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Systems and methods for inhibiting spoilage of stored crops

  • US 10,638,780 B1
  • Filed: 07/23/2019
  • Issued: 05/05/2020
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2016
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A crop storage facility comprising:

  • a crop storage area;

    an inlet configured to receive air from outside the crop storage facility;

    an air cooler positioned downstream from the inlet and upstream of the crop storage area;

    an air mover configured to move at least a portion of air from the inlet toward the air cooler;

    a plenum positioned downstream from the air cooler and upstream of the crop storage area, wherein the plenum includes a plurality of openings in a sidewall thereof;

    a container positioned in the plenum, the container including one or more mixing elements and holding a crop treatment composition, wherein at least one of the container or the one or more mixing elements is configured to rotate to agitate the crop treatment composition to produce gaseous chlorine dioxide, wherein the gaseous chlorine dioxide mixes with a portion of air flowing from the air cooler and flows toward the crop storage area; and

    a plurality of ducts operably disposed in the crop storage area, wherein each of the ducts is in fluid communication with a corresponding one of the openings in the sidewall of the plenum to receive a portion of the gaseous chlorine dioxide from the container, and wherein each of the ducts includes a plurality of apertures for distributing the gaseous chlorine dioxide to crops stored in the crop storage area.

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