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US 2014/0272046 A1Published application
Environmentally controlled storage facility for potatoes and other crops
OwnerJoel Micka, Robert Terryinventors
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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.
Claims10
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 having a potato storage area, the storage facility comprising:
- at least one air inlet configured to receive air from outside the storage facility;
- an air plenum extending adjacent to the potato storage area;
- 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 area, 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 portions upwardly through a pile of potatoes placed thereon;
- a ceiling panel disposed above the potato storage area;
- 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 above the ceiling panel.
4 more elements
A method of environmentally controlling a potato storage facility, the method comprising:
- receiving air from outside the storage facility;
- cooling the air received from outside the storage facility;
- flowing the air upwardly through a pile of potatoes stored in the storage facility;
- receiving the air after the air has flowed upwardly through the pile of potatoes;
- and
- moving at least a portion of the air received from the pile of potatoes through a plenum positioned adjacent to a ceiling panel extending over the pile of potatoes.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.