Patent Application
20050211258
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for air curing tobacco and bringing it into condition.
Conventional air-curing tobacco barns utilize natural convection, with air flow generally proceeding from the bottom of the barn toward the top of the barn. In curing tobacco by the procedure generally referred to as the “bulk curing” method, tobacco leaves are loaded in a relatively compact mass on racks or in containers and placed inside of an enclosed curing barn where a furnace or a plurality of heaters circulate a forced flow of heated air through the mass of tobacco leaves to effect curing and drying. Conventional tobacco curing barns attempt to obtain the desired atmospheric conditions such as temperature and humidity within the tobacco barn by various adjustments of louvers or openings in the sides of the barn and the operation of heaters spaced along the floor of the barn with respect to the prevailing temperature and moisture content of the outside atmosphere, the wind velocity and its direction with respect to the tobacco barn. A number of problems have been observed when curing tobacco in conventional air-curing barns. The different tiers of tobacco stacked in the barn cure at different rates, the tips of the tobacco leaves are often found to dry too quickly, during dry ambient weather, the tobacco may dry too quickly and have poor quality, and during humid ambient weather the tobacco may rot and have poor quality along with elevated contents of tobacco specific nitrosamines.
In view of the above-noted problems with conventional methods and apparatus for curing tobacco, an embodiment of the present invention includes the aspects of an enclosure in which tobacco plants can be air cured, at least one vertically arranged air duct positioned in a central portion of the enclosure, the at least one vertically arranged air duct enclosing at least one in-line fan positioned in a vertical portion of the at least one vertically arranged air duct, at least one ventilating fan located in an upper portion of the enclosure, and at least one openable and closeable opening in at least one side wall of the enclosure. Temperature and humidity sensors can also be provided both inside and outside of the enclosure, with a programmable control system receiving input from the temperature and humidity sensors and providing controlling output to at least one of the in-line fan, the ventilating fan and/or the openable and closeable openings in the side of the enclosure.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method for air curing tobacco includes the tobacco being hung in an enclosure having at least one vertically arranged air duct positioned in a central portion of the enclosure, at least one in-line fan positioned in a vertical portion of the at least one vertically arranged air duct, at least one ventilating fan located in an upper portion of the enclosure and at least one openable and closeable opening in at least one side wall of the enclosure, with the method including the steps of opening the at least one opening, and operating the at least one ventilating fan to force air down through the tobacco from the upper portion of the enclosure. In another aspect of the invention the method of curing tobacco can include the steps of closing the at least one opening and introducing an aqueous solution or steam into a lower portion of the at least one vertically arranged air duct and operating the at least one in-line fan to diffuse the moisture and drive it upwards through the vertically arranged air duct.
The above and other aspects and advantages of this invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
An embodiment of the invention includes the aspects of a specially designed mechanical ventilation and control system that can be installed in a standard burley tobacco air curing barn or provided as part of the construction of a totally new barn or other enclosure. A programmable control system uses the input from internal and external temperature and humidity sensors to start and stop the ventilation system automatically in order to maintain specified humidity levels within the barn during the curing cycle. Fans are also used to maintain uniform humidity and temperature within the barn.
Referring initially to
As shown in
Referring to
Outdoor temperature and humidity sensors 40, as shown in
A method to operate the above-described facility during a curing operation can include the aspects of lowering humidity within the enclosure by opening the side louvers 60, 62, for example when the outdoor humidity is lower than indoor humidity, and forcing warm air from the top portion 25 of the enclosure 20 down through the tobacco by turning on the ventilation fans 50 located in the end walls 22a just below the roof 26 of the enclosure 20. In another aspect of the method according to an embodiment of the invention, the humidity within the enclosure can be raised by closing the side louvers 60, 62 and introducing steam or spraying water or other aqueous solutions using a device such as the water spray humidifier 70 shown in
Other aspects of operating the facility according to an embodiment of the invention can include steps for disinfecting the tobacco that is being cured within the enclosure 20. Disinfecting steps can be carried out by introducing a gaseous or an aqueous solution of chlorine dioxide or other disinfectant substances in gaseous or liquid form into the air flowing through the vertical air ducts 30. The aqueous solution of chlorine dioxide or other disinfectant substances in gaseous or liquid form is diffused and driven out of the top portion 37 of the vertical air ducts for uniform distribution throughout the enclosure 20.
The above-described system and steps can be used in conjunction with other procedures as part of a total tobacco management system. As an example, the water load going into the curing facility can be significantly influenced by choosing whether to first subject the tobacco to a pre-wilting step of approximately 3 to 7 days duration prior to loading the tobacco into the curing facility. Furthermore, during a cool and damp curing season, heaters (not shown) can be employed in the curing enclosure.
Some of the advantages of the invention include the elimination of a need for expensive air conditioning units, and the ability to produce quality cured tobacco regardless of whether the ambient weather conditions are dry, normal or humid. The methods and apparatus described above allow the tobacco to be brought into condition quickly at the end of a curing period, thereby providing labor savings for the farmer or convenience when relying on the use of migrant labor. The above-described method steps and facility may also allow a tobacco purchaser to obtain cured tobacco earlier in the season and process it so as to minimize microbial degradation. The ability to disinfect the tobacco using the above steps and facility at various stages during the curing process may also reduce formation of tobacco-specific nitrosamines, reduce or eliminate the deposition of bacterial lipopolysaccharides, and minimize microbial degradation of leaf quality during storage.
While the invention has been described in detail with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made, and equivalents employed, without departing from the scope of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10060347 | Feb 2002 | US |
| Child | 10934732 | Sep 2004 | US |
