Types of silos for storing cement

A vital component of construction, cement must be stored properly to preserve its quality and utility. Silos are specialized storage containers made to keep moisture and other outside elements away from cement. There are several varieties of these structures, and each is appropriate for a particular set of circumstances.

The upright or vertical silo is the most popular kind of cement silo. These silos, which can hold a lot of cement in a small area, are usually constructed of concrete or metal. Because of their easy loading and unloading capabilities due to their vertical design, construction sites and cement manufacturing plants frequently choose them.

There is also the option of horizontal silos, which have certain special benefits. Their ease of transportation and installation renders them suitable for short-term construction endeavors, in contrast to vertical silos. The fact that these silos are typically made of metal and are intended to be positioned on the ground can make setup easier.

When building sites are situated in remote or shifting areas, mobile silos offer a versatile solution for cement storage. These silos are easily transportable from one location to another because they are mounted on wheels or trailers. They provide dependable cement storage even after withstanding the rigors of transportation.

Lastly, there are specially made silos that are made to fulfill particular needs. Whether for smaller construction projects or larger industrial operations, these silos can be customized in size, shape, and material to meet specific storage needs. Notwithstanding the particular difficulties presented by the storage environment, custom silos guarantee the effective and secure storage of cement.

Type of Silo Description
Flat Bottom Silo Ideal for storing large quantities of cement, easy to clean and maintain.
Hopper Bottom Silo Designed for easy discharge of cement, often used for frequent loading and unloading.
Baghouse Silo Equipped with a filter system to control dust, suitable for high-volume storage.
Portable Silo Mobile and easy to transport, perfect for temporary storage on construction sites.
Bolted Silo Constructed with modular panels, easy to assemble and disassemble, great for customized storage solutions.

Silo design

The cylindrical silo container, seen in the picture below, is the main component of a silo used to store cement mixtures. It has rounded edges and a conical bottom, and its body is sealed. Cement is easy to load into the hopper and store because of its shape.

Within the storage is a ladder, across from which is a technological hatch located in the upper bottom. A metal ladder that is external and equipped with protective fences is available for silo maintenance and cleaning. It can be taken out if needed.

Before any construction begins, a bunker for the storage of large building materials is erected on a unique base that is anchored to the foundation.

The raw materials are moved to the bunker using compressed air (pneumatic chamber pumps are also occasionally used) as a cement truck approaches the storage facility. A rotary disc valve with a screw feeder and a manual drive is mounted at the bottom of the silo to release the cement mixture from the tank.

In terms of machinery, a cement silo typically consists of the following extra components:

  • Safety valve.
  • Cement silo filter, thanks to which the air inside the tank is dedusted.
  • Loading tube for pouring dry mortar into the hopper.
  • Vibrator, which ensures cyclic mixing of cement.
  • Sensors showing the upper and lower levels.
  • Aeration unit.
  • Safety valves (raw materials do not spill out of the tank).

Depending on the type of cement storage silo, the entire set and arrangement of the structure may vary slightly, but premium units always include the essential components.

Types of bunker storage

At first, nature only had stationary reinforced concrete silos like the one in the picture.

They are still present in abandoned factories today. Today, though, there is a greater demand for metal structures that can be readily assembled or moved on the construction site using your hands if needed.

There are various types of steel bunker structures.

Collapsible

These silos are the most widely used for storing cement. The bulk mixture storage capacity and conical funnels with a feed mechanism comprise the collapsible storage facilities (in certain models, the "banks" also function as collapsible structures). These kinds of structures are very easy to transport because, when disassembled, they occupy very little space.

These containers have an endless assembly and disassembly cycle. The storage container’s two main components have dependable technological fastenings for ease of assembly.

One-piece

The high level of dependability of the completed bunkers has led to a surge in the popularity of non-demountable silos. These kinds of structures don’t even hesitate to risk serious external hull damage. It will be extremely difficult to compromise the integrity of these structures if the seams in collapsible models are brittle.

It is important to remember, though, that solid silos have a maximum capacity of 75 tons. Bigger structures aren’t made because they can’t be moved to the installation location.

Mobile

This kind of cement silo is made of lightweight containers arranged horizontally. This makes it simple to put on a wheeled chassis and move, as seen in the picture, to the construction site as a trailer. These models are considerably more expensive than their equivalents, though. Sliding, it stops in mobile silos.

