Grain aeration systems and techniques

Abstract

In one embodiment, the invention is directed toward a networked grain aeration control system. For example, the system can provide centralized monitoring of the aeration of a number of grain storage facilities, thereby improving the management of stored grain. The networked grain aeration control system can allow the custodian of the system to offer an aeration service. Farmers, or other individuals, cooperatives, or companies can purchase the aeration service at a cost proportionate to the amount of stored grain to be aerated and the duration of storage. In this manner, the purchaser of the aeration service can avoid relatively high fixed costs that can be associated with various aeration hardware.

1 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A computer-implemented method for determining a crop spoilage insurance qualification for a crop based on management of the crop in a crop storage facility, the method comprising:
 obtaining crop spoilage insurance criteria on a central computer;   obtaining, on the central computer, at least one crop storage condition value associated with a crop stored in the crop storage facility that is in network communication with the central computer;   causing a processor of the central computer to determine a control policy for managing at least one controller of the crop storage facility, wherein the control policy for managing the at least one controller is at least partially based on the obtained crop spoilage insurance criteria and the at least one crop storage condition value;   determining whether the control policy qualifies the crop for crop spoilage insurance; and   qualifying the crop for crop spoilage insurance when the control policy qualifies the crop for crop spoilage insurance.   
     
     
         43 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 42 , wherein qualifying the crop for crop spoilage insurance further includes providing crop spoilage insurance for the crop managed by the control policy. 
     
     
         44 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 42 , wherein qualifying the crop for crop spoilage insurance further includes providing crop spoilage insurance from an insurance provider having access to the central computer. 
     
     
         45 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 42 , wherein obtaining crop spoilage insurance criteria on the central computer includes obtaining crop spoilage insurance criteria from an insurance provider having access to the central computer. 
     
     
         46 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 42 , wherein the at least one crop storage condition value includes at least one member of a group comprising: a crop temperature value, a crop moisture content value, a crop type value, a crop blend value, a crop static pressure value, a crop humidity value, a crop quantity value, a temperature value, a humidity value, a barometric value, a facility capacity value, a facility dimensions value, a controller type, a fan type, a fan quantity, a fan performance, and a fan size. 
     
     
         47 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 42 , wherein causing the processor of the central computer to determine a control policy configured to control the at least one controller of the crop storage facility further includes obtaining power load information from a power supplier of the crop storage facility, wherein scheduling associated with the control policy is at least partially based on the load information from the power supplier of the crop storage facility. 
     
     
         48 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 42 , wherein causing the processor of the central computer to determine a control policy configured to control the at least one controller of the crop storage facility further includes configuring the control policy with at least one member of a group comprising: temperature band values, humidity band values, truncated temperature band values, truncated humidity band values, offsets for fan heat based on theoretical values, offsets for fan heat based on static pressure values, and offsets for fan heat based on measured values. 
     
     
         49 . A computer-readable storage medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon for determining a crop spoilage insurance qualification for a crop based on management of the crop in a crop storage facility, the computer executable instructions comprising:
 obtaining crop spoilage insurance criteria;   determining a control policy for managing at least one controller of the crop storage facility, wherein the control policy for managing the at least one controller is at least partially based on the obtained crop spoilage insurance criteria;   determining whether the control policy qualifies the crop for crop spoilage insurance; and   qualifying the crop for crop spoilage insurance when the control policy qualifies the crop for crop spoilage insurance.   
     
     
         50 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 49 , wherein qualifying the crop for crop spoilage insurance further includes providing crop spoilage insurance for the crop managed by the control policy. 
     
     
         51 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 49 , wherein qualifying the crop for crop spoilage insurance further includes providing crop spoilage insurance from an insurance provider. 
     
     
         52 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 49 , wherein obtaining crop spoilage insurance criteria includes obtaining crop spoilage insurance criteria from an insurance provider. 
     
     
         53 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 49 , further comprising obtaining at least one crop storage condition value, wherein the at least one crop storage condition value includes at least one member of a group comprising: a crop temperature value, a crop moisture content value, a crop type value, a crop blend value, a crop static pressure value, a crop humidity value, a crop quantity value, a temperature value, a humidity value, a barometric value, a facility capacity value, a facility dimensions value, a controller type, a fan type, a fan quantity, a fan performance, and a fan size. 
     
     
         54 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 49 , wherein determining a control policy configured to control the at least one controller of the crop storage facility further includes obtaining power load information from a power supplier of the crop storage facility, wherein scheduling associated with the control policy is at least partially based on the load information from the power supplier of the crop storage facility. 
     
     
         55 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 49 , wherein determining a control policy configured to control the at least one controller of the crop storage facility further includes configuring the control policy with at least one member of a group comprising: temperature band values, humidity band values, truncated temperature band values, truncated humidity band values, offsets for fan heat based on theoretical values, offsets for fan heat based on static pressure values, and offsets for fan heat based on measured values. 
     
     
         56 . A system for determining a crop spoilage insurance qualification for a crop based on management of the crop in a crop storage facility, the system comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory having computer executable instructions stored thereon, wherein the computer executable instructions are configured for:
 obtaining crop spoilage insurance criteria; 
 determining a control policy for managing at least one controller of the crop storage facility, wherein the control policy for managing the at least one controller is at least partially based on the obtained crop spoilage insurance criteria; 
 determining whether the control policy qualifies the crop for crop spoilage insurance; and 
 qualifying the crop for crop spoilage insurance when the control policy qualifies the crop for crop spoilage insurance. 
   
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein qualifying the crop for crop spoilage insurance further includes providing crop spoilage insurance for the crop managed by the control policy. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein qualifying the crop for crop spoilage insurance further includes providing crop spoilage insurance from an insurance provider. 
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein obtaining crop spoilage insurance criteria on the central computer includes obtaining crop spoilage insurance criteria from an insurance provider. 
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 56 , further comprising obtaining at least one crop storage condition value, wherein the at least one crop storage condition value includes at least one member of a group comprising: a crop temperature value, a crop moisture content value, a crop type value, a crop blend value, a crop static pressure value, a crop humidity value, a crop quantity value, a temperature value, a humidity value, a barometric value, a facility capacity value, a facility dimensions value, a controller type, a fan type, a fan quantity, a fan performance, and a fan size. 
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein determining a control policy configured to control the at least one controller of the crop storage facility further includes configuring the control policy with at least one member of a group comprising: temperature band values, humidity band values, truncated temperature band values, truncated humidity band values, offsets for fan heat based on theoretical values, offsets for fan heat based on static pressure values, and offsets for fan heat based on measured values.