Articles & News
Articles & News
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- by Rebecca Pyper
In recent years McInnis Cement has been busy building itself as a serious player in the industry. As the newest […]
In recent years McInnis Cement has been busy building itself as a serious player in the industry.
As the newest entrant in the North American cement market, the companyโs plant in Port-DanielโGascons, Canada, is the first new plant to serve eastern Canada, the U.S. eastern seaboard and the Great Lakes region in more than 50 years. McInnisโs objective is to supply customers with superior-quality products consistently produced and reliably distributed, based on sustainable development principles.
As part of their effort to grow business, McInnis built a Providence, Rhode Island, facility, and after two years in operation, the company was ready for an upgrade.
โThe initial 30,000-ton flat storage warehouse has been very functional, and it will continue to be used in conjunction with the new storage dome. However, the dome storage was elected for the expansion because the warehouse operations had various limitations. While we were reclaiming from that, we couldnโt offload a ship,โ said project director Dominic Demers, adding that unloading would often pause for 10 to 12 hours a day during warehouse reclaim. โFor phase two, we wanted to combine operation flexibility and maximum utilization of our growing marine fleet.โ
Two challenges had to be addressed straightaway with this new project: The siteโs soil wasnโt ideal, and a 110-foot height limitation influenced how the new infrastructure could be designed. The height restriction in particular โmade it uneconomical for us to build silos, and we wanted to keep the operating cost low,โ said company director of communications Maryse Tremblay. โA dome was the natural choice for us.โ
Dome Technology completed construction in 2019. The DomeSilo stands 134 feet in diameter with a storage capacity of 40,000 metric tons, and McInnis will continue utilizing its flat storage as well. To maximize the terminalโs abilities, McInnis selected a barge unloader rated at an aggressive 800 metric tons per hour.
Dome Technology executed a prime contract directly with McInnis for the dome storage, structural steel, and mechanical work for pneumatic transport and reclaim of the stored cement material. More specifically, that work required installing a truck lane, steel storage silo, DomeSilo, structural-steel convey piping support, stair platform with connecting structural-steel bridge to the dome apex and a reclaim tunnel. The team also installed an FLSmidth Ful-Floor reclaim system.
In addition, piping on the loading side needed to be routed up and over the existing warehouse; it was then anchored to a structural stair tower as it climbed to the dome apex. Load bearing on the warehouse wasnโt an option, so a truss and structural steel carry the weight.
Photo courtesy CIMA+McInnis
Part of keeping operating costs low came from the systemโs ability to keep product flowing. A dome with automatic reclaim allows McInnis to offload a ship while simultaneously reclaiming โ no need to pay demurrage costs.
โWhat thatโs going to allow us to do is to offload to the dome without having to stop. So it will really reduce our unloading costs,โ Demers said. Tremblay agreed, adding that this new system reduces operating costs by not having to double-handle product inside the warehouse.
By Rebecca Long Pyper for Dome Technology
Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from an article published in the April 2020 issue of World Cement. Banner image courtesy CIMA+McInnis.
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- by Rebecca Pyper
Because fertilizer will corrode exposed steel in storage, figuring out creative solutions is key to cutting down on regular maintenance […]
Because fertilizer will corrode exposed steel in storage, figuring out creative solutions is key to cutting down on regular maintenance and replacement costs.
Such was the case with for one fertilizer company in Carlsbad, New Mexico, USA, that needed new storage after a microburst damaged its A-frame storing fertilizer. The company selected six steel-reinforced concrete domes from Dome Technology based partly on corrosion prevention. Steel reinforcing gives the domes their strength, but since the entire dome interior is made of concrete, the storage structure will not corrode.
Concrete will have hairline cracks that can be penetrated by fine fertilizer dust. This was not a concern expressed by this potash customer; however, other urea customers have had concerns that were mitigated by spraying a polyurea coating on the interior surface of the dome. A corrosive-resistant powder can also be mixed into the concrete when pouring the floor.
