Grain Consulting Engineering Expertise provides engineering services for mechanical designs, with specialist consulting expertise in grain storage structures, handling and conveying equipment. Extensive experience in coordination of logistical requirements for small and large scale projects including farm, terminal and co-operative bulk handling and storage.
The most important consideration of all is the development of a sound and efficient long range plan for the complete grain receiving, drying, handling, storage and processing facility.
In general, storage structures account for the largest component of the total cost. Therefore it is desirable to develop a design for a grain handling facility around the storage component; in other words to estimate the storage volume required, evaluate the type of store best suited to the requirements, and then to design the conveying and other systems to suit.
Good planning can incorporate existing silo structures, whilst the design of any new grain storage facility should, where possible, allow for future extension(s).
Careful planning and implementation of the right design can save money in both the short and long term.
A simple general view in a drawing with principal lines provides the preliminary information required for the designer to follow.
The plans provide an overall visual view of the design and can detect any possible problems or inconveniences which can be allowed for and discussed by all participants involved before an engineer begins to draft the final plan, which requires more time and dedication.
Storage equipment for different propositions and sizes, including: aerial and flat hopper.
Compliant with Australian Standards and with overseas standard codes as required.
Evaluation of the external and internal conditions and structural integrity. Including safety procedures for different utilisation, conditions and conservation of the stored product.
Material and specific treatment according of the product to be stored must be considered according to technical specifications.
There are a number of options which need to be considered according to budget, needs and reliability required.
Chain conveyors, belt conveyors and screw conveyors are most often utilised.
Safety is an important consideration in this equipment due to the human implication involved.
Flexibility and suitability are evaluated according to extensive range of equipment available on the market.
The type of material to be fabricated, speed, maintenance routine and technical specifications suitable to each particular use must also be evaluated.
Expertise in this area can provide appropriate information regarding the differences in each available option.
Bucket elevators are used to lift grain where it flows by gravity through spouts or conveyors and into one of a number of bins, silos or tanks in a facility. The silos, bins and tanks are then emptied by gravity flow, sweep augers and conveyors. Elevators provide more advantages than disadvantages in comparison to other machinery dedicated to moving material from one place to other.
Material, general shape, bucket speed and size are important basic values to be considered for maximum efficiency, performance, and ease of operation. Usually correct selection and assembly involve lower ongoing maintenance and longer life.
Safety procedures must be considered as in any other area where human implication is involved.
The concept of the hopper is to receive and retain the material until it has to be delivered to another place. According to the material to be handled and specific needs, many different solutions exist and each has to be evaluated for every particular case.
The design and position is crucial and exhaustive analysis should be undertaken to provide the most appropriate solution.
Cleaning equipment is required to ensure impurities mixed with the grain are eliminated. This operation, is indispensable before storage or further processing of the grain as it not only costly but also wastes time, effort and money on storing the impurities along with the grain.
There are different solutions suitable for specific proposes; sometimes flexibility is required and some machinery is able to be adapted with simple modifications.
There is not a universal solution suitable for all needs and sometimes what can be spectacularly successful in one place can have the opposite result in another.
This machinery has to exist in any facility. The destiny of the reject material obtained and appropriate disposal must be considered in the implementation of the system.
Due to climate and external conditions aeration system planning, operation, and management has to be considered for successful grain storage and final delivery.
It is a useful storage management tool which can preserve grain from deterioration, especially where the moisture content of the grain is above its safe level.
Inadequate selection or incorrect operation of the appropriate system may cause damage to the grain rather than provide any beneficial action. Energy consumption and efficiency must also be considered.
This is thermic machinery and requires the appropriate professional to evaluate the appropriate system.
According with the supplied market there are many different alternatives.
The selection is an economical and technical decision and sometimes is not easy to find the right one.
Once again a technical opinion is a valid tool to consider before any final decision.
It is important to consider different points of view and to use available technical support.
Initially, a silo represents somewhere to hold and protect grain from a number of external factors, such as weather and pests. At this stage the siting of the silo may not seem very important and many people do not pay much attention to it, but when several silos are involved, all needing to be connected with handling equipment, the problems soon become obvious.
Handling equipment is the key to a successful storage system, resulting in clean, healthy grain, and saving money and labour. As it represents a major part of the cost, it is essential to have professional advice to help select the appropriate options for your application.
There is an increasing need for grain storage. Different sectors of the industry have different requirements, but they have one thing in common. In every sector, efficient storage systems can mean saving money.
On-farm storage gives producers the ability to hold onto grain and deliver it at a time when they can optimise returns and minimize delivery costs
Cooperatives can improve the quality and quantity of storage, providing options for storing more varieties of bulk grains and seeds.
Port facilities are becoming bigger with each new development.