Environmentally controlled storage facility for potatoes and other crops
AssigneeStorage Systems Northwest, Inc.
InventorsJoel Micka, Robert Terry
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims26
A potato storage facility having a potato storage area, the potato storage facility comprising:
- at least one air inlet configured to receive air from outside the storage facility;
- an air plenum extending adjacent the potato storage area;
- at least one 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 of the plenum that receives air from the at least one first air mover, and a second cross-sectional area, less than the first cross-sectional area, toward a second end of the plenum that is downstream from the first end of the 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 one 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 wall 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 therebetween;
- 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.
A method of environmentally controlling a potato storage facility, the method comprising:
- receiving air 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;
- moving at least a portion of the air received from the pile of potatoes through a plenum positioned adjacent 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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.