Systems and methods for inhibiting spoilage of stored crops
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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Abstract
Systems and methods for treating large quantities of potatoes, other tubers, vegetables, produce, and/or other crops are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a crop storage facility configured in accordance with the present technology includes a treatment system configured to distribute a treatment agent configured to inhibit spoilage of the crops. The treatment system can include a combination of two or more chemical compositions configured to release different concentrations of the treatment agent to produce a desired level of the treatment agent in the storage facility.
146 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A crop storage facility comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A crop storage facility comprising:
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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 rotatable mixing device configured to hold a crop treatment composition, wherein rotation of the mixing device agitates the crop treatment composition to produce a crop treatment agent, and wherein the crop treatment agent mixes with a portion of air flowing from the air cooler and flows toward the crop storage area; 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, and wherein the mixing device is positioned in the plenum; 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 crop treatment agent from the mixing device, and wherein each of the ducts includes a plurality of apertures for distributing the crop treatment agent to crops stored in the crop storage area. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A crop storage facility comprising:
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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; an agitator configured to hold a crop treatment composition, wherein operation of the agitator agitates the crop treatment composition to produce a crop treatment agent, and wherein the crop treatment agent mixes with a portion of air flowing from the air cooler and flows toward the crop storage area; a controller operably connected to the agitator; a sensor configured to detect a concentration of the crop treatment agent and send a corresponding signal to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to respond to the signal by operating the agitator at a rate based at least in part on the concentration of the crop treatment agent detected by the sensor; 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, and wherein the agitator is positioned in the plenum; 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 crop treatment agent from the agitator, and wherein each of the ducts includes a plurality of apertures for distributing the crop treatment agent to crops stored in the crop storage area. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification