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Details count when designing a grain handling system by Brock Grain Systems, USA
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In this article we asked the company Brock to take us through 12 key points that millers and grain handling operators should consider when designing a grainhandling system, and to highlight the key aspects of their own proprietary equipment to illustrate the points being made here are many considerations when designing a new grain handling system. Initial cost is, of course, very important, but it should not be the overriding factor. Grain handling capacities, system expandability, maintenance requirements, equipment durability and service support all play important roles.
Sizing grain handling systems to meet capacity needs
One of the most important factors when choosing grain handling equipment is knowing your throughput requirements and balancing the needs for realistic capacity and future expansion.
Being realistic
If you build too much capacity into a grain system, you will spend more upfront for equipment that may never be fully utilised. Higher capacity equipment can take up valuable space in your operation, and it may cost more to maintain and repair. 74 | December 2020 - Milling and Grain
Planning ahead
If you plan to expand storage capacity in the future, take that into account at the beginning or you may end up trying to push existing grain handling equipment beyond the limit of what the equipment was designed to carry. If you plan to add another storage bin 10 years from now, you do not want to be forced to replace a drag conveyor that still has many remaining years of service life because it cannot handle the new capacity requirements of your system.
Beware of overstated capacities
Some manufacturers claim grain handling capacities at optimal conditions using grain at a 15 percent moisture level. Real-world applications must account for heavier, wetter grain that does not flow as readily. Brock Grain Systems takes this variability into account when stating throughputs. If a Brock commercial bucket elevator or drag conveyor is rated to deliver 800 tonnes (30,000 bushels) of grain-per-hour, you can be confident it can meet that capacity during everyday conditions, not just optimal ones. Disclaimer - Capacities based on moisture level plus 10 percent for dry, free flowing, grains with a 768kg/mÑ (48lb/ftÑ) material density.
Avoiding bottlenecks
A good grain system designer will make sure all components work together seamlessly to meet capacity throughputs. Brock Grain Systems and their dealers use advanced tools to design