Silo
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Oxygen deprivation is of the utmost importance because oxygen can spoil the material stored.
Contents |
[edit] Types
[edit] Tower Silos
Tower silos are tall cylindrical structures, typically constructed of concrete or steel.
There are two different concrete models: stave silos and cast-in place silos. Stave silos consist of concrete slabs stacked into a cylindrical wall and held together by steel hoops, similar to a wooden wine barrel.[1] Cast-in-place models are constructed by pouring concrete inside a set form.
These silos are loaded from the top, allowing the material to compact under its own weight. Depending on the type, they can be unloaded from the top or bottom. Top-unloading silos have scrapers, which push the material into a chute mounted on the side of the silo.[2] Bottom-unloading silos have a screw-type unloader, which pushes material to a central hopper to be conveyed by a belt or screw conveyor.[3]
[edit] Horizontal Silos
Horizontal silos can either be above- or belowground. An aboveground bunker-type horizontal silo is typically constructed of concrete. A belowground trench silo is formed by excavating a long trench in a well-drained area.
These silos are generally best for crops that yield a lot of tonnage in one harvest, because filling and refilling causes exposure and spoilage. They are considered easier to unload than tower silos because it can be done with a front end loader.
[edit] Bag Silos
Bag silos do not require the building of any structure, but instead are simply plastic bags filled with silage. This is a fairly new practice, in comparison with the other two types of silos.
It is a flexible system that allows small amounts of material to be easily stored. However, stuffing the bag requires a special machine that costs $10,000 to $25,000.[4] The bags are not reusable and can rip.
