Air Flow Control Method and System

Abstract

An integrated airflow control facility for force cooling of produce in a cool room ( 10 ), including a dedicated storage zone ( 1 ) for storage of the produce and a dedicated refrigeration zone ( 2 ) separated by a physical divider ( 34 ) in which the divider includes one or more integral extraction fans ( 24 ) to extract air form the storage zone and direct said air through refrigeration coils ( 40/42 ) positioned in said the refrigeration zone for cooling thereof, in which the divider further includes one or more air outlets ( 44/46 ) to direct the cooled air exiting the refrigeration zone into the storage zone and in which the storage zone, refrigeration zone and the physical divider are integrated into a single airflow control facility.

1 . An integrated airflow control facility for force cooling of produce in a cool room, said facility comprising:
 a dedicated storage zone for storage of the produce,   a dedicated refrigeration zone,   at least one refrigeration coil in said refrigeration zone,   a physical divider which separates the storage zone and refrigeration zone, said divider including:
 at least one integral extraction fan to extract air from said storage zone and direct said air through said at least one refrigeration coil positioned in said refrigeration zone for cooling thereof, and 
 at least one air outlet to return said cooled air exiting said refrigeration zone into said storage zone, and 
   wherein said storage zone, refrigeration zone and said physical divider are integrated into a single airflow control facility.   
   
   
       2 . A facility according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one refrigeration coil is positioned between said at least one extraction fan and said at least one air outlet. 
   
   
       3 . A facility according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one air outlet is positioned one of at and toward side edges of said divider such that said returned cooled air is directed along sides of said storage zone. 
   
   
       4 . A facility according to  claim 1 , wherein said refrigeration zone is bound by at least opposing side walls of said cool room, a rear wall of said cool room and said divider. 
   
   
       5 . A facility according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one refrigeration coil extends at least partially between said divider and a rear wall of said cool room. 
   
   
       6 . A facility according to  claim 5 , wherein said at least one refrigeration coil includes at least one separate unit extending between a floor and ceiling of the refrigeration zone of said cool room. 
   
   
       7 . A facility according to  claim 5 , wherein said at least one refrigeration coil is positioned at an acute angle relative to a plane of said divider and said rear wall. 
   
   
       8 . A facility according to  claim 1 , wherein said refrigeration zone is partitioned such that a refrigeration coil unit, an air outlet and at least one extraction fan direct air from said storage zone through separate compartments for cooling and redirecting through said outlet to cool a row of pallets storing said produce. 
   
   
       9 . A cool room including a facility according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
       10 . A multi-tiered cool room wherein each tier includes a facility according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
       11 . A cool room according to  claim 9 , wherein said storage zone includes rows of pallets in at least one tier corresponding to said at least one air outlet. 
   
   
       12 . (canceled) 
   
   
       13 . (canceled)