INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The very first five 9,000-tonne pneumatic grain storage facilities in China were successfully pumped up into shape on Monday in Changsha,
capital of main Chinas Hunan Province, marking another step forward in the nations efforts to establish its fourth-generation grain storage
technology.Each of the five silos, with a diameter of 24 meters and a height of 33 meters, can accumulate to 9,000 tonnes of grain, enough
to provide food for 23 million individuals for one day
Whats special about these pneumatic silos is that they can withstand rain and cold air compared to standard grain storage facilities
For the sake of storing grains, their airtightness is 6 times greater than nationwide standards, and their thermal insulation performance is
three times much better than standard squat silos, stated Wang Yue, head of the engineering design center at the Chengdu Grain Storage
Research Institute under Sinograin.Beyond the outer air membrane, the silos include a reinforced concrete layer for structural assistance
and a polyurethane thermal insulation layer
When operational, a network of sensing units within will allow for real-time, thorough monitoring of the grains temperature
The nearly oxygen-free environment likewise helps control bugs, guaranteeing optimum grain quality.In addition to their waterproofing,
insulation and airtightness, the silos use a considerable decrease in operational and maintenance expenses, which are anticipated to be 30
percent lower than those of traditional silos
The silos insulation and concrete structure are developed inside the air membrane, untouched by unfavorable weather conditions like rain,
What once needed a team of over 100 workers can now be finished by just 18 people, with the building and construction duration minimized by
a quarter compared to the previous generation of squat silos, stated Jin Feng, head of the pneumatic silos task at the China Coal No
68 Engineering Co., Ltd.The five 9,000-tonne silos are anticipated to be finished by the end of this year and go into operation in February