Water wreaks havoc on fertilizer, and since most fertilizers are hygroscopic, they attract moisture that dissolves the product and corrodes it too, producing weak acids that break down steel and damage concrete. Dome customers are advised to allot a portion of the budget to corrosive-resistant rebar and/or additional concrete over rebar.
To protect product from humidity, a dehumidifier is also highly recommended. Housed on top of the dome, humidity in the headspace can be controlled, and the ideal interior climate can be maintained. Humidity monitors can also be installed, allowing site managers to survey and adjust interior conditions.
Moisture and rust prevention on the storage side is one thing, but there are ways to extend a facilityโs life span by protecting other components from corrosion too. While many fertilizer storage companies utilize front-end loaders, those who select integrated reclaim systems can protect metal components from rust in multiple ways. Stainless steel is always an option, especially ideal for food- or pharm-grade fertilizer products, but can be cost prohibitive. Another route is to paint the metal so corrosion isnโt an issue; the main thing to remember is to keep up on maintenance so chips and scratches in the surface donโt allow an access point for moisture.
With rust prevented, there are other ways domes ensure a longer lifespan than traditional fertilizer storage:
Low maintenance
A continuous single-ply PVC waterproofing membrane ensures complete waterproof protection for the reinforced concrete shell and consequently the material stored within. A mold-resistant UV-protective resin coats both sides of the membrane, providing long-term protection from these two common sources of degradation. No other silo option offers this type of waterproof protection, and this exterior requires almost zero superficial maintenance.
Rivets, fasteners or other mechanical connections found in other storage are not used, thus eliminating potential sources for leaks and rust. This comprehensive approach to waterproofing promises long-lasting protection for stored product and the structure itself.
Longevity
Dome Technologyโs steel-reinforced concrete domes are the most durable bulk-storage structures on the market. In an industry where traditional concrete and steel silos have a history of multiple failures, Dome Technologyโs domes have withstood earthquakes, hurricanes and the test of time with a remarkable success rate.
Because fertilizer is hygroscopic, some companies opt for wooden warehouses since wood is naturally inert; however, a concrete dome designed to hold the same amount of material is significantly less expensive.
Two major perks for storing fertilizer in a dome are economy and longevity. Much of the cost savings in a dome comes over the long term from humidity control and finish options that protect the product. A dome is built to last decades.
Protection from explosion
Real-world examples have demonstrated that the always-in-compression double-curvature geometry of a dome is structurally stable under extreme fire and heat conditions. The reinforced concrete dome also provides excellent explosion containment. The smooth interior surface discourages build-up or caking of dust and stored materials, which have potential to self-combust or when dislodged can cause fire or explosion. These reduced risks offer potential insurance premium savings.
Until now, square and rectangular explosion venting has been the norm in storing products prone to deflagration, but Dome Technologyโs team has pioneered a round hybrid model that began to be installed on projects in 2016. No matter the system a weak spot is created with panels. But since this is a round panel, sharp corners that would act as stress concentrators are eliminated.
The proprietary explosion vents are comprised of a metal ring fastened directly to the dome with pressure-release screws; these screws are engineered to remain secure through dead, live and wind loads but will release should interior pressure reach critical levels. To the metal ring is fastened another ring, this one attached to a geodesic steel lattice covered with fabric. The lattice helps the fabric hold its shape, and the fabric acts as a waterproofing shield protecting product and helping maintain the domeโs interior climate.
When an explosion occurs, the fabric accepts the load and transfers it uniformly around the ringโs circumference. โBecause itโs circular we can predict the load going to each of the fasteners really well,โ said Jason South, Dome Technology Vice President of Engineering, Research and Development. โIf it were rectangular, the pressure going to each fastener could be different,โ and more difficult to estimate.
Each explosion vent is unique to the project. Dome Technologyโs engineering team provides building parameters to explosion experts who calculate discrete finite element modeling and computational fluid dynamics, modeling the explosion to determine the amount of area required for the blast panels such that the pressure only reaches a certain level before fasteners release, South said. The modeling information also provides information about the load imposed on the dome structure to aid in the structural engineering.
With a defined amount of required surface area, Dome Technologyโs team sizes the explosion vents and places them in locations where theyโll vent adequately and function structurally.
