2023-09-06: Manuscript currently under review
This project ran as part of my PhD. I was lead on this work, and completed the majority of it. Helene Larsson Jönsson, my supervisor, was along for the ride, keeping me on the road, and is co-author.
ABSTRACT FROM FINAL REPORT
Coming soon
RATIONALE FROM AN APPLIED SCIENCE VIEWPOINT
Increase understanding of the impact of the movement of air, and of temperature and humidity on the movement of water and on quality parameters in sugar beet post-harvest storage systems […]. This will give insight into how airflow can be managed to improve quality parameters in commercial operations. It will also support the further development of models of sugar beet post-harvest storage systems.
English, 2023, PhD Thesis.
Regarding quality, the aim was specifically to investigate whether a short and sharp ventilation period could be used to force water out of the system and thus increase sugar content and reduce dirt-tare, while also not have negative impacts on total sugars and all other quality parameters.
Regarding movement of water as a function of airflow, one of the major achievements was to quantify mass flux (ie the rate at which water leaves roots, per surface area and time), and the impact of airflow on this mass flux (via the parameter known as the Convective mass transfer coefficient).
DESIGN
For now, see the sections 1.1.2, 1.2.1, 1.2.4 and 1.2.5 of my PhD thesis.
KEY NOVEL FINDING FROM AN APPLIED SCIENCE VIEWPOINT
Coming soon