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THE DO'S & DON'TS OF EFFECTIVE SILO MANAGEMENT

Whether silos are used for intermediate storage, bottleneck management, material blending or final product storage; their effective management is very important to ensure the smooth running of industrial processes.



Below is a list of some simple yet critical points that may assist plant managers to effectively manage their silo systems and avoid the numerous inconveniences linked blockages and losses in silo capacity:

  • Ensure proper material quality analysis is always done before loading any material into a silo.

  • Ensure that agitation systems use dry air; we strongly recommend the use of root blowers as opposed to compressed air.

  • Avoid overfilling standing silos; in fact, we recommend that a silo be emptied to less than 75% of its capacity if it is going to be left idle.

  • In the case of redundant silos, ensure regular rotations between vessels and avoid leaving any silo idle for too long.

  • Ensure that any openings (e.g. side doors, roof access) are always tightly sealed.

  • Closely monitor any cracks, and conduct proper root cause analysis.

  • Timeously attend to any issues at silo extraction points; blockages tend to be easier to address earlier.

  • Schedule regular silo operation procedure awareness and training for all users.

  • Completely empty silos at least once every three years to monitor buildup and recalibrate sensors.

  • Whenever possible have dedicated silos for different materials, should there be a need to load different material, ensure proper cleaning is done before the new material is loaded.

  • Conduct regular silo system audits with reputable consultants to ensure that the system operates optimally and identify bottlenecks.

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