According to South, this type of explosion venting is durable and strong; the only failure point is at the fasteners, which pop at the precise pressure threshold. Vents are tethered to the dome structure, so they do not become a projectile when loosed. Usually upon an explosion event, the vents and the surrounding venting structure are damaged beyond repair and will need to be replaced, but in this arrangement the dome and base ring of the vent will likely be intact and functional. The outer ring and the fabric can be replaced very economically.
Product integrity + greater storage
For one major chemical company in the United States, crystal bridging was really becoming a problem. The company was shipping low-density ammonium nitrate via train, but because they did not have adequate means for curing, the product clumped together via transit, making it difficult to remove upon arrival to the customer.
In an effort to solve that problem in a big way, Dome Technology was contracted to build one dome, and eventually a second one, that would provide ample storage and the ability to keep different types of ammonium nitrate separate.
Initially the plan was simple: To construct a single dome designed to hold low-density ammonium nitrate. Dome Technology built the dome, which stands 99 feet tall and 198 feet in diameter and has a maximum storage of 16,000 tons. The dome is fed at the apex, where product is stacked in a kidney-shaped pile. A chute rotates to lay the pile in a thin layer that allows for better cooling, thus avoiding a deep pile where the center would never adequately cool. Maximum convey rate to the dome is 450 tons per day, and the reclaim rate is 800 tons per day.
The dome is temperature and humidity controlled, and a smoke-detection system ties in with louvers so that should fire be present, a fan will kick on to blow out fumes that could explode. The pile depth is capped at 45 feet to prevent degradation.
The low-density product cures in 10 to 20 days, then is ready for shipping via truck or rail to be used in explosive applications. By allowing it to adequately cure, crystal bridging is far less likely, resulting in better flow and a better product for customers.
As construction for Dome 1 was underway, the customer decided a second dome would be a good idea, this one to store high-density ammonium nitrate. This dome is designed to provide storage, allowing the company to keep up with spring-season demand.
Product in the second dome can be stacked deeper and is center filled because it doesnโt have the curing issues that low-density ammonium nitrate does. The customer fills the second dome completely to fully utilize the storage volume, Aagard said.
Both domes feature a ring-beam foundation, standard in dome construction, and soil improvement was completed prior to construction to set the stage for solid foundations. For both domes, a front-end loader reclaims product, dumps it into a hopper, and the hopper feeds to conveyors. But having two separate domes with distinct reclaim systems ensures that product types are never mixed.
In 10 months both domes and their conveyor systems were complete, customized specifically to the customerโs requests and providing the protection both types of ammonium nitrate demand.
โAs we have seen over the course of several years, Dome Technology can offer solutions for material storage and handling for a wide range of storage needs. I am happy that Dome Technology was able to offer and provide solutions for this facility in storing their product,โ Dome Technology project manager Jason Craig said.
Investing in a dome and partnering with a dome expert is an investment in the future. Dome storage is built to resist elements that would compromise the structure over time and could reduce product quality. Dome Technology is one company that can provide a longer facility lifespan while preventing rust and structural corrosion.
By Rebecca Long Pyper for Dome Technology
Editor’s note: This article was published in the online edition of World Fertilizer May/June 2020. The full issue can be accessed here; to subscribe for a free regular digital copy of the magazine, click here.
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A company that manages 157 miles of roadway in the Midwest utilizes eleven salt storage facilities, each holding the amount of salt […]
A company that manages 157 miles of roadway in the Midwest utilizes eleven salt storage facilities, each holding the amount of salt needed for a seasonโs worth of winter weather on a specific stretch of highway.
But just like salt breaks down ice, it also deteriorates wood, and in 2019, some of these existing wooden salt-storage domes were past their prime.
โWhen faced with replacing these domes, the choice to go with concrete structures was all about longevity,โ said the companyโs civil infrastructure manager. The leadership team was looking to reduce lifecycle maintenance costs; both its wooden salt domes and rectangular storage facilities with concrete walls and tarp roofs require regular upkeep.
