Environmental control system and method for storage buildings

• US 7,097,111 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gun Valley Temperature Controls, LLC
• Original Assignee: Gun Valley Temperature Controls, LLC
• Inventors: Riley, William P., Riley, William P. II
• Primary Examiner(s): DAHBOUR, HENRY
• Application Number:
  US10/271,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20030029925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,414 Days
• Field of Search: 236/49.3, 236/DIG.9, 62/56, 624/41, 621/86, 623/32, 624/11, 62/78, 454/175, 454/177, 318/471
• US Class Current: 236/49.3
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/77 by controlling the speed of ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/20 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/50 Air quality properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/72 Carbon monoxide
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/045 Air flow control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

A method and system for controlling the environment of storage facilities, including produce and livestock storage facilities, and the like, is described. Movement of air within the facility is accomplished by air-handling units or fans. The speed of each fan is controlled by a variable-speed drive, allowing the fans to run at speeds below full capacity. Environmental parameters, such as temperature or humidity, are monitored to determine the existing state of the environment which is then compared to a desired state. The speed of the fans or air-handling units is adjusted to alter the existing environmental state, bringing it in alignment with the desired state. The fans or air-handling units are operated continuously, typically at reduced capacity. Other various facets are included with the system and method, including the control of the admittance of external air into the storage facility.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an internal environment of a storage facility, the method comprising:

providing at least one fan for inducing air movement within the storage facility;

continuously operating the at least one fan at less than full speed;

flowing air through the at least one fan, through an air plenum and into the storage facility;

sensing at least one environmental parameter within the air plenum; and

varying speed of the at least one fan.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein sensing the at least one environmental parameter within the air plenum includes sensing temperature.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein sensing the at least one environmental parameter within the air plenum includes sensing humidity.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising sensing at least one environmental parameter within the storage facility and selecting a value at which the at least one environmental parameter within the storage facility should be maintained.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising varying the speed of the at least one fan according to a relationship between the least one environmental parameter within the air plenum and the at least one environment parameter within the storage facility.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising admitting external air into the internal environment and regulating flow of the external air in response to the at least one sensed environmental parameter within the air plenum.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein regulating flow of the external air includes regulating the flow of the external air independent of the speed of the at least one fan.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising sensing at least one parameter of an environment external to the storage facility.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising varying the speed of the at least one fan according to the at least one sensed parameter of the environment external to the storage facility.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein sensing the at least one parameter of the external environment includes sensing ambient temperature.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein sensing the at least one parameter of the external environment includes sensing humidity.

12. The method according to claim 8, further comprising admitting external air into the internal environment and regulating flow of the external air in response to the at least one sensed parameter of the external environment.

13. A method of controlling an internal environment of a storage bin containing a mass of produce, the method comprising:

flowing air through at least one fan, through at least one air plenum, through at least a portion of the mass of produce and into the storage bin so as to induce continuous air movement within the storage bin;

providing at least a second fan for inducing introduction of external air into the storage bin;

flowing air through the at least a second fan and out of the storage bin;

sensing at least one environmental parameter within the storage bin; and

varying speed of the at least a second fan.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising continuously operating the at least one fan at less than full speed.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein sensing the at least one environmental parameter within the storage bin includes sensing a parameter selected from the group consisting of temperature, carbon dioxide, and humidity.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising selecting a value at which the at least one environmental parameter within the storage bin should be maintained and varying the speed of the at least a second fan according to a relationship between the at least one environmental parameter within the storage bin and a value at which the at least one environmental parameter within the storage bin should be maintained.

17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising inducing introduction of external air into the storage bin and regulating flow of the external air in response to the at least one sensed environmental parameter within the storage bin.

18. The method according to claim 14, further comprising sensing at least one parameter of an environment external to the storage bin and varying the speed of the at least a second fan according to the at least one sensed environmental parameter external to the storage bin.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein sensing the at least one parameter of the external environment includes sensing ambient temperature.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein sensing the at least one parameter of the external environment includes sensing humidity.

21. The method according to claim 18, further comprising admitting external air into the internal environment and regulating flow of the external air in response to the at least one sensed parameter of the environment external to the storage facility.

22. The method according to claim 14, further comprising selecting a maximum fan speed and a minimum fan speed wherein the maximum fan speed is a reduced fan speed, and continually operating the at least a second fan at a speed between the selected maximum and minimum fan speeds.

23. The method according to claim 14, further comprising selecting a maximum power level and a minimum power level for input to the at least one fan wherein the maximum power level is a reduced power level, and continually operating the at least a second fan at a speed between the selected maximum and minimum power levels.

24. A system for controlling an internal environment of a storage facility having an air plenum, the system comprising:

at least one fan adapted to induce air movement through the air plenum and within the storage facility through continuous operation;

at least a second fan adapted to induce introduction of external air to the storage facility;

a variable-speed drive coupled to the at least a second fan, wherein the variable-speed drive provides a drive signal to the at least a second fan for controlling speed of the at least a second fan;

at least one sensor adapted to determine at least one internal environmental parameter;

at least one electrical control unit coupled to the at least one sensor and to the variable-speed drive, wherein the at least one electrical control unit receives a parameter signal indicative of the at least one internal environmental parameter from the at least one sensor and provides a command signal to the variable-speed drive based upon the parameter signal for varying an operational speed of the at least a second fan; and

a ventilation inlet wherein air external to the storage facility is admitted into the internal environment.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least a temperature sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, or a humidity sensor.

26. The system of claim 24, further comprising at least one additional sensor adapted to determine at least one parameter of an environment external to the storage facility wherein the at least one additional sensor is coupled to the at least one electrical control unit and provides an external parameter signal to the at least one electrical control unit.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the variable-speed drive is adapted to have a maximum speed setting and a minimum speed setting such that the at least a second fan is continuously running between the maximum and minimum speed settings.

28. The system of claim 24, further comprising at least another variable-speed drive coupled to the at least one fan, wherein the at least another variable-speed drive is configured to operate the at least one fan continuously at a reduced speed.

29. A method of controlling an internal environment of a storage bin, the method comprising:

providing at least one fan for inducing continuous air movement within the storage bin;

providing at least a second fan for inducing introduction of external air into the storage bin;

flowing air through the at least a second fan and out of the storage bin;

sensing at least one environmental parameter within the storage bin; and

sensing at least one parameter of an environment external to the storage bin and varying the speed of the at least a second fan according to the at least one sensed environmental parameter external to the storage bin.