Dynamic optimization and control over disinfectant injection flows of a fresh produce washing process in flume tanks
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17979/ja-cea.2025.46.12101Keywords:
Process control, Dynamic optimization, Food safety, Process systems engineering, Post-harvesting and food procesing, Reaction and transport systems, Distributed parameter systemsAbstract
Washing efficiency is essential to ensure the quality and safety of harvested fresh produces. At the industrial scale, this process is commonly carried out in channel-type washing tanks, where the produce is introduced and transported by a continuous water flow to which a disinfectant is added. Spatio-temporal variations in the incoming product flow pose a challenge to the effective implementation of the process. This study addresses the dynamic optimization of the injection flow to minimize the disinfectant dosage, ensuring that the concentration of bacteria in the washing water remains within the ranges considered safe, even when dealing with fluctuations in the amount of incoming product.
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