Banana Ripening Rooms with Automatic Ethylene Control
Bananas are harvested green and must be ripened in specially designed rooms before they reach the market. In Frigo System banana ripening rooms, the fruit is kept at set temperature, humidity and ethylene values for 3 to 8 days under special ventilation, until it reaches the colour, taste and quality the market expects.
How Banana Ripening Works
The process has two stages: yellowing improves the outer skin colour, and ripening brings the fruit to the desired taste, colour and quality.
- Green bananas are placed in the ripening room.
- The required ethylene amount is entered on the touch screen.
- The ethylene sensor, flowmeter and ethylene cut-off system adjust the ethylene amount and ripening time according to the product.
- Temperature, humidity and ventilation are kept under control during the 3 to 8 day process.
- The ripened fruit leaves the room, ready for the market.
Automatic Ripening System
| Component | Role |
|---|---|
| Ethylene tank | Supplies the ethylene for the room |
| Regulator | Regulates the gas flow |
| Flowmeter and ethylene cut-off system | Controls the amount of ethylene given to the room |
| Copper pipe | Carries ethylene to the room |
| 0–50 ppm ethylene sensor | Designed for ripening rooms; measures the ethylene level |
| Touch screen control unit | Lets you enter the required ethylene amount |
Monitoring and Alarms
Our automatic ripening units have the software and hardware for:
- Monitoring, control and data recording from a computer
- SMS and e-mail messages in alarm situations
- Reporting of past data
- Analysing each value separately
- Monitoring values over the web
Banana Storage Conditions
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Storage temperature | 15 °C |
| Relative humidity | 85–95% |
| Approximate storage life | 8–10 days |
| Freezing point | −1 °C |
| Water content | 75% |
What a Ripening Room Needs
- Insulation: A room insulated with cold room panels.
- Airtight doors: Sliding cold room doors with an EPDM gasket around the whole perimeter.
- Humidification: Humidifiers that spray water as a fine mist using a centrifugal disc.
- Ventilation: Special ventilation throughout the process.
Other Products
Ethylene ripening is also applied to other products that cannot be marketed green, such as citrus. See also our fruit and vegetable storage solutions and our guide to industrial mango ripening.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a banana ripening room?
A specially designed room where green bananas are brought to the desired colour, taste and quality under controlled temperature, humidity, ethylene and ventilation.
How long does banana ripening take?
Bananas stay in the room for 3 to 8 days.
Is the ethylene controlled automatically?
Yes. You enter the required amount on the touch screen, and the sensor, flowmeter and cut-off system adjust the ethylene amount and ripening time according to the product.
Can the room be monitored remotely?
Yes. Values can be followed over the web, and SMS and e-mail messages are sent in alarm situations.
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