We
are providing information for both those familiar with our product
and those that are new to the GSI Bin / Silo lines on this page.
Much of this information is from the GSI Price List. All information
and recommendations on this page that are not from the GSI Price
list are intended to be of an advisory nature only. GSI assumes
no liability of any type related to the use or application or misapplication
of said information.
Please
select the appropriate question from the list below.
FAQ Information / Navigation List for the GSI Bin / Silo Series
Narrow
vs. Wide Corrugation Pattern:
Grain
Systems manufactures both the Narrow (2.66") and Wide (4")
corrugation bins and silos. Neither corrugation has a great theoretical
advantage over the other.
The
Narrow (2.66") corrugation is the original GSI grain bin line.
This series is a popular choice throughout the United States and
in several other regions of the world. The 32" (813 mm) tall
sheets reduce the weight of each sheet, which eases construction
of the larger diameter and taller silos, which utilize thicker gauge
steel.
The
Wide (4") corrugation is popular in certain area's of the United
States and Canada, especially in the smaller diameter and shorter
bin heights. GSI began manufacturing the Wide corrugation bin/silo
to match up to the eave and peak heights of existing 4" corrugation
bins/silos, as well as for the overall appearance. This is often
an important factor when adding to an existing facility.
GSI
manufactures both the stiffened and unstiffened series of bins/silos.
The unstiffened series is popular in the United States due to the
large number of existing unstiffened bins/silos on the farmsteads.
They also have lower erection times.
The
stiffened series generally offers more efficient material usage
and will generally have a lower material cost and lower freight
cost than the comparable size of unstiffened tank. They also offer
the advantage of being available in taller bins / silos than the
unstiffened series.
FCDL bins are punched for 12" plenum and stiffened to the eave. FCDL bins include the following: base angle, sidewall sheets, door, decal sheet, outside stiffeners, sidewall hardware with caulk, 30 degree roof, roof cleats, and one manhole. All FCDL bins with a plenum floor should use the High Back flashing floors. See floor section for details. FCDL bins up to 7 rings are designed for heavy duty drying and recirculating of small grains. FCDL bins may be used with drying equipment and most multi-screw stirring devices. FCDL bins 8 rings and taller are warranted for storage/aeration only - not drying. All FCDL bins except 54' and 60' taller have a walk through door located in the 2nd ring and top half of the bottom ring. The specific door part number may vary based on the diameter and eave height of the bin. 54' & 60' bins below 7 rings also have a walk through door. 54' & 60' bins 7 rings and taller have a commercial 1 ring round door.
Stirring
Device Usage and Bin Series
W
Series
Bin
Diameter
Stirring
Device
12'
15'
18'
21'
24'
27'
30'
33'
36'
42'
48'
4
or more augers
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
3
down augers
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
2
down augers
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
1
down auger
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FC
FCDL
bins are for all recirculating devices and any stirring device.
Use
the recommended series or heavier.
Rice requirements differ slightly. Please contact GSI for details.
The
interchanging use of the term bin and silo as the description for
our grain storage structures stems from the international nature
of the WWW (the World in WWW). In the U.S.A. and Canada the term
bin is most frequently used to describe corrugated metal structures
for the storage and drying of grain. The term silo is most commonly
used in these nations for structures meant to store fermented forage
products (silage or haylage) or for tall concrete dry grain storage
structures or complexes.
Conversely,
outside of North America the term silo is almost uniformly used
as the terminology for round grain storage structures, including
corrugated steel structures.
Our
structures are not intended for storage of forage products such
as silage that requires a fermentation process to reach the products
desired condition.
After
an extensive period of use, the question sometimes arises what kind
of paint could be used to paint an older used bin or for the maintenance
of a bin / silo that is in an aggressive environment. The following
statement from our engineering archives addresses this point
Painting
of galvanized grain bin shell components and roof panels:
Before
painting, the steel surface should be free of all foreign materials
such as dirt, white rust, red rust, oil, etc. Wire brushing or needle
or brush blasting of corroded areas is recommended.
