An improved control strategy for wind-powered refrigerated storage of apples

The need for an improved control strategy for the operation of a wind-powered refrigeration system for the storage of apples was investigated. The results are applicable to other systems which employ intermittently available power sources, battery and thermal storage, and an auxiliary, direct current power supply.

Tests were conducted on the wind-powered refrigeration system at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Horticulture Research Farm in Blacksburg, Virginia. Tests were conducted on the individual components of the system. In situ windmill performance were also conducted. The results of these tests have been presented.

An improved control strategy was developed to improve the utilization of available wind energy and to reduce the need for electrical energy from an external source while maintaining an adequate apple storage environment.