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BR-102024017433-A2 - Flexible coated container and intergranular monitoring system

BR102024017433A2BR 102024017433 A2BR102024017433 A2BR 102024017433A2BR-102024017433-A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a flexible container coated with several layers that ensure the partial airtightness of the flexible container, in order to reduce gas exchange, i.e., the transfer of heat and moisture, between the stored seeds and the external environment. The present invention also relates to an intergranular monitoring system for hygroscopic equilibrium moisture and carbon dioxide for the safe storage of seeds, through a device with sensors to measure in real time the temperature and relative humidity of the intergranular air to determine the hygroscopic equilibrium moisture, as well as a system for measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide to quantify the respiration of the stored seeds, in order to obtain real-time and representative information of the storage environment and the product for prediction and decision-making by machine learning about the maximum acceptable storage time of the seeds.

Inventors

  • PAULO CARTERI CORADI
  • PAULO EDUARDO TEODORO
  • CLAUDIR LARI PADIA
  • RONEY ELOY LIMA

Assignees

  • UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE MATO GROSSO DO SUL
  • UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE SANTA MARIA

Dates

Publication Date
20260310
Application Date
20240823

Claims (10)

  1. 1. COATED FLEXIBLE CONTAINER (10), wherein the flexible container (10) comprises a main body (101) with handles and an internal compartment, in addition to an external coating, characterized in that said coating comprises the following layers, in order from outside to inside: - a first layer (1) of raffia; - a second layer (2) of laminate; - a third layer (3) of polyethylene, wherein the first layer (1) comprises a raffia packaging comprising 0.25 mm thickness; wherein the second layer (2) comprises a polyethylene layer of 0.075 mm thickness and a laminate layer of 0.175 mm thickness; wherein the third layer (3) comprises polyethylene packaging made of partially crystalline and flexible thermoplastic resinous material obtained through the polymerization of ethylene; wherein these layers (1 to 3) keep seeds stored in a semi-hermetic environment in the internal compartment of the flexible container (1).
  2. 2. COATED FLEXIBLE CONTAINER (10), according to claim 1, characterized in that the third layer (3) in turn comprises the following layers, from outside to inside: - a fourth layer (4) of laminate; - a fifth layer (5) of braided polypropylene; - a sixth layer (6) of multi-metallic corrosion inhibitor, wherein the fourth layer (4) comprises thick laminate walls, with puncture resistance of 4.5 MPa; wherein the fifth layer (5) and the sixth layer (6) comprise laminated materials with braided polypropylene coated with volatile multi-metallic corrosion inhibitor, resistant to high tensile strength of 9.8 x 105 N/m2 and longitudinal elongation of 20%.
  3. 3. INTERGRANULAR MONITORING SYSTEM (100), which performs the monitoring of hygroscopic equilibrium moisture and carbon dioxide to measure in real time the respiration of the seed mass stored in the internal compartment of the flexible container (10), which is defined according to claim 1, characterized in that the system (100) comprises a device (200) with sensors (300), wherein the sensors (300) are installed on a platform inside a perforated capsule (301), to obtain information on temperature, relative humidity and intergranular carbon dioxide of grains stored in the flexible container (10) of the present invention. The information obtained is sent to the device (200) disposed on the upper surface of the main body (20) by means of a probe, wherein the device (200) transmits the data obtained by the sensors (300) to a data cloud via wireless communication for storage and subsequently collected directly in the device with sensors.
  4. 4. SYSTEM (100), according to claim 3, characterized in that the sensors (300) measure in real time the temperature and relative humidity of the intergranular air to determine the hygroscopic equilibrium moisture, as well as measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide to quantify the respiration of the stored seeds. This makes it possible to obtain representative and real-time information on the storage environment and the product for prediction and decision-making regarding the maximum acceptable storage time of the seeds. In this context, the present invention contributes to reducing losses, maintaining seed quality in a sustainable post-harvest system, bringing greater profits to seed processing units and rural producers.
  5. 5. SYSTEM (100), according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that each perforated capsule (301) is circular with a diameter of 0.5 mm, and the capsule (301) comprises a metallic structure, wherein the capsule (301), with the sensors (300), is inserted into the flexible container (10) by means of a smooth rod of metallic material, which comprises a cable and a hook at the ends.
  6. 6. SYSTEM (100), according to claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the information obtained by the sensors (300) is sent to the device (200) located on the upper surface of the main body (20) by means of a probe, wherein the device (200) transmits the data obtained by the sensors (300) to a data cloud via wireless communication for storage and subsequently collected directly in the device with sensors.
  7. 7. SYSTEM (100), according to claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the device (200) comprises an ESP8266 D1 mini microcontroller, a DHT22/AM2302 temperature and relative humidity sensor, an independent system with power supply and a wireless communication device as hardware components, and the programming of the device with sensors was carried out on the Arduino IDE development platform.
  8. 8. SYSTEM (100), according to claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the sensors (300) are protected by the perforated capsule (301), developed for intergranular protection of seeds stored in the flexible container (10), wherein the perforated capsule (301) comprises a cylindrical base structure, with a pyramidal lower tip, and another truncated conical upper tip, both tips with a circular base.
  9. 9. SYSTEM (100), according to claim 3, characterized in that the monitoring of the system (100) occurs in real time to verify and calculate exactly the time that the seeds can remain stored, depending on the conditions exposed, through predictions by means of machine learning algorithms by artificial intelligence.
  10. 10. SYSTEM (100), according to claims 3 to 9, characterized in that the data collected by the sensors (300) are sent and stored on an Internet of Things platform.

