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.
Claims14
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.
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.
A potato storage facility having a potato storage area, the storage facility comprising:
- at least one air inlet formed in an exterior wail of the storage facility;
- an air cooler;
- at least a first air mover configured to move air from the inlet and past the air cooler;
- an air plenum configured to receive the air from the air mover;
- a plurality of ventilation ducts extending across a floor portion of the potato storage area, wherein each of the ventilation ducts includes an open end portion 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 received from the air plenum upwardly through a pile of potatoes placed thereon;
- a ceiling panel disposed above the potato storage area;
- an exterior roof panel disposed above the ceiling panel to define an air passage there between;
- 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 the air passage to warm the ceiling panel.
14-17. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.