RESUMO Objetivou-se caracterizar o ambiente térmico da área de seleção e embalagem de um 'packing house' e seus efeitos sobre a qualidade de uvas de mesa produzidas no Vale do São Francisco. O ambiente térmico foi monitorado durante as estações de inverno e verão. Os maiores valores de temperatura do ar (Tar) e menores de umidade relativa do ar (UR) observados no packing house, foram 35 °C e 40,0%, respectivamente, obtidos durante o verão, por 8 h. Após a observação dos dados do ambiente térmico do packing house, foram feitas simulações para avaliar o efeito de condições ambientais ideais de armazenamento e das condições térmicas observadas sobre a qualidade pós-colheita de uvas ‘Thompson’. Neste contexto, uvas foram colhidas e diretamente armazenadas em temperatura e umidade ideais (0 °C e 90%), ou foram expostas previamente a uma temperatura do ar de 35 °C e umidade relativa do ar de 40% por 8 h, simulando o ambiente térmico observado no packing house avaliado, sendo posteriormente armazenada a 0 °C e 90%. A exposição dos frutos ao ambiente observado no packing house resultou em maiores perdas de firmeza e peso de bagas, assim como aumentou os teores de sólidos solúveis e matéria seca do engaço e da baga. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, as condições ambientais observadas no packing house resultam na desidratação das bagas, acelerando a perda de qualidade dos frutos durante o armazenamento.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to characterize the thermal environment in the selection and packing areas of a packing house and its effects on the quality of table grapes produced in the São Francisco Valley, Brazil. The thermal environment was monitored during the winter and summer seasons. The highest value of air temperature (Tair) and the lowest relative humidity (RH) observed in the packing house were 35 °C and 40.0%, respectively, obtained during the summer, for 8 h. After observing the thermal environment data of the packing house, simulations were performed to evaluate the effect of the ideal environmental storage conditions and observed thermal conditions on the postharvest quality of “Thompson” grapes. Grapes were harvested and stored directly at the ideal temperature and RH of 0 °C and 90%, respectively, or previously exposed to a temperature of 35 °C and RH of 40% for 8 h, the thermal environment observed in the evaluated packing house, followed by storage at 0 °C and 90% RH. Fruit exposure to high temperature and low RH before the ideal storage conditions resulted in higher loss of berry firmness and weight, along with increased soluble solids and dry matter content of rachis and berry. Based on these results, the environmental conditions observed in the packing house result in berry dehydration, which accelerates the loss of fruit quality during storage.

ABSTRACT The bioclimatic architecture can contribute significantly to moderate thermal environment of agricultural installations, reducing the energy input used in the air conditioning. The present article presents the results of a diagnosis made in packing houses of table grapes, located in a semi - arid region in the Brazilian Northeast. The objective was to verify which strategies of the bioclimatic architecture were applied in the buildings, and also, to propose recommendations for future projects. The methodology consisted of the elaboration of a checklist, from the application of the Mahoney Method and the Brazilian Bioclimatic Zoning, considering Petrolina - PE climate. The checklist was applied in twenty-five packing houses, of three different sizes. It was concluded that the bioclimatic architectural strategies were applied in an isolated way in the buildings. Therefore, the bioclimatic architectural strategies were not effective in the thermal efficiency of the buildings, and the packing houses of small rural producers were the most inappropriate.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to characterize the thermal environment of the sorting and packing sectors of small, medium and large packing houses in the São Francisco Valley, Northeast of Brazil. Micrometeorological data were monitored every 15 minutes for 20 days during winter 2014 and summer 2015. The parameters evaluated were air temperature (°C), relative humidity (%) and radiant thermal load, RTL,(W/m2). External environmental data were obtained from weather stations close to the packing houses. The data obtained show that packing houses minimum and maximum temperatures were reached at 6am and 3pm, respectively, during winter and summer. Both seasons had air temperatures above 20°C, relative humidity below 90% and radiant thermal load above 450 W/m2. The construction materials that had the highest energy transmissions were the roofs. Metal roofs had the worst thermal conditioning, resulting in maximum internal air temperatures of 32.7°C and minimum relative humidity of 40.9% at 3pm, during summer. According to the results, thermal environments of sorting and packing sectors proved to be inadequate for processing table grapes, mainly during summer. These packing houses should be modified to reach the optimal thermal environment, considering the regional climatic conditions.

