Silos for grain storage: manufacturing features, installation and types

The technical organization of storage conditions is one of the most important stages in the handling of grain crops. The quality of the final product depends on how well the equipment for temporary storage of agricultural products is chosen. Modern silos for grain storage are the best option for performing such tasks. In essence, they serve as barns, but in a more technological and practical way.

The device of silo

Externally, the structure looks massive and complex, but only a few parts form it. This list includes a metal vented reservoir, a lid and a bottom. The cover is assembled from special sectors, fastened by stiffening ribs, whose height reaches 20 cm. The sectors are made of steel, which has been galvanized. In general, from the point of view of the protective qualities of the material, the roof is the most demanding part of the structure. Also do not forget that metal silos for storing grain are structures that, in addition to maintenance, should also provide the ability to load products. On the cover of some devices, a loading channel is provided, as well as a manhole and fixing clips for thermal suspensions.

The body itself is usually a structure of panels with a wavy texture. Connections are provided with bolts, in which gaskets are laid. As in the case of metal roofs, the base is made of galvanized elements. Due to this solution silos for grain storage do not rust and have increased resistance to external influences. As for the bottom, it is conical or flat. The difference in principle does not matter from the point of view of storage, but the process of unloading in the case of conical models is facilitated.

Designing of silos

Even with the use of high-quality metal, the design of the silo may not last a planned service life if errors in design were initially made. The correct approach to the technical development of the silo project involves many parameters for evaluation. Of course, first of all, engineers rely on the volumes and regularity of loading and unloading operations. The number of data cycles also allows you to determine the parameters of the sector in which the outflow of grain mass occurs. Part of this is the storage of grain in metal silos, in which the movement of products must be ensured. In order to ensure the reliability of the structure, the risk of possible heeling is also calculated - it occurs in cases of uneven grain sediment along the perimeter of the silo. External loads on the structure are also taken into account. Among them, we can distinguish the pressure of the snow cover, as well as gusts of wind that will affect a large area. In order for silage to be able to withstand such loads, specialists are responsible for the analysis of the soil on which the base will be located. The nature of the groundwater, as well as the heaving and subsidence quality of the earth are estimated.

Manufacturing technology

The traditional production of commercial granaries provides for the use of the above-mentioned steel panels. As a rule, these are thin-sheeted wavy sections that allow to reduce the cost of production and at the same time provide practicality in the installation and operation of the storage. This approach to making silos has another advantage. It consists in the possibility of providing the customer with a basic kit that can be delivered to the facility without any special difficulties and assembled from the sections with components a ready-made grain storage structure.

But there are drawbacks to such proposals from manufacturers. The main one is the fact that the silo for the storage of grain in this case is carried out at the factory without quality control of the structure already assembled. That is, the customer can purchase the kit, instruct it to be assembled by a third-party company, and in this case the guarantee obligations will be divided among several parties that can shift responsibility for quality to each other. To avoid such situations, it is initially recommended to contact manufacturers who are assembling spiral silos. Such installations allow ensuring the reliability of the storage during operation, as well as its ease of maintenance. In this case, the customer immediately gets an opportunity to assess the quality of the object even before the final commissioning.

Completion of equipment

Depending on the requirements, the silo can be a typical reservoir or a multifunctional system that allows several cycles in handling grains. To date, in standard equipment manufacturers are trying to provide for the presence of stairs, inspection hatch, injection pipes, explosion-proof panels and strain gauges. In more expensive and attractive from the point of view of operation, the availability of air ducts with ventilation system is provided. In this configuration, grain silos allow you to control air circulation in accordance with the requirements for grain content. Also, with the help of special sensors, the owner can monitor the humidity parameters, which is especially important for batches of products that are subjected to drying and primary processing.

Dimensional characteristics

In the standard version, the silo has a height of the order of 25-30 m. In this case, the diameter can be represented in a wider range. For example, for small farms, designs are proposed, the diameter of which is 5 m. But most often in projects this value is set on the order of 30 m. In such a design, the granary will allow to contain up to 10 000 tons of products. Also worth noting is the dependence of the materials used in the manufacture on the dimensions of the structure. So, 30-meter height silos for storage of grain assume the use of steel, the thickness of which is 3-4 mm. In order to strengthen the base in the lower tier, a reinforcement of the 8 mm thick storage is sometimes used.

Varieties of silos

Usually silos are divided by the type of the bottom. As mentioned above, it can have a conical and flat shape. The first option is often used for temporary storage, providing the possibility of easy loading and unloading of grain. Then the products are used for other technical operations. Flat-bottomed structures are usually equipped with thermometers with ventilation, which allows the owner to use installations for the long-term maintenance of agricultural products. But there is one more type of such constructions - forwarding silos for storing grain, the types of which can be divided according to the type of transport with which they interact. In particular, granaries can serve as a reloading point in the supply chain between an agricultural enterprise and a carrier using rail or road transport.

Mounting of the silo

The classical approach to the installation of silos involves the assembly of a structure from a complete set with metal sections. Usually bolts and welding are used for the connection. Further the object is supplemented by the technological equipment in accordance with the complete set. By the way, it is the bolted joints that are the most vulnerable part of silos. Therefore, experts recommend paying special attention to the initial calculations. For example, if the screw has minimal strength indicators, and the housing is made of thick steel, the installation of silos for storing grain with such a combination of elements is unlikely to ensure the durability of the structure.

Manufacturers and prices

Even technologically undeveloped silos are not expensive, which limits the range of manufacturers and the range of customers. Nevertheless, this segment is not empty, and such companies as Uralselmash, Promtekhstroy, Polex, etc. successfully work in it. In the initial category, the cost of silage for storing grain varies from 1 to 1.5 million rubles. Most often these are small in size design, made of thin sheet metal with a minimum content of auxiliary systems and units. Projects of massive silos, designed to store grain in large quantities, are estimated at 3 million rubles or more. Moreover, the price tag is increased not only due to the size, but also thanks to the provision of modern ventilation systems, as well as nodes for loading and unloading.

Conclusion

Silo is an indispensable object in the technical equipment of any large agricultural enterprise. Moreover, grain storage is only a part of the tasks that this construction performs. Depending on the equipment and the device, it can also be loaded with other raw materials. Multifunctional silo for storage of grain, the price of which is 2-3 million rubles, provides a small range of technological operations. In particular, it is possible to note preliminary preparation of grain crops, and also their drying. Reliability issues occupy one of the primary places in the choice of silos. Do not lose in the acquisition of such an object is possible only if the whole process from the development of the project to the final test before operation will be entrusted to experienced professionals.