Potato & Onion Ventilated Storage Systems

A complete root-crop store designed around your crop, climate and handling method: building, air distribution, fans, insulated dampers and humidification working as one system.

Model: MM-VCS
Product group: Silos & Crop Storage

Designed per crop, variety and storage period
Adjustable fans for curing, cooling and holding
Insulated dampers for outside-air control
Centrifugal humidifiers for humidity control
Bulk-pile or box storage layouts

Overview

How the system works

Potatoes and onions keep best when the air around them is moved, cooled and humidified at the right moments. Our storage system combines the building envelope, an air distribution layout, adjustable-speed fans, insulated outside-air dampers and centrifugal humidifiers. A controller reads conditions in the pile and decides when to bring in outside air, recirculate or add moisture.

Two storage layouts

For bulk storage we design sloped-wall stores where product is piled against the walls and air is pushed up through the pile. For crops held in boxes we use a straight-wall building with air channels between the stacks. Which one fits depends on your harvest equipment, labor and how long you need to hold the crop.

Where it is used

Growers and packers use these stores to condition crops after harvest, hold them through winter or the dry season, and release them to market over several months. Cold regions rely mostly on outside air; warmer regions add mechanical cooling, and we size that to your climate rather than to a standard package.

Sizing the system

There is no fixed model size. Fan count, duct layout, building dimensions, insulation level, humidification capacity and control strategy are all set from the crop, the variety, the way it enters the store, the local weather data and the planned storage period. Our engineers prepare a layout and equipment list for your review before any order is placed.

Delivery

Fans, dampers, humidifiers and control panels are packed for container shipping. The building can be supplied by us or built locally to our drawings, and our team supports installation and commissioning remotely or on site as agreed in the contract.

Scope and documents

Our engineers provide a written scope, drawings or a specification, and a clear list of what is and is not included. You can compare that scope with other options before committing, and raise questions on shipping, spare parts or installation at the same stage.

How to choose between a bulk-pile store and a box store

A bulk-pile store with sloped walls gives the lowest cost per tonne and loads quickly with a pile conveyor. It suits processing crops, large single-variety farms and regions with cool nights. A straight-wall store with box storage lets you separate varieties and lots, keeps access to every box and reduces bruising, but costs more per tonne and needs forklifts.

The ventilation and climate package matters more than the building. Potatoes need high humidity, onions low humidity, so a mixed store needs separate zones. Outside-air ventilation is enough in cold climates, while warm regions need cooling.

If you only need to store dry grain, our flat-bottom steel silo (MM-FBS) is a better fit. This system is designed from your crop, variety, storage period and local weather, which is why those details come first.

Specifications

Specifications: Potato & Onion Ventilated Storage Systems
Model	MM-VCS
Storage temperature	potatoes commonly 4–10 °C by end use; onions about 0–2 °C
Relative humidity	potatoes about 90–95%; onions about 65–70%
Pile height	commonly 3–5 m in bulk stores
Airflow rate	typically 10–20 m³/h per tonne for potatoes
Wall insulation	commonly polyurethane panels, 100–150 mm
Curing period	typically 1–3 weeks after harvest
Control	temperature and humidity controller with thermostat probes

Configurations

Configurations: Potato & Onion Ventilated Storage Systems
Storage method	Bulk-pile sloped-wall store, or straight-wall store with box storage
Climate control	Outside-air ventilation, humidity control, cooling or heating, and controls configured per crop and project

Standard equipment

Air distribution ducts or floor
Ventilation fans with variable control
Insulated outside-air dampers
Humidifier unit
Temperature and humidity sensors
Control cabinet with alarms

Options

Refrigeration or cooling unit
Heating unit for frost protection
Box handling layout
CO2 sensor
Remote monitoring panel
Sprout-inhibitor fogging connection

Frequently asked questions

Is this a standard package with a fixed capacity?

No. Every store is designed from your crop, tonnage and climate, so capacity, fan count and building size are set per project. We send a layout and equipment list for approval.

Can you supply only the ventilation equipment for an existing building?

Yes. We can supply fans, dampers, humidifiers and controls for a store you already have, after reviewing its drawings and air distribution.

Do I need mechanical cooling?

It depends on your climate and storage period. Cool regions may rely on outside air, while warm regions usually need added cooling. Local weather data settles it.

Can one store handle both potatoes and onions?

Only with separate zones. The two crops need different humidity and temperature, so we normally propose divided rooms with their own controls.

Request a quote: Potato & Onion Ventilated Storage Systems

Send your requirement and our engineers reply with the configuration, lead time and a quotation.

sales@machinemalls.com