Silo tower: device and purpose

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

In order to save money, agricultural and livestock enterprises are engaged in forage harvesting using ensiling technology. It consists in collecting grass from the fields and its subsequent conservation. After a certain time, the silage turns into ready-made feed for livestock, which practically does not require investments. However, for the proper storage of this agricultural product, a silo is required, an example of which is photographed below. This facility provides optimal storage conditions for prepared grass and at the same time requires minimal maintenance.

Assignment of the silo

As already noted, the main purpose of towers of this type is the storage of forage based on silage. After harvesting and analyzing the prepared material for moisture indicators, the raw material is sent to the receiver of such facilities. A feature of the conditions that the silo creates is the possibility of ensuring tightness. It is the lack of access to oxygen that allows you to quickly bring the grass collection to an optimal state suitable for fodder.

Besides fodder, silos are also used for grain storage. From this point of view, these structuresattractive capacity and maintaining favorable temperature conditions. A modern silo, for example, has the option of integrating thermostats to monitor the microclimate.

Silo device

The basis of the towers is formed by hermetic walls, which can be made of a variety of materials. Traditional rural structures are usually made of brick, timber, concrete and stone. In recent years, manufacturers of agricultural equipment have been producing special prefabricated kits, from which later assembly is carried out at the installation site. As a result, an inexpensive and affordable silo tower is obtained, the device of which involves the assembly of a frame from panels. Individual components can be made of other materials - for example, functional working parts are made of plastic, but for the foundation you still have to make a reinforced concrete base. It is also worth noting that maintaining the durability of the structure and ensuring the conditions for keeping the agricultural product is impossible without special protection of the surfaces of the structure. Therefore, manufacturers endow the same metal panels for the frame with protective coatings that protect the surface from moisture, chemical attack and mechanical damage.

Specifications

The tower may be above ground or partially buried depending on local climatic conditions and operational requirements. Heightstructures on average varies from 7 to 15 m, again, this parameter depends on the load volumes that the service company expects. A characteristic feature of such objects is the execution of the upper part. The traditional silo roof is cone-shaped, completing the cylindrical base of the structure. The diameter varies from 5 to 7 m. There is another feature of such buildings. The bottom is made in such a way that the juice from the silo accumulates in a special pit as it is stored. To do this, the project initially lays the slope of the basic foundation foundation of 2-3%.

Functioning of the facility

The main working steps are to load and unload the contents of the material. Also, in some cases, the technological possibility of performing tamping operations by special machines is allowed. To do this, conditions for the input of equipment are created in the tower. In the standard configuration, loading and unloading is carried out through special hatches, which can be provided in the walls and roof. In addition, each hatch has special protection against external damage and insulation materials. The significant differences that a modern silo tower possesses include a high level of mechanization. Manufacturers routinely or optionally introduce automatic means of carrying out work operations, supplementing the towers with multi-level control systems.

Additional equipment

Often the inclusion of additional equipment inconstruction is about 30-40% of the base cost of the tower. This is explained by the use of high-tech equipment that improves the quality of feed and grain content. The most common extras include a ventilation system, ladder structures, dispensers and lightning protection for the feed silo to prevent fires and accidents. Display devices are also being introduced. For example, sensors showing the level of filling with feed have become widespread. And that's not to mention the traditional measuring devices, by which service personnel can inquire about the humidity and temperature inside the tower.

Conclusion

Facilities for the vertical organization of the storage of silage feed became a continuation of the concept of trenches and pits, which acted as the same storage facilities, but at a primitive level. However, in terms of efficiency, horizontal methods of keeping feed are not inferior to towers. Proper organization of storage of freshly cut grass in a trench also allows you to get the best fodder product in terms of characteristics. But the silo wins over the previous storage methods due to the convenience of maintenance, high manufacturability and functionality. Of course, she also has her shortcomings. First of all, it is cash costs. Medium-sized designs cost about 200-300 thousand rubles. Another disadvantage is the need for technical support of the tower itself in order to maintain its operationalproperties.