Controlled Atmosphere Equipment for Fruit Storage
Controlled Atmosphere (CA) equipment is used to create and maintain low-oxygen storage conditions for apples and pears. It works by combining nitrogen generation, CO₂ scrubbing and control systems to regulate the atmosphere inside sealed cold rooms. This helps operators extend storage life, maintain fruit quality and reduce postharvest disorders.
Nitrogen Generation
Nitrogen (N₂) at 97-99% purity is used to lower the oxygen concentration in cold storage rooms. Gas At Site offers two on-site nitrogen generation technologies:
-
Membrane separation
-
Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA)
Membrane technology is very robust in the lower purity range but industry trends have moved towards PSA technology, which is more energy efficient and better suited for DCA rooms and large CA installations.
CO2 Scrubbers
Excess carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the cold storage rooms can deteriorate fruit quality. CO₂ scrubbers remove this excess CO₂ and help maintain fruit quality during storage.
Gas At Site supplies the latest Isolcell scrubber range with capacities from 300-800kg/per day of CO₂ scrubbing capacity. Scrubbers can be flushed with nitrogen between cycles to ensure the integrity of the room atmosphere is not compromised and oxygen levels remain stable. This is essential for DCA low oxygen storage.
Dynamic CA for Low Oxygen Storage
Low Oxygen Storage with DCA is now at the forefront of apple and pear storage and the benefits of storing below 0.7% O₂ are well-documented and recognised.
Gas At Site supplies HarvestWatch DCA-CF, a patented monitoring technology that directly and accurately detects the fruit's Low Oxygen Limit (LOL). This allows operators to confidently store their fruit just above this critical level.
Proven over 20 years of research and trusted in more than 3000 commercial rooms worldwide.
GasWatch:
The Control Layer Behind CA Systems
Controlled atmosphere storage is not just about equipment, it is about how that equipment is managed. GasWatch is Gas At Site’s proprietary software that brings all CA equipment together into one system, giving operators full control over room conditions, alarms and performance.
With centralised monitoring and real-time control, GasWatch helps ensure stable storage conditions, reduces risk, and supports consistent fruit quality across all rooms.
Recent Projects
Why Gas At Site for CA Equipment?
Gas At Site combines industrial gas expertise with practical controlled atmosphere knowledge. Since 1990, we have supplied reliable on-site gas generation and CA solutions, helping fruit storage operators select and integrate the right equipment for stable low-oxygen storage. From nitrogen generation and CO₂ scrubbing to HarvestWatch DCA-CF, we focus on proven technologies that work together as a complete system.