SILO

JHON LLOYD ARIMADO

CLEZEL MESA
JENNETH SADIA
 What is Silo?
Silo unit consisting of
upright containers used for
storage and handling of
grains in bulk and provided
with necessary equipment
and accessories
 access door-
provides access inside the silo which may be located at the roof
or at the wall
 wind rings
connected to the sidewall stiffeners to provide continuous
circular reinforcement around the silo
 stiffener

vertical frame fastened to the silo walls which carries the loads
 aeration

-movement of air through stored grains for purposes other

than drying
 angle of friction-
angle of the material when the grains held starts to move
 base flooring
-floor located at the basement of flat bottom silos
 control panel
panel where all the controls are located, with or without
mimic board
 Eave height
height of the vertical-walled segment of silo
 elevator
mechanism that facilitates vertical movement of grains
 elevator boot
equipment for receiving grains at the bottom of a bucket elevator
 equivalent height
height of grains at level condition
 fumigation
action of releasing a toxic chemical in the gaseous state to control a
targeted pest
 grain
milled or unmilled, seeds or fruits of various food plants more specifically the cereal
grasses.
 headhouse
dumping house intake house grain receiving area which may consist of elevator and
other accessories such as weighing and cleaning machines.
 hopper
sloping, walled structure for discharging grains
 load distribution system
structure above the silo bins that houses conveyor systems for grain distribution
 mimic board
board where the flow of grains at different points of the system at any time will be
reflected
 overall height
distance between the horizontal supporting plane surface and the horizontal plane
touching the uppermost part of the silo structure
 overall length
distance between the vertical planes at the right angles to the median plane of the silo
structure and touching its front and rear extremities
 overall width
distance between the vertical planes parallel to the median plane of the machine,
each plane touching the outermost point of the silo structure on its respective side
 peak height
overall height of the silo structure from the topmost structure of the roof to the
ground
 silo diameter
inside diameter of the largest inscribed circle
within the silo cross-section
 silo flooring
surface at the bottom of the silo where the grains lie
 slenderness (aspect ratio)
ratio of the equivalent height (h) to the silo
diameter (d), (h:d)
 spout

passageway of grains to be loaded into the silo

 storage block
portion of the silo where grains are stored
 transition

intersection of the hopper and the vertical wall, for hopper

bottom type silos
 unloading system
structure below or at ground level that houses the collection
equipment
 volumetric capacity
volume contained in the cylindrical portion only of the silo or
the volume contained in both the cylindrical portion and the
conical section within the roof space
 wall ring
one level of the storage block of silo
 weather proofing
process of sealing the connections between sheets and other
parts such as caulking
The classification of silos should be
according to the following:
[Link]
a. Retaining
b. Squat
c. Intermediate
d. Slender
2. Other Classifications
Slenderness
 Retaining
A silo that has an aspect ratio less than or equal to 0.4 (h/d ≤ 0.4) with a flat bottom
 Squat
A silo that has an aspect ratio greater than 0.4 and less than or equal to 1 (0.4 < h/d ≤
1.0). If the silo has an aspect ratio less than or equal to 0.4 (h/d ≤ 0.4) and has a hopper,
it is also classified as squat.
 Intermediate
A silo that has an aspect ratio greater than 1.0 and less than 2.0. (1.0 < h/d < 2.0)
 Slender
A silo that has an aspect ratio greater than or equal to 2.0 (h/d ≥ 2.0)
 Other Classifications
Silos may also be classified according but not limited to the following
Wall Material
Discharge Mechanism
Cross section
Flat and Hopper bottom Silo
Location
 The site should be dry and the structure shall be elevated to avoid water logging and to be
safe from natural flooding calamities. If the area is water logged, the structure shall be
elevated higher than the anticipated maximum flood level.
 The structure, as far as possible, should be well away from source of contamination, such as
slaughterhouse, tanneries, and residential areas.
 It shall be free from fire hazards.
 The structure shall be built on a stable solid ground.
 Road access, electricity, communication, water services, and drainage should all be available.
 The seismic conditions of the area shall be given consideration such that the structure will
not lie on fault lines.
Estimation of volumetric capacity

The volumetric capacity of the silo shall be

determined using the method stated in the ASAE
S413.1:1997.
Construction and Structural
Requirements
General
 All metal materials for construction shall be corrosion resistant.
 All silo parts shall be hot-dipped galvanized.
 All parts in contact with the grains shall not be painted.
 The structure shall have means to prevent entry of birds, rodents, and other pests.
 The silo shall be able to withstand the maximum wind speed observed in the area.
 The minimum design earthquake load shall be according to Section 8 Earthquake Loads
of the National Structural Code of the Philippines (NSCP).
 All electrical connections shall conform to the Philippine Electrical Code
7.2 Foundation

 The foundation shall be rigid enough to carry the designed load.

 The type of foundation shall be decided taking into account the layout, nature of
soil, and the loads transferred.
 The construction of foundation shall be in accordance with the NSCP.
Flooring

The floor shall be configured in such a way that the

minimum aeration requirement will be achieved.
 Base flooring
-It shall be made of reinforced waterproofed concrete.
-Side walls in the basement shall also be waterproofed.
 Silo flooring
 Flat bottom
-The net area of perforations shall be at least 15 percent of the gross floor area. The
perforations may be round or slatted.
 Hopper bottom
-The slope shall be designed to be suitable for easy gravity flow of the intended
grains to be stored. Angle of the sloping sides shall be at least 10 degrees greater than
the grain’s angle of friction.
Wall

• Wall material shall be corrosion resistant and shall not be painted.

