Method and system for phytosanitary treatment of produce
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
InventorsXikui Wei, Luis Bradshaw
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Abstract
A produce treatment system includes a treatment chamber that includes an inlet. The produce treatment system also includes one or more temperature sensors mounted within the treatment chamber. The one or more temperature sensors generate one or more temperature readings. The produce treatment system also includes a steam generator. A processor of a computing system controls delivery of steam from the steam generator to the inlet of the treatment chamber based at least in part on the one or more generated temperature readings.
Claims20
A produce treatment system comprising:
- a treatment chamber, wherein the treatment chamber includes an inlet;
- one or more temperature sensors mounted within the treatment chamber, wherein the one or more temperature sensors generate one or more temperature readings;
- a steam generator, wherein a processor of a computing system controls delivery of steam from the steam generator to the inlet of the treatment chamber based at least in part on the one or more generated temperature readings.
A method for phytosanitary treatment of produce, the method comprising:
- injecting steam into a treatment chamber that contains produce that is to be treated;
- monitoring a temperature within the treatment chamber using one or more temperature sensors;
- and
- controlling, by a processor of a computing system, an amount of the steam injected to achieve a desired temperature within the treatment chamber, wherein the controlling is based on the monitoring via the one or more temperature sensors, and wherein the desired temperature is high enough to kill an organism associated with the produce.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.