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US 8,991,123 B2Granted
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 potato storage facility comprising:
- a potato storage bay;
- an air plenum extending adjacent 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, wherein the air plenum has a first cross-sectional area toward a first end portion that receives air from the first air mover, and a second cross-sectional area, less than the first cross-sectional area, toward a second end portion that is downstream from the first end portion;
- 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;
- 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 a second air plenum extending above the ceiling panel, wherein the air plenum is a first air plenum, wherein the air passage is a second air plenum, and wherein the ceiling panel forms a bottom wall of the second air plenum.
5 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;
- moving the air received from the pile of potatoes through a plenum extending adjacent to a ceiling panel extending over the pile of potatoes;
- collecting water from condensation in the plenum;
- and
- directing the water away from the pile of potatoes.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.