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US 2014/0260027 A1Published application
Environmentally controlled storage facility for potatoes and other crops
AssigneeStorage Systems Northwest, Inc.
InventorsJoel Micka, Robert Terry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Facilities for storing large quantities of potatoes, other tubers, vegetables, produce, and/or other crops are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a facility configured in accordance with the present technology circulates air from a pile of potatoes into one or more ceiling cavities above the potatoes to warm ceiling panels. Aspects of this embodiment can reduce undesirable water formation on the potatoes.
Claims22
A crop storage facility comprising:
- an exterior roof panel;
- a ceiling panel disposed beneath the exterior roof panel to define a space therebetween;
- a crop storage area disposed beneath the ceiling panel;
- and
- at least one air mover configured to receive air from the crop storage area and move the air through the space between the ceiling panel and the roof panel.
2 more elements
A potato storage facility comprising:
- a potato storage bay;
- an air plenum extending adjacent to the potato storage bay;
- at least one air inlet configured to receive air from outside the potato storage facility;
- at least a first air mover configured to move the air from the air inlet through the air plenum;
- a plurality of ventilation ducts extending across a floor portion of the potato storage bay, wherein each of the ventilation ducts is configured to receive a portion of the air flowing through the air plenum, and wherein each of the ventilation ducts includes a plurality of apertures for flowing the air upwardly through a pile of potatoes disposed thereon;
- a ceiling panel disposed directly above the potato storage bay;
- and
- at least a second air mover configured to circulate at least a portion of the air flowing upwardly through the pile of potatoes through an air passage extending above the ceiling panel.
5 more elements
A potato storage facility comprising:
- a potato storage bay;
- a plurality of ventilation ducts extending across a floor portion of the potato storage bay, wherein each of the ventilation ducts is configured to distribute air into a pile of potatoes disposed thereon;
- a ceiling disposed above the potato storage bay;
- and
- at least one air mover configured to move at least a portion of the air from the pile of potatoes adjacent to the ceiling to warm the ceiling.
2 more elements
A method of storing a pile of potatoes in a storage facility, the method comprising:
- receiving air from outside the storage facility;
- flowing the air through the pile of potatoes stored in the storage facility;
- receiving at least a portion of the air after the air has flowed through the pile of potatoes;
- and
- moving the air received from the pile of potatoes through a plenum extending adjacent to a ceiling panel extending over the pile of potatoes.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.