstream of the condenser side of the cascade heat exchanger, and the pre-cooler is configured to transfer heat between refrigerant in the first side and refrigerant in the second side.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for maintaining produce in an unripened state in a storage unit. The storage unit includes a space in which the produce is stored. The method includes monitoring a respiration rate of the produce and, in response to a change in the monitored respiration rate, causing an action to be performed to facilitate maintenance of the unripened state.

Abstract: The invention relates, in general, to methods of processing Lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars and to methods that rely on hydrothermal pretreatment. Xylose monomer yields comparable to those achieved using two-stage pretreatments can be achieved from soft Lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks by pretreasting to very low severity in a single-stage pressurized hydrothermal pretreatment, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis to release xylose retained in the solid state. In some embodiments, pretreated biomass is separated into a solid fraction and a liquid fraction, the solid fraction subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis, and the separated liquid fraction subsequently mixed with the hydrolysed solid fraction.

Abstract: The invention relates, in general, to methods of processing Lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars and to methods that rely on hydrothermal pretreatment. Xylose monomer yields comparable to those achieved using two-stage pretreatments can be achieved from soft Lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks by pretreasting to very low severity in a single-stage pressurized hydrothermal pretreatment, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis to release xylose retained in the solid state. In some embodiments, pretreated biomass is separated into a solid fraction and a liquid fraction, the solid fraction subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis, and the separated liquid fraction subsequently mixed with the hydrolysed solid fraction.

Abstract: A method for controlling ripening of vegetable produce in a second transport unit is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining, at the second transport unit, ripening data from a first transport unit, which first transport unit carries produce from a same geographical area as the second transport unit; correlating, at the second transport unit, the obtained ripening data with a scheduled delivery date for the second transport unit; and controlling, at the second transport unit, a ripening process of the produce during transport based on the correlated data for achieving a desired ripening stage in the produce at the scheduled delivery date.

Abstract: A method is disclosed herein of managing a plurality of refrigerated containers (2), the method comprising the step of surveilling the insulation condition of said containers (2) by repeatedly determining an insulation parameter (Uact, Ucur) of each of the plurality of refrigerated containers (2). Furthermore is disclosed a method to determine an insulation parameter (Uact) of a refrigerated container (2), the method comprising at least the steps of—determining a refrigeration effect (QRef) caused by a refrigeration unit refrigerating the container (2), —calculating an actual rate of energy loss of the container (2) due to heat ingress from the ambient surroundings, —determining an actual temperature difference (?T) between the interior (8) of the container (2) and the ambient air, and—determining the actual insulation parameter (Uact) of the container (2) from the ratio of said actual rate of energy loss and said actual temperature difference.

Abstract: The invention relates, in general, to methods of processing Lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars and to methods that rely on hydrothermal pretreatment. Xylose monomer yields comparable to those achieved using two-stage pretreatments can be achieved from soft Lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks by pretreasting to very low severity in a single-stage pressurized hydrothermal pretreatment, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis to release xylose retained in the solid state. In some embodiments, pretreated biomass is separated into a solid fraction and a liquid fraction, the solid fraction subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis, and the separated liquid fraction subsequently mixed with the hydrolysed solid fraction.

Abstract: The invention relates, in general, to methods of processing lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars and to methods that rely on hydrothermal pretreatment. Xylose monomer yields comparable to those achieved using two-stage pretreatments can be achieved from soft lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks by pretreating to very low severity in a single-stage pressurized hydrothermal pretreatment, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis to release xylose retained in the solid state. In some embodiments, pretreated biomass is separated into a solid fraction and a liquid fraction, the solid fraction subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis, and the separated liquid fraction subsequently mixed with the hydrolysed solid fraction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reefer container (1) having a controlled atmosphere system (3) comprising:—a first selective unit (4) comprising an absorber or a membrane (9) being selective for carbon dioxide over oxygen and nitrogen;—a second selective unit (11) comprising an absorber or a membrane (14) being selective for oxygen over nitrogen; and—a vacuum pump (6) for extracting and removing separated gasses from a permeate side (8, 13) of the first and second selective units (4, 11) to outside the container(1), where the system (3) is further comprising a pump (15) for providing an overpressure in the container(1). The pump (15) can be connected to the container (1) through a feed side (12) of the second selective unit (11). The invention further relates to a method of controlling reefer container (1) having a controlled atmosphere system (3).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of ripening perishable products during transport in a structure including a controlled atmosphere system, which method provides variable ripening time by changing temperature in the structure from a temperature where ripenable produce are kept in an unripening controlled atmosphere to a temperature where the ripenable products ripens in controlled atmosphere. The present invention further relates to a structure for shipping perishable products such as fruit and vegetables, which structure includes a controlled atmosphere system including sensors capable of measuring at least one of following parameters: temperature, O2 or CO2; a dosing mechanism for dosing ripening agent; and a ripening process controller, which controller controls the ripening process based on sensed values of temperature, O2 and/or CO2.

Abstract: Methods of processing lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars are provided which rely on hydrothermal pretreatment. Soft lignocellulosic biomass feedstock is pretreated in a single-stage pressurized hydrothermal pretreatment to very low severity. The pre-treated biomass is hydrolysed, typically as a whole slurry, using enzymatic hydrolysis catalysed by an enzyme mixture comprising endoglucanase, exoglucanase, ?-glucosidase, endoxylanase, and ?-xylosidase activities at activity levels in nkat/g glucan of endoglucanase of at least 1100, exoglucanase of at least 280, ?-glucosidase of at least 3000, endoxylanase of at least 1400, and ?-xylosidase of at least 75, so as to produce a hydrolysate in which the yield of C5 monomers is at least 55% of the original xylose and arabinose content of the feedstock prior to pretreatment.

