A turbo model for product conditions in storage and transport

A suitable model for the conditioning of products in refrigerated spaces is a crucial counterpart to quality change models for the prediction of quality and safety of perishable commodities in supply chains. Useful model concepts must relate design and operational factors with product conditions, of which temperature is the most important single factor. The model must be acceptable in the triangle of equipment owner-builder-user, not to forget inspectors and other competent authorities. Temperature range and distribution is a common basic information. User-friendly dedicated models, theoretically sound, calibrated and validated by independent experimental work, using meaningful parameters linked to design and operation, are necessary to demonstrate the power of modelling to potential users. Fast response is an obligatory requirement for practical use. Accuracy becomes more important for research purposes. At the hand of an improved computational model, the advantages of a simplified engineering approach are demonstrated.