The need for an improved control strategy for the operation of a wind-powered refrigeration system for the storage of apples was investigated. The results are applicable to other systems which employ intermittently available power sources, battery and thermal storage, and an auxiliary, direct current power supply. Tests were conducted on the wind-powered refrigeration system at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Horticulture Research Farm in Blacksburg, Virginia. Tests were conducted on the individual components of the system. In situ windmill performance were also conducted. The results of these tests have been presented. An improved control strategy was developed to improve the utilization of available wind energy and to reduce the need for electrical energy from an external source while maintaining an adequate apple storage environment. / Ph. D.

This study was undertaken to determine the effect of different work methods, types of equipment, and the size of operation on the cost of packing apples in bushel units. The information in this study was based on plants packing from 9,000 to 108,000 bushels of apples during the 1956 packing season. The data collected at these plants revealed wide variations in methods of handling and packing apples which had significant influences on the cost of packing house operations. To determine the relative influence of these factors on the cost of packing apples, each of the major packing house operations was considered separately. / Master of Science

A two year experiment demonstrated electrical energy savings through evaporator fan cycling in part of a full-sized refrigerated controlled atmosphere apple storage facility in Yakima, Washington. Room cooling demand and evaporator fan operation was controlled by the bulk fruit temperature. Refrigerant temperature was regulated by a computer controlled ramping sequence and a weighted average of three thermistors rather than a room thermostat. Evaporator fans remained off 60-65% of the time during periods of fan cycling operation. Seasonal average fan energy savings approached 50-55% when the product remained in storage for a typical length of time. Room environment conditions, product mass loss, and fruit quality were not compromised. Bulk fruit temperature was exceptionally stable as compared to fruit stored in non-fan cycled rooms controlled by traditional means. Less fan motor heat input in the fruit storage space also results in compressor energy savings. Total electrical energy savings were projected to an 18 room fruit storage facility implementing computer controlled evaporator fan cycling. Projected electrical energy savings achievable through evaporator fan cycling for the state of Washington were made based on reported apple storage capacity. / Graduation date: 1993