How to Calculate the Storage Material Height in the Steel Silo?

To calculate the storage material height in a steel silo, you need to know a few basic parameters such as the silo’s geometry (typically cylindrical), the bulk density of the material being stored, and the silo’s total storage capacity. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do the calculation:

1. Determine the Silo Geometry

• Silo shape: Most steel silos are cylindrical, so we’ll assume a cylindrical shape for this example.
• Silo dimensions: You need the silo’s diameter (D) and height (H), though the full height may not be needed unless the silo is full.

2. Calculate the Silo’s Total Storage Volume

The total volume of a cylindrical silo can be calculated using the formula:

V=π×(D/2​)2×H​

Where:

• V = total silo volume (in cubic meters, m³)
• D = diameter of the silo (in meters)
• H = height of the silo (in meters)

3. Determine the Bulk Density of the Material

The bulk density of the material you’re storing will be required to calculate how much mass can be stored in the silo. Bulk density ($\rho$) is typically measured in kg/m³ or ton/m³.

For example, if you are storing a material with a bulk density of 600 kg/m³, that means each cubic meter of material weighs 600 kg.

4. Determine the Total Weight of the Material to be Stored

If you know the total weight of the material to be stored in the silo ($W$), you can proceed to the next step. Otherwise, you can calculate it by multiplying the material’s bulk density by the total volume of the silo:

W=V×ρ

Where:

• W= total weight of the material (in kilograms, kg)
• V = total silo volume (in cubic meters, m³)
• ρ = bulk density of the material (in kg/m³)

5. Calculate the Material Height

To find the material height (the height of the stored material inside the silo), divide the weight of the material by the area of the silo’s base (which is a circle) and the material’s bulk density:

Hm​=W/{π×(D/2​)2×ρ}​

​​

Where:

• Hm = height of the material (in meters)
• W = total weight of the material (in kilograms, kg)
• $D$ = diameter of the silo (in meters)
• ρ = bulk density of the material (in kg/m³)