Field Vacuum Precooling

Project Summary

To prolong shelf life, produce such as lettuce, celery, and cauliflower must be pre-cooled to 35 ºF soon after harvest through the use of mobile vacuum refrigeration systems. Looking to reduce this energy use, this project evaluates the use of VFDs on the refrigeration and vacuum system motors to improve the efficiency of each unit used for pre-cooling. For more information, please contact the sponsoring organization.