Abstract: Described herein is a method for operating a refrigerated shipping container containing respiring produce, the method including: passing a cooled CO2-rich air stream from an internal environment within the shipping container through a CO2 selective membrane of a membrane system to produce a cooled CO2-lean air stream and a CO2-rich permeate stream; retaining or returning the cooled CO2-lean air stream to the internal environment; and exhausting the CO2-rich permeate stream to an external environment outside of the shipping container; drawing external air or permitting external air to pass into the shipping container through an air vent with a pre-set fixed opening of the shipping container in a volume to at least balance a volume difference between the cooled CO2-rich air stream and the cooled CO2-lean air stream; wherein the membrane system is operated according to a pre-set mode, and the pre-set mode is independent of a measured gas concentration or pressure of the internal environment; and the pre-set fixe

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of, and apparatus for, controlling gas composition within a refrigerated container, such as to extend the life of perishable goods during transport within the refrigerated container. The invention involves contacting a blended airstream with a membrane system. The blended air stream is formed from a first air stream withdrawn from the refrigerated container and a second air stream obtained from an ambient environment external to the refrigerated container. The invention also relates to a refrigerated container, a membrane system, a gas membrane separation module and method for installing the apparatus, membrane system or gas membrane separation module into or onto a refrigerated container.

Abstract: Described herein is a method for operating a refrigerated stripping container containing respiring produce, the method including: passing a cooled CO2-rich air stream from an internal environment within the shipping container through a CO2 selective membrane of a membrane system to produce a cooled CO2-lean air stream and a CO2-rich permeate stream; retaining or returning the cooled CO2-lean air stream to the internal environment; and exhausting the CO2-rich permeate stream to an external environment outside of the shipping container: drawing external air or permitting external air to pass into the shipping container through an air vent with a pre-set fixed opening of the shipping container in a volume to at least balance a volume difference between the cooled CO2-rich air stream and the cooled CO2-lean air stream; wherein the membrane system is operated according to a pre-set mode, and the pre-set mode is independent of a measured gas concentration or pressure of the internal environment; and the pre-set fix

Abstract: The present invention relates to a data communication device and method for recording and transmitting data concerning conditions within or pertaining to a transportation container, such as a controlled environment transportation container. The communication device includes a processor, a memory, a port for receiving the data, a first power source, a communication module operatively coupled to the first power source, and a computer program stored in the memory. The program is operative, when executed on the processor, to store the received data in the memory and to cause the communication module to periodically power on, attempt for a specified time period to establish a network connection, and in the event of a successful connection, communicate data stored in the memory over the network, and to power off. The processor independently operates to switch between sleep and active modes in accordance with a system timer or receipt of data, and to determine whether the communication module is to be activated.

Abstract: A method of controlling gas composition within a container containing respiring produce is described. The container includes at least one gas outlet and at lease one gas inlet and the method includes the steps of: drawing a selected gas from within the container through a selective membrane element and through the at least one gas outlet; detecting ambient pressure inside the container; and introducing ambient air under selected control conditions from outside the container into the container through the at least one gas inlet in response to the detected ambient pressure to control the relative composition of gases inside the container.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a data communication device and method for recording and transmitting data concerning conditions within or pertaining to a transportation container, such as a controlled environment transportation container. The communication device includes a processor, a memory, a port for receiving the data, a first power source, a communication module operatively coupled to the first power source, and a computer program stored in the memory. The program is operative, when executed on the processor, to store the received data in the memory and to cause the communication module to periodically power on, attempt for a specified time period to establish a network connection, and in the event of a successful connection, communicate data stored in the memory over the network, and to power off. The processor independently operates to switch between sleep and active modes in accordance with a system timer or receipt of data, and to determine whether the communication module is to be activated.

