DESIGN OF STORAGE STRUCTURES-

FUNCTIONAL AND STRUCTURAL DESIGN

OF GRAIN STORAGE STRUCTURES
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2018016039
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TECHNOLOGY)
INTRODUCTION
It is estimated that in tropical countries approximately 25-40 % of the food grains
produced is lost because of inadequate storage facilities.
In the field and during storage the products are threatened by insects, rodents, birds
and other pests. Also the products may be spoiled by infections due to fungi, yeasts or
bacteria.
Losses during storage may be either qualitative or quantitative.
quantitative losses- Losses in weight due to feeding of rodents, spillage during loading
and unloading
qualitative losses- loss in aroma, during milling, in cooking quality, or due to fungal
infections
 Grain storage

Traditional storage structures Modern storage structures

Kothar type
Bagged storage system
Morai type
Silo storage system
Bukkhari type
Air tight storage system
Mud kothi type
Aerated storage system
Metal/ steel bin type
Bag type
IDEAL STORAGE FACILITY
Provide adequate protection from rodents, birds and insects.
Provide aeration and fumigation when required.
Prevent losses due to moisture and temperature.
Permit easy inspection.
Facilitate proper cleaning and should be self cleaning in case of silo.
Economical on unit storage cost basis.
Capable to protect the grains from weather, fire and theft.
BUKKHARI TYPE
Cylindrical in shape
Made of mud or combination of mud and split
bamboo
Raised above the ground by wooden or masonry
platform
Improved type – same structure
Rat proofing cones
Grains – wheat, gram, paddy, maize and sorghum
Capacity – 3.5 – 18 t
KOTHAR TYPE
Store – paddy, maize, sorghum, wheat
Capacity – 9-35 t
Structure – box
Improved Kothar – 5cm thick wooden planks and
beams
No gap between the planks
BAGGED STORAGE SYSTEM
Storage capacity is from 25 tonnes
Generally the length is about twice the width or greater
The entire structure should be moisture proof
Large size doors of 2.4 x 2.4 m and top ventilators
Each door is provided with a light overhanging hood
It should be provide with ventilators – having wire netting
and shutter
DESIGN OF GRAIN STORAGE STRUCTURES
The storage unit must be so designed as to withstand the change in pressures during
loading and unloading.
The several aspects to be considered in a storage design are
types and quantities of grain to be stored,
location,
size and number of bins,
handling equipment and methods,
structural requirements,
conditioning methods and requirements and plans for future use and expansion.
DESIGN OF GRAIN STORAGE STRUCTURES
1)Volume

2)Bulk density
The bulk density of a granular product is the density measured without the
influence of any compression on the product.
The bulk density depends on particle density, its shape and the manner in which the
constituent particles are packed or positioned with respect to each other.
DESIGN OF GRAIN STORAGE STRUCTURES
Bulk density is also defined as weight of grains per unit bulk volume (including
porosity / voids).

Where, W = weight of grains,     Vv = void volume and Vg = grain volume

3)True density
The true density represents the actual density of particle. It is determined by,
liquid displacement method.
DESIGN OF GRAIN STORAGE STRUCTURES
The liquid generally used is toluene. Toluene is filled in, a measuring cylinder and
the volume is recorded. Then, 100 g grain is put in cylinder. The rise in volume of
toluene in cylinder is noted. True density is the ratio of weight of grain and the
difference in volume of toluene.
True density is weight of kernel per unit true volume (excluding porosity/voids).