New,
non corroded galvanized steel will typically have a di-chromate
(rust retardant) coating that inhibits paint adhesion. To paint
new galvanized steel an abrasive removal process such as wire brushing
or sand blasting will be necessary to abrade the di-chromate coating.
Natural weathering will remove this coating as well. A minimum of
six months would be required for the natural weathering off of the
coating.
Once
the steel surface has been cleaned, a zinc rich primer should be
applied per the manufacturers instructions. Two coats of the zinc
rich primer are normally recommended. This primer will have a dull
gray appearance. To provide the bright shine and color of new galvanized
steel a final coat of a rust inhibiting aluminum paint may be applied
over the primer. One manufacturers primer product recommendation
follows. Other manufactures may offer similar products.
For touching up small areas zinc rich spray paints marketed as "cold
galvanizing compound" or similar identification may be useful.
Call GSI for more information.
Ph: 217-226-4421 | Int'l Tel: 217-226-4401
This
is a non-epoxy product with good corrosion resistance, requiring
a lesser degree of professional equipment or application than three
component epoxy type paints. Contact the particular manufacturer
for equivalent primers and aluminum paint numbers / specifications.
Painting
of commercial hopper tank steel columns and painted bracing:
GSI
commercial hopper tank columns are specially cleaned, primed and
finish painted. For maintenance painting, the steel surface should
be free of all foreign materials such as dirt, red rust, oil, etc.
Wire brushing or needle or brush blasting of corroded areas is recommended.
Call GSI for equivalent primers and paint numbers
/ specifications.
Ph: 217-226-4421 | Int'l Tel: 217-226-4401
Recommendations
/ Important Considerations when adding to existing farm (unstiffened)
bins / silos.
The
following information addresses a number of concerns on the issue
of adding to existing farm bins / silos. Much of this comes directly
from a Binformation article and information distributed by GSI at
National Dealer Meetings.
LET'S "ADD-ON" TO THAT OLD BIN AND SAVE $ ?????????
One
frequent request is to "add on to" or "raise"
an existing farm bin to increase its storage or drying capacity.
While usually possible, certain areas of concern should be covered
before proceeding with such a project:
The
existing bottom ring will not usually be heavy enough to be kept
as the base ring of the taller bin. If the lower edge of the base
ring is punched for bolting on new panels, the base ring can be
raised with the bin. However, this may require disconnection and
disturbance of flooring, transitions, unload equipment, electrical,
etc. One alternative is to discard the existing base ring and
replace with new panels of the proper type and gage. Another option
is to add stiffeners to the bin through the base ring and on into
the upper part of the bin. When installing stiffeners on a bin,
GSI recommends a minimum of two stiffener columns per sidewall
panel. If the stiffeners do not cover the entire height of the
bin wall, we recommend staggering their stopping points alternately
on the bin. GSI offers our "FC" Farm-Com stiffeners
as an economical way to add stiffeners to existing bins.
Existing
bin foundations should be checked out for structural adequacy
to carry the additional loads of a taller bin.
If
the existing bin has some type of flooring system, it should be
reviewed to be sure it will withstand the new higher floor pressures
of a taller bin.
The
existing bin door must either be left in position, moved to a
new position with proper sidewall door panels, or replaced with
a new door. Be sure the existing door is structurally sound for
a possible new location in a taller bin. For example, previous
to 1990, GSI did not install the standard two ring door (of that
time) in all unstiffened bins / silo heights. Usage of a door
from that era and earlier must be limited to it's original design
range, or structural problems will result.
Be
aware that modification of an existing bin will generally void
that bin's warranty from the original bin manufacturer and warranty
on new added materials is questionable on some other manufacturer's
product.
Recommendations
/ Important Considerations when adding to existing commercial (stiffened)
bin / silo.
Addition
of holding capacity to a commercial tank:
As with unstiffened farm bins / silos one frequent issue is the
desire to "add on to" or "raise" an existing
commercial bin / silo to increase its storage or drying capacity.
