Air distributor for an almond stockpile heated and ambient air dryer (shad)

Abstract

An air distribution apparatus for drying almond stockpiles has a plenum with a multiply tapered flow divider that balances airflow between an inlet to the plenum and a plurality of outlet ports. In a typical almond stockpile cone shape, the middle and tallest section of the stockpile will receive the highest airflow.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air distribution apparatus, comprising:
 (a) a plenum having an open first end and a closed second end, a substantially uniform cross-section between the first end and the second end, an inlet port at the first end, and a plurality of outlet ports between the first end and the second end;   (b) a flow divider having first and second ends and a taper between the first and second ends, wherein the flow divider first end is smaller than the flow divider second end;   (c) the flow divider positioned in the plenum with the flow divider first end in proximity to the first end of the plenum and the flow divider second end positioned in proximity to the second end of the plenum.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the flow divider divides airflow from the inlet port to maximize distribution of airflow to outlet ports positioned in an area approximately midpoint between the first and second ends of the plenum. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of any of  claim 1 , wherein the flow divider has a compound taper that increases in width and height from the flow divider first end toward the flow divider second end. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (a) the plenum having four rows of three outlet ports per row, each row spaced apart at a substantially uniform distance between rows;   (b) wherein the flow divider divides airflow between the inlet port and the outlet ports.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the flow divider maximizes distribution of airflow to outlet ports positioned in an area approximately midpoint between the first and second ends of the plenum. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the flow divider has a compound taper that increases in width and height from the first end toward the second end. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the flow divider has a
 triply-compounded taper that increases in width and height from the first end toward the second end, with each taper facing at least one outlet port.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein each taper faces toward a group of four outlet ports. 
     
     
         9 . An air distribution apparatus, comprising:
 (a) a plenum; and   (b) a flow divider;   (c) the plenum comprising a chamber of substantially uniform cross section with an open first end and a closed second end;   (d) an inlet port coupled to the first end of the plenum;   (e) the plenum having a plurality of outlet ports;   (f) the flow divider having a first end and a second end;   (g) the flow divider positioned in the plenum with the first end of the flow divider in proximity to the first end of the plenum and the second of the flow divider positioned in proximity to the second end of the plenum;   (h) the flow divider being tapered between its first and second ends wherein the first end is smaller than the second end.   
     
     
         10 . An air distribution apparatus, comprising:
 (a) a plenum, the plenum comprising a chamber of substantially uniform rectangular cross-section with an open first end and a closed second end, an inlet port at the first end, and a plurality of outlet ports;   (b) the plenum having at least three rows of at least three outlet ports per row, each row spaced apart at substantially a uniform distance between rows;   (c) wherein in each row, at least one output port is positioned on a first sidewall of the plenum, at least one output port is positioned on a second sidewall of the plenum, and at least one output port is positioned on a third sidewall of the plenum;   (f) a flow divider having a first end and a second end, the flow divider positioned in the plenum with a first end of the flow divider in proximity to the open first end of the plenum and a second end of the flow divider positioned in proximity to the closed second end of the plenum;   (h) the flow divider being tapered between its first end and second end wherein the first end is smaller than the second end.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the flow divider divides airflow from the inlet port to maximize distribution of airflow to outlet ports positioned in an area approximately midpoint between the open first end and closed second end of the plenum. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of any of  claim 10 , wherein the flow divider has a compound taper that increases in width and height from the flow divider first end toward the flow divider second end. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 (a) the plenum having four rows of three outlet ports per row, each row spaced apart at a substantially uniform distance between rows;   (b) wherein the flow divider divides airflow between the inlet port and the outlet ports.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the flow divider maximizes distribution of airflow to outlet ports positioned in an area approximately midpoint between the open first end and closed second end of the plenum. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the flow divider has a compound taper that increases in width and height from the first end toward the second end. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the flow divider has three tapers, each of which cause an increase in width and height from the first end toward the second end, with each taper facing at least one outlet port. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein each taper faces toward a group of four outlet ports. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein each taper faces toward one of the sidewalls selected from a group of sidewalls comprising: the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the third sidewall.