Systems and methods for inhibiting spoilage of stored crops
AssigneeJMC Enterprises, Inc.
InventorJoel Micka
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for treating large quantities of potatoes, other tubers, vegetables, produce, and/or other crops are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a crop storage facility configured in accordance with the present technology includes a treatment system configured to distribute a treatment agent configured to inhibit spoilage of the crops. The treatment system can include a combination of two or more chemical compositions configured to release different concentrations of the treatment agent to produce a desired level of the treatment agent in the storage facility.
Claims20
A method of treating crops stored in a crop storage area of a crop storage facility, the method comprising:
- releasing a crop treatment agent in the crop storage facility;
- operating an air mover to flow the crop treatment agent toward the crop storage area;
- monitoring a level of the crop treatment agent in the crop storage facility;
- and
- adjusting an operational setting of the air mover via a variable frequency drive based at least in part on the monitored level of the crop treatment agent in the crop storage facility.
A method of treating crops stored in a crop storage area of a crop storage facility, the method comprising:
- operating an air mover to flow a crop treatment agent toward the crop storage area;
- monitoring a level of the crop treatment agent in the crop storage facility;
- if the level of the crop treatment agent in the crop storage facility is above a predetermined range, adjusting an operational setting of the air mover via a variable frequency drive to decrease the level of the crop treatment agent in the crop storage facility;
- if the level of the crop treatment agent in the crop storage facility is below the predetermined range, adjusting the operational setting of the air mover via the variable frequency drive to increase the level of the crop treatment agent in the crop storage facility;
- and
- if the level of the crop treatment agent is within the predetermined range, maintaining the operational setting of the air mover to maintain the level of the crop treatment agent in the crop storage facility.
A crop storage facility, comprising:
- a crop storage area;
- an inlet configured to receive air from outside the crop storage facility;
- an air mover configured to move at least a portion of air from the inlet toward the crop storage area;
- a crop treatment agent generator configured to release a crop treatment agent, wherein the crop treatment agent mixes with a portion of air flowing from the air mover toward the crop storage area;
- and
- a variable frequency drive operably connected to the air mover and configured to adjust an amount of air moving from the air mover toward the crop storage area to control a concentration of the crop treatment agent in the crop storage area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.