A hopper bottom for supporting a cylindrical side wall of a grain bin thereon comprises an outer wall arranged to be supported on a support surface and an inclined inner wall supported in spaced relation vertically above the outer wall, which has an inverted cone shape. A manifold or ducting is provided between the outer and inner walls for guiding air received from a blower between the outer and inner walls. Ventilation openings are provided across a full radius of the inner wall so that the air from the manifold is released upwardly to ventilate material received vertically above the hopper bottom. The manifold or ducting also is in fluidic communication with a discharge chute formed between openings in the inner and outer walls, through which the material passes on exit from the hopper bottom, to emit the air in an inward and downward direction to assist the gravity discharge.

A hopper bottom for supporting a cylindrical side wall of a grain bin thereon comprises an outer wall arranged to be supported on a support surface and an inclined inner wall supported in spaced relation vertically above the outer wall, which has an inverted cone shape. A manifold or ducting is provided between the outer and inner walls for guiding air received from a blower between the outer and inner walls. Ventilation openings are provided across a full radius of the inner wall so that the air from the manifold is released upwardly to ventilate material received vertically above the hopper bottom. The manifold or ducting also is in fluidic communication with a discharge chute formed between openings in the inner and outer walls, through which the material passes on exit from the hopper bottom, to emit the air in an inward and downward direction to assist the gravity discharge.

Potentially off-grid grain conditioners that can be operably connected to an aeration grain bin or silo to blow heated air through the crop to dry the crop or to blow ambient temperature air through the crop to cool it are disclosed. A fan is powered by a motor that may be mounted inside the air stream to allow the heat from the motor to be collected and forced into the airstream that is blown into the grain bin. The engine exhaust may be routed through an air exchanger to remove heat from the exhaust and direct heat into the grain bin, or the exhaust may be put into the atmosphere without capturing any of the heat, which allows the fan to operate in a cooling mode. The motor may be mounted inline or mounted to the side for a centrifugal aeration fan.

Potentially off-grid grain conditioners that can be operably connected to an aeration grain bin or silo to blow heated air through the crop to dry the crop or to blow ambient temperature air through the crop to cool it are disclosed. A fan is powered by a motor that may be mounted inside the air stream to allow the heat from the motor to be collected and forced into the airstream that is blown into the grain bin. The engine exhaust may be routed through an air exchanger to remove heat from the exhaust and direct heat into the grain bin, or the exhaust may be put into the atmosphere without capturing any of the heat, which allows the fan to operate in a cooling mode. The motor may be mounted inline or mounted to the side for a centrifugal aeration fan.

Grain bin ducting systems are disclosed that more evenly disperse air through a grain bin while also preventing moisture from building up on the top and sides of a grain bin, which can lead to undesirable moisture levels for parts of the grain bin or even ruin grain. Airflow resistance may be reduced in a grain bin by having the air travel in a horizontal direction through the grain bin instead of a vertical direction. Normally, the radius of the grain bin is substantially less than the height of the grain bin, so the resistance to airflow is substantially lower than in typical grain bin ducting systems.

Embodiments of systems and approaches for managing post-harvest crop quality and pests are described. Such a system may include a plurality of edge devices each comprising sensor components and collectively forming a mesh network, for measuring the local physical environment within stored crops and, for example, transmitting the measurements to a service from within the crop storage area. In certain embodiments, such a system may be used to manage post-harvest crops and storage areas—for example, approaches are described for determining fumigation treatment duration, determining phosphine dosage, determining heat treatment duration, and determining safe storage time for crops.

Embodiments of systems and approaches for managing post-harvest crop quality and pests are described. Such a system may include a plurality of edge devices each comprising sensor components and collectively forming a mesh network, for measuring the local physical environment within stored crops and, for example, transmitting the measurements to a service from within the crop storage area. In certain embodiments, such a system may be used to manage post-harvest crops and storage areas—for example, approaches are described for determining fumigation treatment duration, determining phosphine dosage, determining heat treatment duration, and determining safe storage time for crops.

A grain bin aeration system has inlet ducting in communication with the hollow interior of the storage bin adjacent a perimeter of the storage bin and exhaust ducting in communication with the hollow interior of the storage bin at a central location within the storage bin. A first portion of the inlet ducting is directed to the top end of the bin so that aeration flow therethrough is directed downwardly through the material in the storage bin to the exhaust ducting. A second portion of the inlet ducting is directed to the bottom end of the bin so that aeration flow therethrough is directed upwardly through the material in the storage bin to the exhaust ducting.

A grain bin aeration system has inlet ducting in communication with the hollow interior of the storage bin adjacent a perimeter of the storage bin and exhaust ducting in communication with the hollow interior of the storage bin at a central location within the storage bin. A first portion of the inlet ducting is directed to the top end of the bin so that aeration flow therethrough is directed downwardly through the material in the storage bin to the exhaust ducting. A second portion of the inlet ducting is directed to the bottom end of the bin so that aeration flow therethrough is directed upwardly through the material in the storage bin to the exhaust ducting.

A system for controlling the aeration of a grain bin storage device. The system comprises a grain bin storage device, a ventilation fan, a variable fan drive motor, and a controller configured to receive user input and grain bin storage device parameters. The system controls operation of the ventilation fan at various speeds to maintain a desired volumetric flow rate per bushel of grain. The controller monitors the static pressure within the grain bin storage device and adjusts the speed of the ventilation fan based on an optimal static pressure derived from the user input and grain bin storage device parameters.