Ethylene converters are needed in the storage of kiwi or similar ethylene (C2H4) sensitive fruits. Converters allow ethylene to be burned by heating the air to high temperatures through special cartridges, while its catalytic feature sends the ethylene-free (converted to CO2) air back into the tank with its exit temperatures almost close to the temperature in the tank. The resulting CO2 is easily removed from the warehouse by the CO2 scrubbers.

FAQs and misinformation about ethylene converters and ethylene analyzers

The most important issue to be considered about ethylene converters is whether an ethylene converter is required in the system. Necessity only occurs in products that are extremely sensitive to ethylene, such as kiwi. The second important issue is the measurability of the system. Accurate measurement of ethylene is more important than incineration. Here, the sensitivity of the ethylene analyzer, the measurement of C2H4 gas in PPM or PPB, the quality of the device (price-determining factor) are very important. The most overlooked issue regarding ethylene analysis devices is that some other gases, especially CO2 gas, that occur in storage are not detected by the ethylene analyzer and carbon dioxide is read as ethylene.

Equipment manufacturers are trying to offer every CA system with ethylene converters for commercial concerns; apple, pear, pomegranate etc. There is absolutely no need for ethylene converters in products such as ethylene is not of extreme importance in storage due to factors such as Harvest period, fruit type, etc. Plus where ethylene gas measured in long-term storage of these products, is most of the time misread CO2, namely carbon dioxide.

There are also differences in the design of the facilities where ethylene converters must be used. Using only the converter without paying attention to these construction and planning issues will not give you 100% results.

The capacity information required by the manufacturers is generally given to the market only with the catalog information based on mentioned total tonnage of the stored products. Ethylene converters comparison should be directly proportional to the energy consumption of fans and heaters in general, the parts related to how much ethylene converter-capacity written in the catalog. In projects in our country and CIS countries, where clear information on controlled atmosphere is not easily available, by designing a larger number of devices with insufficient capacity seems to be cheaper in terms of price and on top to supply a lot of insufficient equipment against competition, these influences investors at the decision stage with artificially created competition based on a misinformation, which is not even needed in practice.

OXYCAT expertise in this regard is controlled atmosphere systems and ethylene management; First of all, is an ethylene converter required or not for the product to be stored? If so, what capacity is needed? Do the designed converters really meet the capacity? While answering questions such as has your facility design been made suitable for ethylene contamination?.., we also provide all kinds of support, starting from consultancy to after-sales services at critical points of design in your projects.

The OXYCAT team offers turnkey professional CA equipment and automation with all kinds of consulting, design, engineering and service services for your CA system, suitable for your needs and business structure.

Please contact if you have any questions and requests regarding our CA systems.