Abstract: Methods of processing lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars are provided which rely on hydrothermal pretreatment. Soft lignocellulosic biomass feedstock is pretreated in a single-stage pressurized hydrothermal pretreatment to very low severity. The pre-treated biomass is hydrolysed, typically as a whole slurry, using enzymatic hydrolysis catalysed by an enzyme mixture comprising endoglucanase, exoglucanase, ?-glucosidase, endoxylanase, and ?-xylosidase activities at activity levels in nkat/g glucan of endoglucanase of at least 1100, exoglucanase of at least 280, ?-glucosidase of at least 3000, endoxylanase of at least 1400, and ?-xylosidase of at least 75, so as to produce a hydrolysate in which the yield of C5 monomers is at least 55% of the original xylose and arabinose content of the feedstock prior to pretreatment.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for transfer of particulate material, such as biomass feedstocks, into and out of pressurized reactors. Improved sluice devices have an L-shaped sluice chamber having an upper, vertical component in communication with a horizontal loading chamber and a lower component in communication with a vertical reactor inlet or outlet. Piston valves seal the sluice inlet and outlet by axial displacement across the vertical component of the sluice chamber and across the vertical reactor inlet or outlet. Relative to other methods for reactor unloading, these devices consume less steam and significantly reduce furfural content of unloaded, pretreated biomass. An optional hybrid plug/sluice method of biomass feeding using the devices permits biomass loading at sluice pressures intermediate between atmospheric and reactor pressure, thereby reducing “pump cycle” time and increasing biomass throughput capacity.

Abstract: The invention relates, in general, to methods of processing lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars and to methods that rely on hydrothermal pretreatment. Xylose monomer yields comparable to those achieved using two-stage pretreatments can be achieved from soft lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks by pretreating to very low severity in a single-stage pressurized hydrothermal pretreatment, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis to release xylose retained in the solid state. In some embodiments, pretreated biomass is separated into a solid fraction and a liquid fraction, the solid fraction subject to enzymatic hydrolysis, and the separated liquid fraction subsequently mixed with the hydrolysed solid fraction.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for transfer of particulate material, such as biomass feedstocks, into and out of pressurized reactors. Improved sluice devices have an L-shaped sluice chamber having an upper, vertical component in communication with a horizontal loading chamber and a lower component in communication with a vertical reactor inlet or outlet. Piston valves seal the sluice inlet and outlet by axial displacement across the vertical component of the sluice chamber and across the vertical reactor inlet or outlet. Relative to other methods for reactor unloading, these devices consume less steam and significantly reduce furfural content of unloaded, pretreated biomass. An optional hybrid plug/sluice method of biomass feeding using the devices permits biomass loading at sluice pressures intermediate between atmospheric and reactor pressure, thereby reducing “pump cycle” time and increasing biomass throughput capacity.

Abstract: A container having a plurality of walls, and at least one inlet and/or outlet, said container including an apparatus for controlling the composition of gases within the container, the apparatus including at least one sensor, at least one controller and at least one gas permeable membrane, through which membrane different gases can pass at different rates, said membrane dividing the container into a first region being for holding cargo and a second region defining a gas buffer region, and said membrane being permeable permitting for nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide at different flow rates, wherein the buffer region is in communication with the ambient atmosphere through one or more vacuum pump(s).

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for transfer of particulate material, such as biomass feedstocks, into and out of pressurized reactors. Improved sluice devices have an L-shaped sluice chamber having an upper, vertical component in communication with a horizontal loading chamber and a lower component in communication with a vertical reactor inlet or outlet. Piston valves seal the sluice inlet and outlet by axial displacement across the vertical component of the sluice chamber and across the vertical reactor inlet or outlet. Relative to other methods for reactor unloading, these devices consume less steam and significantly reduce furfural content of unloaded, pretreated biomass. An optional hybrid plug/sluice method of biomass feeding using the devices permits biomass loading at sluice pressures intermediate between atmospheric and reactor pressure, thereby reducing “pump cycle” time and increasing biomass throughput capacity.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for transfer of particulate material, such as biomass feedstocks, into and out of pressurized reactors. Improved sluice devices have an L-shaped sluice chamber having an upper, vertical component in communication with a horizontal loading chamber and a lower component in communication with a vertical reactor inlet or outlet. Piston valves seal the sluice inlet and outlet by axial displacement across the vertical component of the sluice chamber and across the vertical reactor inlet or outlet. Relative to other methods for reactor unloading, these devices consume less steam and significantly reduce furfural content of unloaded, pretreated biomass. An optional hybrid plug/sluice method of biomass feeding using the devices permits biomass loading at sluice pressures intermediate between atmospheric and reactor pressure, thereby reducing “pump cycle” time and increasing biomass throughput capacity.

Abstract: A container having a plurality of walls, and at least one inlet and/or outlet, said container including an apparatus for controlling the composition of gases within the container, the apparatus including at least one sensor, at least one controller and at least one gas permeable membrane, through which membrane different gases can pass at different rates, said membrane dividing the container into a first region being for holding cargo and a second region defining a gas buffer region, and said membrane being permeable permitting for nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide at different flow rates, wherein the buffer region is in communication with the ambient atmosphere through one or more vacuum pump(s).