Description
Single silo, with bucket elevator and downpipe conveyance system, and unload auger to dump pit.
Advantages of the bucket elevator and downpipes system
a. Simple system – very few moving parts – nearly all the conveyance is performed by the bucket elevator
b. Ease of maintenance and operation- familiar technology in bucket elevators and augers – that most users will easily maintain with prior knowledge of grain handling systems
c.Medium power consumption – the high power consumption of the tall elevator is mitigated by not having additional conveyors to move the grain horizontally to the silo peaks
d. Dual use handling equipment – the bucket elevator is used for both loading grain and discharging grain.
e. Lower initial capital investment than grainpump or bucket elevator and chain conveyor systems
f. The high height of the bucket elevator allows for significant reach around it – allowing for expansion in multiple directions
Disadvantages of the bucket elevator and downpipes system
a. Can only really be expanded to two silos wihthout raising the bucket elevator height
b. Higher breakage – due to the grain being handled by an inclined auger twice – there will be slightly higher grain damage – especially when not running the system at full capacity
c. The system is unable to load and unload at the same time – which makes this system unsuitable for grain storage facilities with dryers, or for multigrain storage facilities – where it is crucial to be able to load one commodity, whilts unloading another type of commodity
d. Relatively short lifespan on augers – augers can be expected to last around 30,000T before major maintenance is neccesary. With roof mounted augers, this will usually neccesitate cranage to remove and replace the auger. This is offset by the bucket elevator which has a long lifespan – depending on the model – of up to 300,000T
e. Difficult installation – large cranes neccesary to lift the tall bucket elevator
f. Experience of inconsistent and poor maintenance on the bucket elevator – due to the extreme heights of these elevators – maintenance technicians are loathe to climb the ladder all the way to the top to do regular maintenance – due to fear of heights, and the phyical exertion.
g. High bucket elevators neccesitate either expensive support towers, or obtrusive guy wires around the elevator – hampering movement around the silos.
h. High wear and tear on the downpipes from the elevator to the silo peaks – due to high grain velocities – standard round tube downpipes can be expected to last between 10,000T-15,000T before replacement is neccesary – which results once again in cranage costs.
i. Higher grain breakage – due to the high velocity at which the grain travels down the downspouts, when entering the silo, this causes more grain breakage – this risk can be mitigate by installing speed reducers in the the downspout, and installing dead ends at the silo peaks.
Should I opt for the bucket elevator and downpipe system?
The bucket elevator and downspout system is suitable for low volume on farm applications ususally in the case of long term storage, or for storage for on farm use – this system has proven popular in the past, but we install very few of these systems nowadays. This system is not suitable for high volume users, due to the limited lifespan on the downpipes (except if very expensive UHMW lined downspouts are used). We would suggest this type of system for users handling less than 3,000T per year through the system. Larger operations may consider the Grainpump system, or the Bucket elevator and chain conveyor system or the Bucket elevator and roof auger system
System consists of:
- 1 x Bucket elevator (standard 50TPH or 100TPH – but other capacities available)
- 2 x Silo (sizes available from 150T to 5,000T in this layout)
- Sweep augers optional
- Channel or full floor aeration (customer to specify – to help make a decision on what your need for aeration is – see here
- As standard – guy wire support kit for bucket elevator (support tower is optional)
- Set of ducting and spouting for connection of bucket elevator to silo, and for offloading downpipe over dump pit area)
- Auger unload of dump pit
- Auger unload of silo
This is a standard layouts that is shown of our silo complexes – these are not final designs, and the layout, silo capacities, handling equipment and capacities can be adjusted to customer specific requirements.