Company management decided on steel-reinforced concrete domes from Dome Technology for their salt storage. โLooking at the numbers, it was more economical over the next 60 years going with domes, partly to reduce upkeep and partly because concrete domes would work well if automation like buckets or conveyors were added later,โ the manager said. As a former employee with reclaim-expert Laidig, he had seen conveyance systems work seamlessly with Dome Technology structures.
Dome Technology built two elliptical salt-storage domes, each standing 90 feet by 120 feet across and 35 feet tall. Maintenance managers determined the 3,500-ton capacity for each of the domes based on the estimated amount of salt needed to service roads in those areas.
For optimal accessibility, the domes feature a rectangular entry with three truck bays measuring 20 feet wide and 20 feet tall, and front-end loader facilitates loading and reclaim.
Inside each dome, salt is piled against the wall, clearing up floor space for reclaim. Piling product in this way makes the dome an ideal option as the reinforced-concrete dome is monolithic; no joints or beams form the roof, so forces from stored product are easily tolerated and spread across the shell.
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There are plenty of options when it comes to bulk conveyance. Here are some of the most common systems on […]
There are plenty of options when it comes to bulk conveyance. Here are some of the most common systems on the market today:
1. A typical belt-conveyor system requires significant linear footage; as the belt climbs, the material wants to slide backward, so the angle of incline has to be adjusted accordingly. However, looking at options beyond the traditional can shorten conveyor distances, and most of the means of reducing the distance are increasing the traction or holding ability of the material.
2. Using a cleated belt isnโt especially popular but is an option that yields higher angles and shorter systems. A belt with ribs is installed to better hold product and reduce slippage. Any product that can be moved via belt conveyor can be moved on a cleated belt; this means products like cement that donโt have enough strength to hold themselves together should be handled another way.
3. For a pipe or tube conveyor, the belt is formed into a tube that holds onto the product. This system is more robust because essentially youโre pushing a plug of material into the belt, and as it inclines, the plug of material pushes the other material up and keeps it moving along.
4. A similar advantage is achieved with a sandwich belt conveyor, where two belts face each other and sandwich product. These can practically travel vertically. Only a limited number of suppliers build this product, making it as much as three times the cost of traditional single-belt systems on a foot-for-foot comparison, but companies save on length and may end up overall having less expense with savings in overruns and transfer towers.
5. Bucket elevators work well for some industries; though they cost less up front, they do require considerable maintenance. This system is questionable for companies handling coal, sugar, wood pellets, and other combustible products because a column of combustible dust can potentially build up, confined within the body of the elevator, and can lead to deflagration. Another drawback is their limited capacity, so for ship terminals with high throughput, bucket conveyors might not be an optionโbut they do save a lot of land space.
6. Pneumatic conveyors are ideal for handling cement, gypsum, flyash and other powder products and boast more versatile routing options. The system requires a pump, compressor(s), airlock, and piping, but in most cases a 15 X 20 building can house the compressor equipment.
Loading and unloading
The typical model for unloading product is a 20- to 30-foot-deep pit with a hopper that moves product onto a feeder conveyor coming out of the ground. But for facilities near water and with soggy soils, the pitโs excavating, dewatering, and waterproofing costs alone can be prohibitive.
Systems are available for unloading at grade or into a shallow pit. For instance, a rail car might pull directly over one of the Ashross RUM models, which provide either shallow in-ground or above-grade conveyance via a walking floor. Facility managers have to allow time for the system to unload the product, rather than just dropping it and advancing the cars, so logistically it may be slower, but customers can save on pit size.
For truck delivery, Superiorโs RazerTail Truck Unloader utilizes an unloader hopper that feeds product onto a transfer conveyor right at grade, but this system also requires customers to wait until the product is entirely unloadedโno drop and go.
Alternative systems like these can be expensive, but considering the cost of excavations, dewatering, sheet piling, and dealing with nuisance water, the costs might not be so bad.
Let our team help you plan your optimal bulk conveyance. Click here to contact one of our team members.