Abstract: The invention relates to the monitoring of the state of produce within transport containers, with particular application to dynamic monitoring of the respiration rate of produce in controlled atmosphere container systems used in cargo container transportation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a data communication device and method for recording and transmitting data concerning conditions within or pertaining to a transportation container, such as a controlled environment transportation container. The communication device includes a processor, a memory, a port for receiving the data, a first power source, a communication module operatively coupled to the first power source, and a computer program stored in the memory. The program is operative, when executed on the processor, to store the received data in the memory and to cause the communication module to periodically power on, attempt for a specified time period to establish a network connection, and in the event of a successful connection, communicate data stored in the memory over the network, and to power off. The processor independently operates to switch between sleep and active modes in accordance with a system timer or receipt of data, and to determine whether the communication module is to be activated.

Abstract: A method of controlling gas composition within a container containing respiring produce is described. The container includes at least one gas outlet and at least one gas inlet and the method includes the steps of; drawing a selected gas from within the container through a selective membrane element and through the at least one gas outlet; detecting ambient pressure inside the container; and introducing ambient air under selected control conditions from outside the container into the container through the at least one gas inlet in response to the detected ambient pressure to control the relative composition of gases inside the container.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods for adjusting the atmosphere within a substantially sealed chamber containing respiring produce. The chamber of the present invention includes inlet means to permit ambient atmosphere to enter the chamber, and outlet means to permit chamber atmosphere to exit the chamber. Methods using apparatus of the present invention comprise: (a) monitoring the oxygen concentration within the chamber; (b) following detection that the oxygen concentration in the chamber has fallen below a predetermined amount, opening the inlet means so that the amount of oxygen in the chamber increases; and (c) removing carbon dioxide from the chamber atmosphere substantially at a predetermined rate, the predetermined rate having been selected such that the carbon dioxide concentration within the chamber atmosphere does not substantially exceed a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A method of controlling gas composition within a container containing respiring produce is described. The container includes at least one gas outlet and at least one gas inlet and the method includes the steps of: drawing gas from within the container through a selective membrane element under selected control conditions through the at least one gas outlet; introducing ambient air from outside die container into the container through the at least one gas inlet under selected control conditions to control the relative composition of gases inside the container. Apparatus for containing the goods and for controlling the atmosphere in the container according to the method are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods for adjusting the atmosphere within a substantially sealed chamber containing respiring produce. The chamber of the present invention includes inlet means to permit ambient atmosphere to enter the chamber, and outlet means to permit chamber atmosphere to exit the chamber. Methods using apparatus of the present invention comprise: (a) monitoring the oxygen concentration within the chamber; (b) following detection that the oxygen concentration in the chamber has fallen below a predetermined amount, opening the inlet means so that the amount of oxygen in the chamber increases; and (c) removing carbon dioxide from the chamber atmosphere substantially at a predetermined rate, the predetermined rate having been selected such that the carbon dioxide concentration within the chamber atmosphere does not substantially exceed a predetermined amount.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods for adjusting the atmosphere within a substantially sealed chamber containing respiring produce. The chamber of the present invention includes inlet means to permit ambient atmosphere to enter the chamber, and outlet means to permit chamber atmosphere to exit the chamber. Methods using apparatus of the present invention comprise: (a) monitoring the oxygen concentration within the chamber; (b) following detection that the oxygen concentration in the chamber has fallen below a predetermined amount, opening the inlet means so that the amount of oxygen in the chamber increases; and (c) removing carbon dioxide from the chamber atmosphere substantially at a predetermined rate, the predetermined rate having been selected such that the carbon dioxide concentration within the chamber atmosphere does not substantially exceed a predetermined amount.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods for adjusting the atmosphere within a substantially sealed chamber containing respiring produce. The chamber of the present invention includes inlet means to permit ambient atmosphere to enter the chamber, and outlet means to permit chamber atmosphere to exit the chamber. Methods using apparatus of the present invention comprise: (a) monitoring the oxygen concentration within the chamber; (b) following detection that the oxygen concentration in the chamber has fallen below a predetermined amount, opening the inlet means so that the amount of oxygen in the chamber increases; and (c) removing carbon dioxide from the chamber atmosphere substantially at a predetermined rate, the predetermined rate having been selected such that the carbon dioxide concentration within the chamber atmosphere does not substantially exceed a predetermined amount.