Este artigo apresenta resultados de um estudo sobre conforto térmico em espaços públicos de passagem, em ruas de pedestres nas cidades de Campinas, Bauru e Presidente Prudente, no Estado de São Paulo. O estudo foi desenvolvido dentro de uma pesquisa mais ampla sobre o conforto térmico em diferentes tipos de espaços urbanos abertos, nas mesmas cidades. A metodologia empregada envolveu o monitoramento microclimático (temperatura, temperatura de globo, umidade relativa do ar, velocidade do ar e radiação solar global), em diferentes condições de tempo, e entrevistas estruturadas, para identificar a sensação térmica e as variáveis pessoais dos usuários. A análise dos resultados permitiu identificar diferenças entre a sensação térmica real (ASV) e o conforto calculado pela temperatura fisiológica equivalente (PET). Os limites de conforto térmico variaram entre as cidades: 20-29 ºC para Campinas, 21-30 ºC para Bauru, e 14-24 ºC para Presidente Prudente. Entretanto, a sensação de neutralidade térmica para 59,5% do total da amostra (308 de 519 indivíduos) foi de 18 a 26 ºC. Esses resultados são compatíveis com os limites propostos por Monteiro e Alucci (2007) para a cidade de São Paulo e podem contribuir como parâmetro de avaliação da qualidade térmica de outros espaços públicos de passagem nas mesmas cidades.

This paper presents the results of a study on the thermal comfort in open urban spaces, undertaken in pedestrian streets located in the three towns, Campinas, Baurú, and Presidente Prudente, in the state of Sao Paulo. The study was developed as part of a more extensive project on thermal comfort in different kinds of open public spaces in Brazil. The methodology involved monitoring the microclimatic variables (air and globe temperature, humidity, air velocity and global solar radiation), and structured interviews, in order to assess the actual thermal comfort through the Actual Sensation Vote (ASV) and the personal users' variables. The Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) was also calculated. The results show different limits for neutral temperature in each city: 20-29ºC for Campinas, 21-30 ºC for Bauru and 14-24 ºC for Presidente Prudente). However, 59.5% of the total sample (308 out of 519 individuals) indicated comfort limits ranging from 18 to 26 ºC, which is consistent with the limits proposed by Monteiro and Alucci for the city of Sao Paulo. These results can contribute to evaluate the thermal quality of other public spaces in the same towns.

Esta pesquisa investigou o papel dos fragmentos florestais urbanos no conforto térmico. Para tanto, foram monitoradas cinco localidades na cidade de Campinas (Brasil) durante o verão, outono e inverno de 2009. Os dados microclimáticos foram obtidos com o uso de uma estação meteorológica portátil, que mediu temperatura e umidade do ar, radiação, velocidade do vento e temperatura de globo. Além disso, aplicou-se questionários estruturados e fez-se observações de campo para a avaliação das condições de conforto térmico e da percepção ambiental dos usuários. Os índices PMV e PET foram calculados com o software RayMan 1.2 e comparados com os votos dados nas entrevistas. Os resultados indicam que os fragmentos florestais urbanos contribuem para o conforto térmico. A porcentagem de indivíduos sob condição de neutralidade térmica varia entre os índices: 72,4% consideravam-se confortáveis; 63,3% encontravam-se na faixa de temperatura PET entre 18 °C e 23 º C; e 39,8% estavam na faixa de conforto do PMV entre -0,5 a +0,5. Os usuários percebem os bosques como locais confortáveis, o que é atribuído à presença da natureza. No entanto, notam problemas relacionados à conservação e à ocupação das áreas. O microclima específico da floresta, o ar fresco e a percepção de ar puro foram citados pela população e podem ser relacionados ao conforto ambiental.

This study investigated the role of urban forest fragments in thermal comfort. For that purpose, five different locations in the city of Campinas (Brazil) were monitored during the summer, autumn and winter of 2009. Microclimatic data were obtained with the use of a portable weather station that measured air temperature, air humidity, radiation, wind speed and globe temperature. In addition, structured interviews and field observations were carried out to evaluate the thermal comfort conditions and the occupants' perceptions of their environment. The PMV and PET indices were calculated by the RayMan 1.2 software and compared with the actual votes obtained through the interviews. The results indicate that urban forest fragments improve thermal comfort. The percentage of subjects reported as thermally neutral varied between indices: 72.4% were found comfortable, 63.3% were in the PET limit of 18-23º C, and 39,8% were in the PMV range of -0.5 to +0.5. Occupants perceived those places as comfortable, linking this to nature, but they also observed some problems regarding conservation and occupation. The specific forest microclimate, fresh air, and the perception of clean air were also cited by the population and can be linked to environmental comfort.