ESI Eurosilo - Silo System for 'Free' Flowing and 'Non-Free' Flowing Bulk Materials

ESI Eurosilo is an independent Dutch company specializing in the turnkey delivery of silo-system storage facilities for non free-flowing bulk solids. A wide variety of bulk solids can be handled and stored within the Eurosilo mammoth silos, such as coal, FGD-gypsum, limestone, fly-ash and others. A strong advantage is that ESI Eurosilo has no ties with any manufacturing facility, meaning the client's preferences for vendors or local supplies can be accommodated to a large extent.

Eurosilo storage concept: screw reclaim mechanism

The Eurosilo storage concept has contributed to the widespread application of enclosed storage systems, as well as more than 30 years experience resulting in nearly 100 units built around the world. This proven concept also meets the requirements of environmental protection agencies worldwide.

An important feature of the Eurosilo concept is the way its screw reclaim mechanism operates. Linked with a slotted column, the notorious 'flow-no flow' criteria have lost their meaning since this powerful combination ensures reclamation of even such a vicious bulk solid as FGD-gypsum, and may be even more important for the upcoming market for tough materials, such as fly-ash and biomass.

Turnkey and key-item delivery capabilities

ESI Eurosilo has gathered the experience and know-how for large engineered systems. Upon the client's request we can offer turnkey delivery of storage handling facilities (possible storage capacities vary from 750m³/unit up to 100,000m³/unit), the delivery of key-items to the acting main contractor (as a part of local supply), and engineering studies (feasibility/basic/detailed).

Eurosilo operation principles

The silo bulk solid contents are built up in horizontal layers. The material is fed in through the top center of the silo, descends through a telescopic spout and is uniformly distributed by a screw conveyor system suspended from a slewing bridge structure. The three main Eurosilo reclaim mechanisms are:

• Core-flow (coal)
• Core-flow with center column (applied for borax, coal, potato starch, soy beans)
• Central slotted column (applied for fertilizer, potash, salt, FGD-gypsum)

Advantages of Eurosilo silo systems

The patented Eurosilo system offers significant advantages, such as:

• No pollution of the environment by dust or ground water percolation
• No moisture increase by rain, snow etc. and consequently no or only limited product degradation
• Considerably smaller space requirements than other storage systems - for instance, Eurosilo requires less than 40% of the area as required by open stockpiles for the same storage capacity
• Reclamation of very cohesive materials. (e.g. FGD-Gypsum) even after three months, no more limitation on storage periods
• Possibility for dynamic coal blending when reclaiming two (or more) silos simultaneously at a controlled rate
• High availability of equipment
• Low operating costs
• Low maintenance costs
• Significant savings on fuel costs

Options for custom-made Eurosilo systems

Eurosilo's systems are custom-made. However, several standard sizes are available. The following options are available:

• The silo structure can be built as: a steel structure with a wooden innerwall and a standard outerwall cladding, slipformed concrete silo or as a steel tank
• Tracing and/or insulation of the outerwall
• Existing oil tanks can be converted into a silo by installing a Eurosilo system inside
• Drainage of the silo and by installing a vacuum unit additional dewatering can be achieved
• Complete remote control based on data bus systems
• Extended silo structures on behalf of equipment on top e.g. dewatering station on top an FGD-gypsum silo
• Subjacent truck and train loading facilities directly underneath