Description

FIELD OF APPLICATION [0001] The present invention is part of the field of application relating to bulk packaging and monitoring systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a flexible container, also known as a flexible sack or Big Bag, which is coated with several layers that ensure the partial airtightness of the flexible container, in order to reduce gas exchange, i.e., the transfer of heat and moisture, between the stored seeds and the external environment. [0002] The present invention also relates to an intergranular monitoring system for hygroscopic equilibrium moisture and carbon dioxide for the safe storage of seeds, which makes it possible to carry out semi-hermetic and prolonged storage of seeds, through a device with sensors to measure in real time the temperature and relative humidity of the intergranular air to determine the hygroscopic equilibrium moisture, as well as a system for measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide to quantify the respiration of the stored seeds, in order to obtain real-time and representative information of the storage environment and the product for prediction and decision-making by machine learning about the maximum acceptable storage time of the seeds. DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE OF THE ART [0003] Flexible, bag-shaped containers, commonly called big bags, are containers for storing, transporting and handling dry, granular and/or semi-liquid products, with seeds and grains being the most common products stored in these big bags. [0004] Big bags used for storing soybean seeds in Processing and Storage Units are usually produced with porous materials, which allow gas exchange between the intergranular air and the ambient storage air. Under these conditions, the seeds have their metabolic activity accelerated, as the intensification of seed respiration is increased, something also caused by the heating of the mass due to the increase in temperature and relative humidity of the intergranular air, which leads to consumption of dry matter, nutritional changes and modifications in the physiological quality, particularly germination and vigor, of the seeds. [0005] To maintain seed moisture content in hygroscopic equilibrium close to safe storage conditions, ideally 12%, it is necessary to intervene in the storage conditions using artificial cooling technology through temperature and relative humidity control, or a technology that allows for greater airtightness of the big bag. Artificial cooling has been applied to control the seed storage environment; however, the cooling process significantly increases storage costs and does not guarantee seed quality until use. In most cases, temperature and relative humidity control does not occur during the transport of seeds in big bags to farms, nor on the farms where the seeds are destined. This period, during which the seeds are transported and stored on farms until sowing, is sufficient to reduce their physiological quality. Therefore, investing in expensive technology in the processing and storage unit becomes pointless if the post-market conditions are not sufficient for seed preservation. [0006] To solve the aforementioned problems, the state of the art has some grain quality monitoring solutions, an example of which is revealed by document IN202341078330, which presents a system (100) and method (400) for real-time monitoring of stored grains. The system (100) uses advanced sensor technologies, such as a temperature sensor (106), a humidity sensor (108), a CO2 sensor (104) and an ultrasound sensor (110) to provide real-time data on grain storage conditions. The system (100) aims to improve grain quality preservation, prevent deterioration and minimize financial losses. The system (100) involves a machine learning module (122) to predict grain deterioration by comparing data received from sensors with reference data. By continuously monitoring these parameters, the system (100) allows early detection of deterioration, enabling immediate intervention to prevent further deterioration and minimize product damage. [0007] Another example is revealed by document WO22167708, which presents a device and method for preserving and controlling seeds, comprising an outer container comprising an opening, an inner compartment, a chemical element for moisture absorption and a separator element configured to separate the chemical absorption element from the remainder of the inner compartment of the outer container; an inner container configured to fit inside the inner compartment of the outer container, comprising at least one inner compartment and at least one opening; a closing element comprising a hermetic element, configured as the only means of access to the inner compartment of the outer container and, therefore, also to the inner compartment of the inner container; an anti-fraud element, which is preferably an anti-fraud seal, located so as to cover at least part of the outer container and/or part of the closing element,