While many of the same issues and concerns that were discussed in
the farm bin FAQ on this subject apply, there are additional areas
of concern that must be considered in extending commercial bins
/ silos. Such projects will frequently require the retention of
a professional engineer to evaluate the existing structure, foundation,
connections, etc.:
The
existing bottom ring will not usually be heavy enough to be kept
as the base ring of the taller bin. If the lower edge of the base
ring is punched for bolting on new panels, the base ring can be
raised with the bin. This may require disconnection and disturbance
of flooring, transitions, unload equipment, electrical, etc. If
the bin has a "rolled lip" formed into the sheet, normally
you will have to discard the existing base ring and replace with
new panels of the proper type and gage.
Existing
bin foundations should be checked out for structural adequacy
to carry the additional loads of a taller bin. Additionally the
extended height will create increased pressures on adjacent structures.
The affect of the increased pressure on those structures must
be evaluated.
New
stiffener profiles may not match up to the existing bin stiffener
profile. In that case it will be necessary to design and fabricate
a connection to properly transfer the load from the original profile
to the new one. Under no case should running the stiffeners past
each other on the sidewall sheet be relied upon as the transfer
mechanism. The planned connection / fabrication should be designed
or reviewed by a qualified engineer. In the case of a stiffened
extension to a unstiffened bin / silo, you will normally have
to stiffen the existing structure.
Among
the information necessary to determine the requirements for components
are the number of stiffener columns in the tanks and the spacing
between them along the perimeter, a determination of the actual
diameter if the brand is not known to be a standard industry diameter
and what type of base sheet (standard, rolled lip, etc.) is installed
on the existing bin / silo.
In
certain cases, increasing the height of the bin / silo will result
in pressures on the existing structure higher than what that bin
has experienced before. Similarly, conversion of systems that
have been low cycle storage into high cycle, high unload rate
systems may result in higher stresses on the existing portion
of the structure.
If
the existing bin has some type of flooring or aeration system,
it should be reviewed to be sure it will withstand the new higher
floor pressures of a taller bin or suitably modified to enable
it to withstand the greater height.
The
existing bin door must either be left in position and moved up
with its ring or replaced with proper sidewall panels. A new door
will be necessary in the added rings.
Be
aware that modification of an existing bin will generally void
that bin's warranty from the original bin manufacturer and warranty
on new added materials is not provided by GSI for additions to
other manufacturers tanks for commercial add-on's or conversions.
Evaluation
by qualified engineering representatives may be necessary to properly
evaluate a particular situation with regards to new components,
foundations, anchorage systems, etc.
Roof
Damage from internal air pressure and blocked exhaust ports.
The
following article on roof damage from the combination of blocked
exhaust ports (vents) and internal air pressure was published in
a past Binformation newsletter.
Grain
bin roofs can be damaged by internal air pressure from drying /
aeration fans running with roof exhaust ports blocked with frost
or ice. This can happen to almost any bin roof regardless of size
or brand. GSI clearly warns about this potential problem in our
catalogs, bin construction manuals and fan manuals.
Anytime
fans are moving air through grain and outside temperatures are near
or below the freezing mark, the possibility for this problem exists.
Years with late harvesting and difficult drying conditions are often
associated with running of fans during such weather conditions.
Moisture laden air off the grain can form frost and ice on cold
metal surfaces such as roof vent screens, roof panels, sidewall
panels, etc. If frost accumulation occurs to the point of restricting
air flow through vent screens and other air outlets, a build-up
of air pressure can push up roof panels and damage the roof.
GSI
"wire-grill" roof vents are less prone to frost blockage
with our 3/4" wire spacing than many competitors' vents still
using 1/2" mesh hardware cloth. The GSI "Auto Vent"
is even less likely to frost-plug with the single vent louver providing
a large size opening while fans are running. However, no roof vent
design can be absolutely guaranteed to never frost over.
The
best preventative for this problem is to always have the roof peak
cap and roof manway door "OPEN" while running fans during
these weather conditions. These door openings will provide adequate
exhaust area to prevent roof damaging air pressures. Please remind
your customers of this potential problem and how to avoid roof damage.
