The technical organization of storage conditions is one of the most important steps in handling grain crops. The quality of the final product depends on how correctly the equipment is selected for the temporary maintenance of agricultural products. Modern silos for storing grain are the best option for such tasks. In essence, they serve as barns, but in a more technological and practical design.
Silo device
Externally, the design looks massive and complex, but it forms only a few parts. This list includes a metal ventilated tank, lid and bottom. The cover is assembled from special sectors fastened with stiffeners, the height of which reaches 20 cm. Sectors are made of galvanized steel. 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 content, should also provide the ability to load products. On the cover of some devices, a loading channel is provided, as well as an inspection hatch and thermal suspensions.
The case itself is usually a design of panels with a wavy texture. Connections are provided by bolts in which the gaskets are laid. As with the metal of the roof, the base is made of galvanized elements. Thanks to this solution, silos for storing grain do not rust and have enhanced resistance to external influences. As for the bottom, it can be conical or flat. From the point of view of storage, the difference between these options does not matter, however, the unloading process in the case of cone models is facilitated.
Silo design
Even if high-quality metal is used, the silo design may not survive the planned service life if design errors were initially made. The right approach to the technical development of a silo project involves many parameters for evaluation. Of course, first of all, engineers rely on the volume and regularity of loading and unloading operations. The amount of these cycles also allows you to determine the parameters of the sector in which the outflow of grain mass occurs. Partly this is where the peculiarities of grain storage in metal silos lie, in which the movement of products should be ensured. In order to ensure the reliability of the structure, the risk of a possible roll 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, one can single out the pressure of the snow cover, as well as gusts of wind that will affect a large area. In order for the silo to be able to withstand such loads, experts responsibly approach the analysis of the soil on which the base will be located. The nature of the groundwater is evaluated, as well as the heaving and subsidence qualities of the earth.
Manufacturing technology
The traditional production of commercial granaries involves the use of the aforementioned steel panels. As a rule, these are thin-sheet wavy sections, which make it possible to reduce the cost of production and at the same time provide practicality in the installation and operation of the storage. This approach to the manufacture of silos has another advantage. It consists in the possibility of providing the customer with a basic kit, which can be delivered to the facility without any special difficulties and assemble the finished construction of the granary from sections with components.
But there are drawbacks to such proposals from manufacturers. The main one is the fact that the manufacture of a silo for storing grain in this case is carried out at the plant without checking the quality of the structure already assembled. That is, the customer can purchase the kit, entrust its assembly to a third-party company, and in this case the warranty will be divided between several parties that can shift the responsibility for quality to each other. To avoid such situations, it is initially recommended to contact manufacturers who are engaged in the assembly of spiral silos. Such installations can ensure the reliability of the storage during operation, as well as the ease of its maintenance. At the same time, the customer immediately gets the opportunity to assess the quality of the facility even before the final commissioning.
Equipment
Depending on the requirements, the silo can be a typical tank or a multifunctional system that allows for several cycles in the handling of grain. Today, as standard equipment, manufacturers are trying to provide for a ladder, inspection hatch, injection pipes, explosion-proof panels and strain gauges. In more expensive and attractive from the point of view of operation versions, the presence of air ducts with a ventilation system is also provided. With this configuration, silos for storing grain allow you to control air circulation in accordance with the requirements for grain content. Also, with the help of special sensors, the owner can also monitor moisture parameters, which is especially important for batches of products that are dried and processed.
Dimensional characteristics
In the standard version, the silo has a height of about 25-30 m. In this case, the diameter can be represented in a wider range. For example, constructions with a diameter of 5 m are offered for small farms. But most often in projects this value is laid around 30 m. In this design, the granary will contain up to 10,000 tons of products. It is also worth noting the dependence used in the manufacture of materials on the size of the structure. So, 30-meter-high silos for storing grain require the use of steel, the thickness of which is 3-4 mm. In order to strengthen the base in the lower tier, 8 mm thick storage reinforcement is sometimes used.
Varieties of Silos
Usually silos are divided according to the type of bottom. As mentioned above, it can have a conical and flat shape. The first option is often used for temporary storage, providing the ability to easily load and unload 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 the plant for the long-term maintenance of agricultural products. But there is another type of such structures - 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 transshipment point in the supply chain between an agricultural enterprise and a carrier using rail or road transport.
Silo installation
The classic approach to the installation of silos involves the assembly of the structure from the finished kit with metal sections. Usually bolts and welding are used for the connection. Further, the facility is supplemented with technological equipment in accordance with the configuration. By the way, bolted connections are the most vulnerable part of silos. Therefore, experts recommend that special attention be paid to initial calculations. For example, if the screw has minimal strength indicators, and the case is made of thick steel, then the installation of silos for storing grain with this combination of elements is unlikely to ensure the durability of the structure.
Manufacturers and prices
Even technologically undeveloped silos are not cheap, which limits both the range of manufacturers and the circle of customers. Nevertheless, this segment is not empty, and companies such as Uralselmash, Promtehstroy, Polex and others are successfully working in it. In the initial category, the cost of silage for grain storage varies from 1 to 1.5 million rubles. Most often, these are small-sized structures made of sheet metal with a minimum content of auxiliary systems and assemblies. Projects of massive silos designed for storing grain in large volumes are estimated at 3 million rubles or more. Moreover, the price tag rises not only due to size, but also due to the equipment with 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 part of the tasks that this design performs. Depending on the configuration and device, it can also be loaded with other raw materials. A multifunctional silo for storing grain, the price of which is 2-3 million rubles, provides a small range of technological operations. In particular, preliminary preparation of grain crops, as well as their drying, can be noted. Reliability issues occupy one of the paramount places in the choice of silos. One can not lose in the acquisition of such an object only if the entire process from the development of the project to the final tests before operation is entrusted to experienced professionals.