Container

Container silos are essentially bigger versions of mobile bunkers. These kind of containers are usually utilized for big industrial construction sites. Owing to their increased weight, cargo ships or trains rather than wheeled chassis are used to transport container silos.

Warehouses

The silage warehouse is different in that it requires less simple maintenance; however, because it is more difficult to install, these kinds of structures are not used as frequently. Standard support is insufficient. As a result, additional supporting pile structures are required for the installation of a silo warehouse.

It is vital to consider other significant details in addition to the type and completion of the structure when purchasing a hopper for the storage of cement mixtures.

Features of the choice of silage

Let’s look at the main characteristics that you ought to look for in a silo:

  1. If the diameter of the bunker body is more than 12 m (stationary silo), then the structure must be located at a distance (at least 50 cm) from other installations. It is also worth considering the approach scheme to the bunker (unloading and loading of cement must be free).
  2. The storage body must be made of reliable and fire-resistant material (regardless of the type and model of the bunker).
  3. If you choose a silo up to 45 m long, then it is better to give preference to non-separable models. If the bunker design involves multiple assembly, then pay attention to the fact that it is equipped with expansion joints.
  4. When choosing a reinforced concrete structure, give preference only to monolithic or prefabricated reinforced concrete products.
  5. The inner surface of the concrete storage chamber must be smooth enough. If there are depressions, protrusions or ribs on it, then the cement will be stored in the wrong conditions. In addition, due to such defects, you will lose some of the raw materials during unloading.
  6. When purchasing a small steel silo for an unequipped room, it is worth taking care of an additional external protective shell for the structure.
  7. Before purchasing a silo, it is worth calculating the turnover of the concrete mixture itself and the bunker (the ratio of the volume of cement to the volume of the product body). If the turnover of a silo for storing mixtures is more than 1 week, then it is better not to buy such a structure. Otherwise, the cement may simply deteriorate.

The cost of silos is another crucial factor. The more components (like a cement silo filter) a structure has, the more expensive it is. Less expensive models come with a smaller selection of accessories, which you will need to purchase.

Selecting the appropriate kind of silo is essential when it comes to storing cement. Since each type has distinct benefits, it’s critical to take your particular requirements and situation into account. Because of their strength and airtight construction, which keeps moisture from affecting the cement, welded silos are well-liked. Bolted silos, on the other hand, are well-known for their adaptability and simplicity of transportation, which makes them perfect for places that need to be moved frequently or are hard to reach.

Another very convenient option, particularly for projects that move from site to site, is mobile silos. These silos require little time or labor because they are easy to assemble and disassemble. Cone bottom and flat bottom silos are also frequently utilized. Large storage capacities are the main reason for choosing flat bottom silos; on the other hand, cone bottom silos provide an effective material discharge, minimize waste, and guarantee a steady cement flow.

All things considered, knowing the various kinds of silos and their advantages will help you choose the best cement storage option. Whether capacity, flexibility, durability, or ease of discharge are your top priorities, a silo built to fit your needs exists. You can maximize your storage system, preserve the quality of your cement, and improve the effectiveness of your construction operations by making an informed decision.

Selecting the appropriate silo type for cement storage is essential to preserving its quality and guaranteeing effective construction procedures. There are several kinds of silos, such as mobile, horizontal, and vertical silos, each with special advantages suited to various site conditions and storage requirements. While horizontal silos offer easier access and maintenance, vertical silos are more popular due to their large capacity and space-saving design. For transient projects, mobile silos provide convenience and flexibility. Knowing how these options differ from one another makes it easier to choose the ideal silo for a given set of needs, maximize storage, and reduce waste.

Video on the topic

Lecture 10. Warehouse for storing cement. Types of cement silos. Part 2.

Assembling a silo for storing cement

Unloading cement into silos. Cement is the basis of any concrete mixture.

Cement silo, collapsible silos, for cement plants

Lecture 9. Warehouse for storing cement. Types of cement silos. Part 1.

Silo for cement for 100 tons. on bolted connections.

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Anna Vasilieva

Journalist with a technical education, specializing in construction topics. I can explain complex technical topics in simple and accessible language.

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