Current projects

ANR Coolisse project (2024-2027)

ANR Coolisse project (2024-2027)
Secondary refrigeration is an effective way of greatly reducing the quantity of primary refrigerant used. This method improves energy efficiency by storing and transporting high energy density secondary fluids. Unfortunately, these ice slurries, made up of ice crystals suspended in an aqueous solution, are not yet widespread due to the over-investment associated with scraped-surface type generators. The aim of the COOLISSE project is to help optimise energy consumption in the refrigeration sector by designing new types of ice slurry generators. The aim is to develop stainless steel surfaces where the ice formed will be carried away by the fluid flow, without the need for mechanical scraping. These non-wetting micro/nanostructured biomimetic surfaces, with anti-icing properties, will be obtained by an original combination of an additive manufacturing process (production of microstructures) and femtosecond laser ablation (nanometric roughness), leading to a multi-scale textured stainless steel surface. These surfaces will be impregnated with an inert liquid to obtain a slippery infused surface (SLIPS). 

The second objective of the project is to develop methods and expertise for characterising these surfaces under low-temperature flow conditions. The potential of these anti-icing surfaces will be studied through their actions on ice formation, by analysing freezing time, adhesion strength and nucleation during freezing. In parallel, a numerical model will be developed to describe the state of thermal equilibrium, heat flow and changes in the gas-solid-liquid interface during freezing and phase change. The environmental impact and potential gain of the new surfaces on the grout manufacturing process will also be studied through an analysis of their life cycle.

Partners

• IEMN (coordinator)
• FRISE INRAE
• DVRC 
• Centrale Lyon
• UMET INRAE

Projet ANR Coolhyd (2023-2026)

With a cost equivalent to 20% of the world's electricity consumption, and refrigerants that are heavily regulated, the refrigeration industry has to face up to a number of sustainable development challenges while ensuring its fundamental role for various sectors (food, air conditioning, etc.). The use of phase change material (PCM) slurries in secondary refrigeration is a solution for reducing the proportion of refrigerants and improving energy performance. These PCM suspensions can store and transport large quantities of cold by means of latent heat, which is an advantage when it comes to the design and efficiency of installations. CO2 hydrates are high-potential PCMs: they have the best latent heat of all PCMs used in refrigeration and are stable over a wide temperature range; they can be formed by gas injection, avoiding energy-hungry scraping processes; and they are green materials because they are made up of water and CO2. A secondary refrigeration system is based on 3 main stages: generation, transport and use (return of cold). Grouts must therefore meet the various constraints associated with these stages to ensure that the process runs smoothly. In particular, the control of hydrate crystallisation kinetics and slurry flow conditions, with a suitable crystal size distribution (CSD), remains a major challenge. The overall objective of the COOLHYD project is to propose a fundamental and systematic approach to address the kinetics, rheology and continuity issues involved in the application of CO2 hydrate slurry-based refrigeration. In particular, we will be interested in: understanding the impact of slurry generation conditions on the critical properties for the process (DTC, suspended solid fraction, flow regimes); developing models linking these critical properties to rheological (for slurry transport) and thermal (for slurry use) properties; optimising the energy performance of the whole process, as a function of the device architecture and control variables linked to generation, transport and use conditions, in order to provide recommendations for designing an efficient secondary refrigeration system.

Partners

• FRISE INRAE (coordinator)
• Toulouse Fluid Mechanics Institute (IMFT)
• Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Materials (LGPM EA 4038 – CentraleSupelec – Université Paris-Saclay)

Project ANR Supershield (2023-2026) 

According to the most recent data from the FAO, food loss/waste is estimated at 12% of food products and can reach 30% for highly perishable products such as meat or fish. An improved cold chain with longer shelf lives could significantly reduce these losses and avoid the CO2 emissions associated with wasted production.  Superchilling technology has the considerable potential to provide a high quality ultra-fresh product with a longer shelf life than refrigerated foods. The temperature of the product must be maintained just below freezing point. The amount of ice must then be precisely controlled to maintain an ice content of around 30%-35%. At this temperature level, very little microbial growth is observed. This is particularly important for psychrophilic pathogenic bacteria such as Listeria monocytogenes. 