Where, W = weight of grains,  and  Vg = grain volume

DESIGN OF GRAIN STORAGE STRUCTURES
4)Apparent density
For grains, the bulk density is increased when the grains are compressed. During
this process reorientation and settling of particles take place. As a result air
percolates out of the bulk mass and the volume decreases. This increases the bulk
density. The density of compressed mass or bulk is called the 'apparent density’.
The value of apparent density is higher by 20% than the normal bulk density.
In design of a silo, the apparent density of grain is taken into account, because of
compaction, the bottom layer or base layer of silo has maximum density whereas the
top layer has minimum density.
DESIGN OF GRAIN STORAGE STRUCTURES
5)External friction
External friction is friction between grain mass of kernels and the wall of bin or a
surface.
6)Internal friction
Friction of the kernels or grains against each other is known as internal friction.
7)Coefficient of friction
If 'F' is the horizontal force or pull and N is the vertical force caused by the total
weight of grain, the coefficient of  friction μ can be given by 
DESIGN OF GRAIN STORAGE STRUCTURES
8)Angle of  internal friction
The sliding stress between the grain to grain gives the frictional resistance
per unit of surface area of the grain against the grain. This is called the angle
of internal friction.
Coefficient of friction μ between granular materials is equal to tangent of the
'angle of internal friction' for that material.
Higher values of angle of internal friction indicate that the material is
cohesive. The lower values of angle of internal friction are indicative of easy
flowing products.
DESIGN OF GRAIN STORAGE STRUCTURES
9)Angle of repose
The angle between the horizontal and inclination of heap is called natural angle of
repose. The angle of repose is an indicator of the product’s ability to flow.
Each product has its own natural angle of repose.
Natural angle of repose of paddy = 30°
DESIGN OF GRAIN STORAGE STRUCTURES
10)Mode of flow
OVERPRESSURE DURING EMPTYING
In a loaded silo, the discharge of grain occurs through a small opening.
The quantity of discharged grain is insignificant as compared to stored mass.
The small quantity of outflow is sufficient to produce a downward movement in the
entire stocked grains.
No sooner the discharge gate is opened downward movement of ensiled grain starts
disturbing the equilibrium of stored mass.
This results in increase of thrusts on the storage structure walls.
GRAIN PRESSURE THEORIES
The grain storage bins or grain storage structures must be designed such that it can
withstand two types of load:-
Load by the grain (static at times of no loading and unloading and dynamic at time
of loading and unloading)
Load due to wind
Lateral pressure was first calculated using the hydrostatic formula.
Pl = wh  
Pl = lateral pressure exerted by the grain on the bin wall,  kg/m2
w = density of grain, kg/m3
h = depth of grain from the top of the bin surface, m
GRAIN PRESSURE THEORIES
AIR FLOW RATES
Aeration systems can be installed in both horizontal and vertical storages. The
following set of basis design parameters are found suitable for cooling of dry grains
by aeration.
Air flow rate: silos 0.8 litre/ second/ tonne
sheds 1.6 litre/ second/tonne
Maximum duct velocity: 10 m/s
Maximum entry velocity of air into grain: 0.15 m/s
The most common air flow rates for aerating paddy range from 0.07-0.28
m3/min/tonne of paddy .
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
Basically, the choice of construction materials for modern permanent storages is
between steel and concrete, though brick is also used in some countries.
As far material is concerned for safe and quality storage, its durability and gas
tightness is of prime concern.
The selection between steel and concrete can involve many considerations. Metal
bins are mainly used for smaller storage units and for provisional installation.
DURABILITY - CONCRETE SILOS
Concrete bins are used for larger permanent storage structures.
maintenance requirements are low
They reduce risk of condensation
Corner curves are easy to construct
They are water and fire proof, easy to clean. But the concrete bins have high dead
weight, need stronger foundation.
DURABILITY - CONCRETE SILOS
Concrete silos are not maintenance free.
If their design is inadequate, they may crack, thereby allow moisture migration and
loss of fumigants.
Crack repair can be an expensive process.
Carbon dioxide reacts readily with Concrete. Carbon dioxide reacts with calcium
hydroxide molecules in the cement matrix to form calcium carbonate.
DURABILITY - CONCRETE SILOS
Due to metabolic activity, grain produces carbon dioxide. Storage of grain in concrete
silos thus produces an accelerated rate of carbonation. It is possible that the 200
mm thick silo may completely be carbonated in 50 years.
The rate of carbonation can be reduced by the application of certain high build
paints. But this adds both to capital investment and maintenance costs of a concrete
silo.
The concrete silo if well designed and constructed, does not require any special
treatment for making gastight.
DURABILITY - STEEL SILOS
In steel silos, the zinc galvanization also does not
provide long term corrosion protection in chemically
active environments.
The galvanized surfaces should be overcoated with
an appropriate paint system. Painting adds cost to
steel constructions and also towards its maintenance.
The welded steel silos require no special sealing
provisions except at the joint between floor and wall.
Since joint movement from grain pressure seldom
occurs in practice, it is safer to design the walls with a
rigid base.
DURABILITY - STEEL SILOS
Light gauge bolted steel silos have not proven easy to make gastight
due to their light flexible construction and multiple screw fixings.
The joint between roof-to-wall is also difficult to seal.
The cost of sealing of such silos becomes very high and thus reduces the
cost competitiveness
DESIGN OF WAREHOUSE
The godowns side walls are of brick or stone masonry and sloped roofing in asbestos
or Corrugated Galvanized Iron (CGI) sheets over steel trusses.
Generally a godown has a capacity of 5000 tonnes and consists of 3 compartments,
each having a span of not less than 21·7 m with a clear height of 5·4 m.
Bagged food grains are arranged in stacks with a base of 6 m x 9 m with a stack
height varying from 4 to 5 m, leaving 27 per cent free space of the floor area for
alleyways generally.
It should be leave a free space of 2 m between the stacks and 0.8 to 1.0 m between
wall to stack for easily moving of person for observation.
There should be 2.4 x 2.4 m size two large doors of opposite direction and top
ventilators are used.
DESIGN OF WAREHOUSE
Thickness of wall - minimum - 37.5 cm and maximum - 45 cm.
The height of wall on which trusses are placed is generally kept about 5.5 m.
REFERENCES
1. Bala, B. K., M. A. Zaman, B. K. Biswas, and M. I. Hussain.(1993). Studies on storage
of paddy in three different types of traditional storage systems. Agricultural
Engineering Journal, 2(3): 121-137.
2. Basunia, M. A., T. Abe and Y. Hikida. (1996). Two-dimensional, finite difference,
heat transfer model for predicting temperature distribution in cylindrical rough
rice storage bins. Journal of the Japanese Society of Agricultural Machinery, 58(3):
37-47.
3. Donahaye, E., S. Navarro, A. Ziv, Y. Blauschild and D. Weerasinghe. (1991). Storage
of paddy in hermetically sealed plastic liners in Sri Lanka. Tropical Science, 31(2):
109-121.
4. Eswarappa, H., R. Ananthanarayana and K. C. Krishnamurthy. (1991). Evaluation of
different storage structures for paddy. Current Research – University of
Agricultural Sciences Bangalore, 20(1): 8-9.
THANK YOU