SMART SILO FOR THE SAFE STORAGE OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS

Abstract

The goal of the project was to develop an automated smart system that would be capable of reducing the risk of ignition of most materials stored within silos. Specifically, the initial focus was on carbonaceous material like silage, wood pellets, or coal. For the smart silo system, the design consists of the silo to store the material, a computer connected to valves and thermocouples regulating the system, a centrifugal air compressor with varying air flows, an air dryer to reduce moisture that can lead to clumping, and nitrogen tanks for an emergency purge of the whole system if temperatures get too high. The smart system will do several calculations by using the temperature from the thermocouples and the chemical properties of the material stored within the silo. With this information heat generation and heat dissipation curves can be simulated with different air flows to find the optimal air flow needed from the compressor. This way the silo’s temperature can not rise above the unsteady state point in which the heat generated will be too large leading to a runway reaction causing a fire or an explosion. The total capital investment for the design was $90,000 including the silo meaning it could still be affordable to implement.