• Rivets or bolts and nuts shall be used to join wall materials. Wall materials shall
not be welded.
• Weather proofing shall be done to prevent leaks.
• Walls shall be constructed with access door for flat bottom silos.
• The overlapping parts of the wall sheets shall not coincide with those of the
adjacent levels.
• Walls should be installed with stiffeners.
• Ladders shall be installed inside and outside of the wall.
Roof

 The roof shall be leak proof.

 The slope of the roof shall be suitable for proper drainage of rain water.
 Openings intended for aeration, grain inlet, etc. located at the roof shall be
designed to prevent water leakage.
 Roof shall be constructed with access door.
Safety Requirements

 There should be a provision for fire control equipment as provided in the Fire
Code of the Philippines.
 7.6.2 The ladder shall conform to the requirements of OSHS Rule 1067 and
ASAE S412.1:1997.
 An alarm shall be installed which will be actuated in case of malfunctions. An
emergency stop button shall be provided.
 Safety decals shall be set up in conspicuous areas.
Equipment and Accessories
Conveyors
Classification
The classification of conveyors should be according to the following:
a. Belt
b. B. Screw
c. Chain
d. Pneumatic
e. Bucket elevator
 Belt
Belt conveyors consist of a flat continuous belt in tension that is positioned between rollers driven by
pulleys with intermittently spaced idlers for support.
 Screw
A screw conveyor is made up of a continuous helix that is mounted on a pipe in a fixed trough. Movement
of the material is facilitated by the rotation of the screw. The conveyor may have multiple feed points as long
as the designed allowable loading is not exceeded. The conveyor may also have multiple discharge points.
 Chain
Chain conveyors consist of a continuous loop of chains between two sprockets. A take-up device which is
connected to the sprocket opposite to the drive sprocket is responsible for proper tensioning of the chain. The
materials are conveyed using some type of attachment such as pans.
 Pneumatic
Pneumatic conveyors use high pressure air to transport grains in a totally enclosed system. It consists of
the high pressure air source, a feed device, a conveying pipeline, and a receptacle for release of transported
material and carrier gas.
 Bucket Elevator
Bucket elevators are ideally used for the vertical conveyance of loose grains. It consists of several buckets
that are carried by either belt or chain elevators.
Construction Requirements
 The applicable types of conveyors to be used for different conditions are
summarized in Annex A.
 Conveyor casings and connecting spouts shall be dust tight. [Link] The
buckets of the bucket elevator shall be constructed with non-metal
materials.
 For elevator boots above floor level, adequate clean-out doors shall be
provided. On the other hand, for pit-type, enough space shall be provided
for cleaning, oiling, and repairing the boots. The area shall also be provided
with fixed lighting and shall be accessible by fixed permanent metal ladder
or stairway.
 The boots shall be constructed to minimize the probability of clogging.
It shall be provided with covered hoppers into which spilled grains may
be loaded again into the boot.
 Conveyors shall be provided with catwalks. Bucket elevators shall be
provided with service platforms. If bucket elevator is more than 6m, a
support tower shall be provided.
 There should be provisions for magnets to ensure that the grains are free
of metallic objects.
 For flat bottom silos, a sweep auger should be installed.
Control Panel

 The control panel shall be illuminated.

 It should be provided with a mimic board.
 If the control panel is located in a room, the room shall be well-ventilated and
dustproof.
 Control panels shall be weatherproof, if not installed in a control room.
 There shall be provisions for circuit breaker, magnetic starter, and overload
device, as provided by the Philippine Electrical Code.
Temperature and Relative Humidity (RH)
Measurement
 The temperature and RH throughout the silo shall be measured
using calibrated temp and RH sensors, placed at different
locations inside the silo.
 The sensors shall be connected to reading instruments located
outside the silo. If connected using cables, sensors shall be
insulated using materials that are resistant to abrasions, moisture,
and chemicals.
 There shall be at least one temperature and RH sensor to measure
the ambient temperature.
Grain Moisture Content Measurement

Built-in moisture meters should be provided. If moisture

meters are not built in, a calibrated portable moisture meter
shall be provided.
Aeration Equipment

 The system shall be able to prevent increase in temperature and development of

hot spots on grains.
 A manometer should be installed inside the silo and plenum.
 Roof vents shall be installed for exhaust of air.
Fumigation Equipment

 Fumigator for the application of the liquid or gas fumigants should be

incorporated.
 Accessories required in this operation shall be made of corrosion resistant
materials
Other Equipment and Accessories

 Grain spreaders should be installed in the loading system.

 There should be a provision for dust collection in the headhouse.

Warranty, Operation, and Maintenance

 Warranty shall be provided for parts and services except for normal wear and tear
of expendable or consumable maintenance parts for at least one (1) year upon the
acceptance of procuring entity of the silo.
 An operator’s manual shall be provided.
 Training on operation and maintenance shall also be provided.
 A list of warrantable parts shall be provided
Thank you!