DESIGN OF STORAGE SILOS AND HOPPERS
In beneficiation plant , In the general field of bulk solids handling, ensuring that both the storage of materials and the movement from storage will be carried out in an effective and efficient manner is essential. However, the flow out of bins and hoppers is well known to be often unreliable; as a result, considerable costs are incurred because of consequential losses in production. Problems that commonly occur in storage bin operation include particle segregation, erratic feeding, flooding, arching, piping, and adhesion to the bin walls—all of which reduce the bin capacity below the values specified by the manufacturer. For example, a poorly flowing material may cause an arch or bridge over the hopper outlet or a stable rathole within the bin (see Figure 1). On the other hand, a very flowable material (dry, fine powder) may become aerated and subsequently fluidize, causing potential flooding problems. Where flow blockages occur in practice, a common response is to resort to flow...