# US 12,178,229 B1 · Systems and methods for inhibiting spoilage of stored crops > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,229 B1 - Document ID: US12178229B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/852,164 - Filed: 2022-06-28 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-15 - Assignees: JMC Enterprises, Inc. - Applicants: JMC Enterprises, Inc. - Inventors: Joel Micka - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178229B1 ## CPC - A23B 2/704: in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor - A01F 25/00: Storing agricultural or horticultural produce; Hanging-up harvested fruit (maturing fruit A23N15/06; arrangements in barns for preparatory treatment of tobacco A24B1/02; packing or storing hops C12C3/04) - A23B 2/7045: {Details of apparatus for generating or regenerating gases} - A23B 7/144: in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor - F24F 3/14: by humidification; by dehumidification - F24F 11/30: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring - A23V 2002/00: Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs - F24F 8/24: using sterilising media - F24F 2110/50: Air quality properties - A23B: PRESERVATION OF FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES - A01F: PROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE (devices for topping or skinning onions or flower bulbs A23N15/08) - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - A23V: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND LACTIC OR PROPIONIC ACID BACTERIA USED IN FOODSTUFFS OR FOOD PREPARATION ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the operational setting includes an operational speed of the air mover. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting the operational setting of the air mover based at least in part on the monitored level of the crop treatment agent includes: 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 in response to the monitored level of the crop treatment agent in the crop storage facility being too low; and/or adjusting the operational setting of the air mover via the variable frequency drive to decrease the level of the crop treatment agent in the crop storage facility in response to the monitored level of the crop treatment agent in the crop storage facility being too high. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein: adjusting the operational setting of the air mover via the variable frequency drive to increase the level of the crop treatment agent includes decreasing an operational speed of the air mover; and adjusting the operational setting of the air mover via the variable frequency drive to decrease the level of the crop treatment agent includes increasing an operational speed of the air mover. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting the operational setting of the air mover via the variable frequency drive based at least in part on the monitored level of the crop treatment agent includes automatically adjusting the operational setting of the air mover via the variable frequency drive. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the crop treatment agent includes chlorine dioxide, ozone, ozonated water, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, and/or sodium hypochlorite. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein monitoring the level of the crop treatment agent in the crop storage facility includes measuring a concentration of the crop treatment agent in the crop storage area. ### Claim 8 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. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the operational setting includes an operational speed of the air mover. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein 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 includes decreasing the operational speed of the air mover. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein adjusting the operational setting of the air mover via the variable frequency drive to decrease the level of the crop treatment agent in the crop storage facility includes increasing the operational speed of the air mover. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein the crop treatment agent includes chlorine dioxide, ozone, ozonated water, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, and/or sodium hypochlorite. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising producing the crop treatment agent at a position downstream of the air mover. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein monitoring the level of the crop treatment agent in the crop storage facility includes measuring a concentration of the crop treatment agent using one or more sensors. ### Claim 15 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. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The crop storage facility of claim 15 wherein the crop treatment agent includes chlorine dioxide, ozone, ozonated water, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, and/or sodium hypochlorite. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The crop storage facility of claim 15 wherein the variable frequency drive is configured to operate the air mover at least at a first speed and a second speed different than the first speed, wherein operating the air mover at the first speed provides a first concentration of the crop treatment agent in the crop storage area and operating the air mover at the second speed provides a second concentration of the crop treatment agent in the crop storage area different than the first concentration. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The crop storage facility of claim 15, further comprising a plenum extending at least partially between the air mover and the crop storage area, wherein the crop treatment agent generator is positioned in the plenum and configured to agitate a crop treatment composition to produce the crop treatment agent in the plenum. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The crop storage facility of claim 18 wherein the crop treatment agent generator includes a container and one or more mixing elements, and wherein at least one of the container and the one or more mixing elements are configured to rotate to agitate the crop treatment composition. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The crop storage facility of claim 15, further comprising: one or more sensors configured to measure a concentration of the crop treatment agent in the crop storage facility; and a controller operably connected to the variable frequency drive, wherein— the one or more sensors are configured to transmit a signal indicative of the measured concentration to the controller, and the controller is configured to automatically adjust a setting of the variable frequency drive based on the signal.