Sponsor Agency: CPAAS
Li, L.; Peters, T; Zhang, Q
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Sunburn of fruit surfaces exposed to direct sunlight is a major economic problem of marketing fresh apples. The aim of this work is to develop and test a model for simulating fruit surface temperature based on climate data. This model would take into account the effect of different sun exposures and leaf shading. Fruit surface temperature in orchard was monitored by infrared camera. Climate data (air temperature, humidity, solar radiation and so on) were measured. The model was developed based on an energy balance as well as field data. The model described apple thermal behavior, improving upon the estimates usually made by only air temperature. It will define temperature and time thresholds necessary to automate a fruit evaporative cooling system.