Cooled
stores
There are 3 types of cooled stores
- Refrigerated cooling
- Outside air cooling
- Evaporative cooling
Refrigerated stores
In refrigerated stores almost
all temperatures that are required can be kept. The insulation and the needed
cooling capacity depends on the temperatures occurring in the area where the
store is located. This type of stores is especially relevant for the storage of
seed potatoes. They offer a good flexibility regarding the availability of seed
in the desired physiological condition.
Refrigerated cooling
Outside air cooling
Stores with outside air cooling
are insulated buildings, equipped with a ventilation system. In cool periods
potatoes are ventilated using outside air and when the temperature is high the
outside air is prevented from entering. In this way it is possible to maintain
temperatures in the store equal to or higher than the minimum outside air
temperature.
Outside air cooling
Evaporative cooling
The principle of evaporative
cooling is that the air that enters the store for cooling passes material which
is moistened with water. Through evaporation of water the temperature of the air
drops. The system only has an effect in periods when the relative
humidity is low. A disadvantage is that in the store relative humidity is high,
which accelerates the development of storage diseases.
Evaporative cooling
The system is not well accepted for the following reasons:
- the cooling effect is limited during humid periods
- the farmers are not willing to use their limited water resources for cooling
- evaporative cooling increases humidity in stores and accelerates
the development of storage diseases