The SUPERSHIELD project aims to generate new knowledge and develop innovative concepts and techniques to meet the specific challenges of this technology. Particular emphasis will be placed on monitoring ice content throughout the cold chain using appropriate sensors and equipment. Another objective is to gain an in-depth understanding of the relationship between product microstructure and the evolution of pathogen growth, by comparing it in particular with that of refrigerated foods. An assessment of the potential of this technology to preserve foodstuffs from the growth of Listeria monocytogenes will also be carried out. Finally, an overall analysis of the energy and environmental impacts will complete these approaches in order to provide players in the agri-food sector, as well as political decision-makers, with all the necessary information to help them make decisions. 

Partners

• FRISE/INRAE (coordinator)
• MICALIS/INRAE
• GEPEA/ONIRIS
• IFIP
• CRITT PACA
• Pôle Cristal
• IMT-Atlantique

ENOUGH European project (2021-2025)

ENOUGH is a 4-year European project that brings together 29 European partners, academics, manufacturers and organisations from 11 different countries. The aim of the project is to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the agri-food logistics sector by 50% and move towards carbon neutrality by 2050. The main objectives of the project are to 

Develop a strategy for implementing a food supply chain that aims to achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions in the long term
Use a systems approach to explore ways of reducing, storing, managing and limiting the energy and carbon demands of the food supply chain
Provide European agri-food companies with quantified and validated information on the possibilities for decarbonising the sector
Demonstrate technologies for decarbonising the food industry (level of development from TRL5 to TRL7)
Provide the European agri-food industry with tools to guide them along the path to decarbonisation
Communicating information from the project to companies, decision-makers and all players in the sector.

1. Develop a strategy for implementing a food supply chain that aims to achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions in the long term
2. Use a systems approach to explore ways of reducing, storing, managing and limiting the energy and carbon demands of the food supply chain
3. Provide European agri-food companies with quantified and validated information on the possibilities for decarbonising the sector
   Demonstrate technologies for decarbonising the food industry (level of development from TRL5 to TRL7)
4. Demonstrate technologies for decarbonising the food industry (level of development from TRL5 to TRL7)
5. Provide the European agri-food industry with tools to guide them along the path to decarbonisation
6. Communicating information from the project to companies, decision-makers and all players in the sector.

ANR EcoFreshChain project (2021-2024)

Eco-design of fruit and vegetable packaging and postharvest cold chain

EcoFreshChain is a 4-year ANR project coordinated by FRISE and involving 5 partners (UM-IATE, CTIFL, CTP, UMR SayFood and LGI). Its aim is to design new biodegradable packaging to preserve fruit and vegetables throughout the post-harvest to consumption chain. A number of issues relating to this biosourced packaging will be studied: control of heat/hydrogen transfer and air flow within the pallet in interaction with exchanges within the modified atmosphere of the packaging, consumer acceptance, induced logistical cost and environmental impact. To optimise the post-harvest chain in terms of quality, cost and environmental impact, a multi-disciplinary approach will be developed that includes professional practices, packaging and sales unit technology, product quality and shelf life, refrigeration equipment, logistics organisation and life cycle analysis. The approach developed will be validated for salads (local circuit) and strawberries (long circuit) and could be extended to the fruit and vegetable sector.

Partners

• FRISE INRAE (coordinator)
• UM/IATE
• CTIFL
• CTP
• UMR SayFood
• LGI

Projet CASDAR FreshQualiTom (2020-2024)

Impact of refrigeration on the commercial, organoleptic and nutritional qualities of tomatoes during the supply chain

FreshQualiTom is a 4-year project of the ‘Compte d'Affectation Spécial du Développement Agricole et Rural’ (CASDAR) of the French Ministry of Agriculture, coordinated by CTIFL. Fruit and vegetable professionals are experiencing problems with the quality of tomatoes, which are often a source of disappointment for consumers. Unsuitable cooling and storage could be the cause of a drop in quality. Controlling cold by understanding air circulation and heat transfer around and within a pallet is one of Frise's contributions, complementing Ctifl's quality expertise. FRISE is also helping to set up a field study to monitor temperature and hygrometry in a tomato supply chain.

Partners

• CTIFL (Centre Technique Interprofessionnel des Fruits et légumes), coordinator
• FRISE/INRAE