Storage silos and hoppers are often relegated to the back burner of design. At times, designs intended for a different application and process are used – a decision that can lead to costly, and sometimes risky failures.

Through case studies, this article emphasises the importance of considering flow patterns and material characteristics, and shows how to prevent common issues like arching, flooding, and segregation.

Understanding material flow properties and utilizing proper equipment design are essential for reliable operation and mitigating potential flaws. Costly and risky failures can be avoided through proper planning and considering the unique properties of the materials.

A common misconception when designing a storage silo is that determining the required storage capacity and selecting a feeder that will achieve the desired discharge rate are the only important considerations.