Shaanxi Qianyang 5,000㎡ Controlled Atmosphere Storage Room
Jinzhao Yuan Refrigeration delivered a large-scale 5,000㎡ controlled atmosphere (CA) storage facility for an apple producing enterprise in Qianyang County, Shaanxi Province — one of China’s most famous apple-growing regions.
Qianyang County in Shaanxi is part of the renowned Weibei Plateau apple belt, producing premium Fuji apples exported to Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. The client, a major local apple cooperative and exporting enterprise, required a state-of-the-art CA storage facility to preserve apple quality and freshness during the 8–10 month storage season, enabling year-round sales and export at premium pricing.
- Storage Type: Controlled Atmosphere (CA) Cold Storage for Apples
- Total Area: 5,000 ㎡ (8 independent CA chambers)
- Temperature: -0.5°C ~ +1°C (optimal for long-term apple storage)
- CA Parameters:
- O₂: 1.5–3%
- CO₂: 1–4%
- N₂: balanced
- Ethylene: <1 ppm (ethylene scrubber installed)
- Relative Humidity: 92–95%
- Refrigeration System: High-efficiency screw parallel compressor units with electronic expansion valves (EEV) for precise temperature control
- CA Equipment:
- Pressure-swing adsorption (PSA) nitrogen generators (purity ≥99.5%)
- High-efficiency CO₂ scrubbers (activated carbon type)
- Catalytic ethylene decomposition units
- Multi-point online gas analyzers (real-time O₂/CO₂/C₂H₄ monitoring)
- Room Construction: Airtight CA room construction with pressure relief windows and flexible membrane walls; Leakage rate <0.3%/day (exceeds ASHRAE CA storage standard)
- Control System: Fully automated CA management system with dynamic gas adjustment algorithms
The project was implemented in two phases to align with the apple harvest season. Phase 1 (4 chambers, 2,500㎡) was completed before the first harvest, and Phase 2 (4 chambers, 2,500㎡) was commissioned the following year. Our team provided comprehensive CA system operation training for client staff.
- Apple storage period extended from 3–4 months (conventional cold storage) to 10–12 months (CA storage)
- Apple firmness retention rate: >90% after 10 months storage (industry standard: <75%)
- Natural fruit weight loss reduced to 1.2% (industry average: 5–8%)
- Client achieved year-round apple sales, increasing annual revenue by approximately 40%
- Project recognized as a model CA storage facility by Shaanxi Provincial Agricultural Department
