Evaluation of the operational performance of an automated deep-freezing tunnel: cycle times, thermal stability, and handling errors.

Franklin Wilfrido Salazar Logroño; Alvaro Ismael Andaluz Lascano; Henry Javier LLumiguano Poma; Fernando Urrutia U; Luis Rojas Oviedo; Ángela Pamela Chavez Arias; Gabriela Joseth Serrano Torres

doi:10.5935/jetia.v12i58.3151

Autores

Franklin Wilfrido Salazar Logroño Department of Ingeniería, University Technical Ambato, P.O BOX 1699 - 180207, Ambato, Ecuador. http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3404-5202 (não autenticado)
Alvaro Ismael Andaluz Lascano Department of Ingeniería, University Technical Ambato, P.O BOX 1699 - 180207, Ambato, Ecuador. http://orcid.org/0009-0005-9421-4716 (não autenticado)
Henry Javier LLumiguano Poma Department of Ingeniería, University Technical Ambato, P.O BOX 1699 - 180207, Ambato, Ecuador. https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1474-0209 (não autenticado)
Fernando Urrutia U Department of Ingeniería, University Technical Ambato, P.O BOX 1699 - 180207, Ambato, Ecuador. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8118-8735 (não autenticado)
Luis Rojas Oviedo Chimborazo Higher Polytechnic School, Riobamba, Ecuador http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6424-1642 (não autenticado)
Ángela Pamela Chavez Arias National University of Chimborazo, Riobamba, Ecuador https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0165-7787 (não autenticado)
Gabriela Joseth Serrano Torres National University of Chimborazo, Riobamba, Ecuador https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7448-7610 (não autenticado)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5935/jetia.v12i58.3151

Resumo

This study assesses the operational performance of an automated blast-freezing tunnel using a reproducible metric framework. Three scenarios are evaluated: (A) baseline operation, (B) improved sealing, and (C) PLC-optimized sequencing. Primary variables include total cycle time (broken down by stages), thermal stability across zones (standard deviation and inter-zone gradients at inlet–center–outlet), and the manipulation error rate (jams, retries, misalignments). The setup uses thermal probes sampled at 1 Hz, PLC/HMI timing markers, and a structured classification of operational events, while controlling for confounders (product mass, placement, and set-points). Findings indicate that enhanced sealing reduces thermal variability and inter-zone gradients, whereas optimized sequencing significantly shortens total cycle time without increasing errors, meeting non-inferiority criteria for thermal uniformity. Practical implications are discussed regarding traceability, operational availability, and continuous improvement of the freezing process in academic-industrial environments.