Muyang Silo Design

The design of bins and silos to store bulk solids involves bulk material, geometric, and structural considerations.

Bulk material considerations are important because the frictional and cohesive properties of bulk solids vary from one solid to another, and these properties affect material behavior considerably. In addition, a given bulk solid's flow properties can vary dramatically with changes in numerous parameters, including particle size, moisture, temperature, and consolidating pressure. This variability of properties makes testing at actual conditions more important for proper bin and storage silo design than at first appear.

When considering the geometric design of a steel silo, potential problems include arching across an outlet, rat holing through the material, and the flow pattern during discharge. A bulk material's propensity to arch or rat hole is primarily related to its cohesiveness, while its flow pattern during discharge depends upon internal friction as well as the friction that develops between the material and the silo's hopper walls. The goal of geometric design is to maximize the useable capacity of a silo while minimizing its capital cost, overall height, etc.