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When approached by a coal company needing to store coal at the mine and wanting to reclaim 100 percent of […]
When approached by a coal company needing to store coal at the mine and wanting to reclaim 100 percent of product without personnel entering the storage facility, the ideal model was clear.
A DomeSilo thatโs 105 feet in diameter and 150 feet tall would provide the desired storage, and to make things work optimally, a full hopper system with chevrons 25 feet tall would be built directly into the dome, eliminating the need for mechanical systems inside.
โThis doesnโt require any personnel inside the dome โ thereโs no mechanical inside the dome to go in and fix. The idea that we can make them really tall and skinny increases the live reclaim,โ Dome Technology sales manager Lane Roberts said.
With chevrons hoppers into the dome, product flows easily by way of gravity. And when engineered to the optimal angle, cleaning out the dome is no problem at all, not to mention the likelihood of aging in pile is diminished as product is naturally first in, first out.
But a lot of behind-the-scenes work was required before settling on this customized model.
Engineering the best option
When the customer asked about the optimal guts for its coal storage dome, the first thing the Dome Technology team did was to suggest, based on experience, the number of tunnels thought to be best, which was three. But the second step was determining the lowest angle at which product would flow properly. This angle would determine the angle of chevrons within the dome.
After identifying the flow angle, Dome Technology calculated exactly how the company could save money while still achieving the reclaim and storage it wanted. The team tested different scenarios, changing up the number of tunnels and the number of chevrons but always keeping that flow angle in mind. After figuring the costs of the different models, the team was confident more tunnels would cost less than more chevrons.
Chevrons arenโt a cheap install; each one requires massive amounts of concrete and steel. Increasing the number of tunnels would mean the chevrons wouldnโt have to reach so high, dropping that cost substantially.
โWe ran the model, and when we went down to two tunnels from three, the chevrons got so tall and the amount of concrete to form the chevrons doubled,โ Roberts said, adding a quarter of a million in construction materials (not to mention labor increases).
Returning to the original recommendation of three tunnels would also provide greater storage since the taller the chevron, the more space it consumes inside the dome. Shorter chevrons free up room for product.
By finding the perfect balance โ what number of tunnels best complements the appropriate chevron angle โ companies like this can achieve necessary storage and save money. Itโs the principle of design-build at its finest.
Why a full-hopper system works well for coal
The full-hopper system provides first-in, first out reclaim desirable with types of coal prone to spontaneous combustion. In general, domes are well suited for coal storage. DomeSilos make more storage possible within a smaller footprint โ the facility is built up, not out โ so companies can store more in a smaller footprint than warehouses or flat storage would allow. And the DomeSilo naturally protects product too โ an important quality when working with volatile coal.
Fighting fire
One way to minimize the likelihood of fire is to select a bulk-storage option that inherently resists deflagration, and certain dome characteristics make fire less likely than in other storage facilities. A domeโs concrete shell is non-combustible and has low thermal conductivity, performing better in large fires than wood or even steel counterparts.
The insulated nature of the concrete shell, composed of polyurethane foam insulation and concrete placed using the shotcrete method, moderates externally generated temperature fluctuations, and the more constant an environment, the more stable otherwise volatile products will be. The domeโs insulated nature also reduces heating and cooling of the walls and air inside, thus preventing condensation from forming and introducing moisture to the product, which can result in self-heating.
The dome is airtight except wherever penetrations are made, aiding in the containment of inert gases pumped inside to deter fires and to minimize available oxygen for supporting fires. The truss-free structure discourages dust build-up, and the double curvature has proven in real-world examples that a dome is structurally stable under extreme fire and heat conditions. The structure itself can survive a disaster that other types of storage might not and will likely reward customers with insurance-premium savings.
Additional design features are key to fire prevention. With a thermal scanner over the belt on the inbound receiving side, infrared cameras check temperatures on coal, while on the belt, to make sure no off-spec product enters the dome. A linear heat cable monitors for fire on the belt, also examining bearings in case one is throwing sparks; this cable might detect a fire travelling along the belt length before it reaches the thermal scanner. A product unique to combustion-prone materials, this system shuts down conveyance and alerts facility management of the fire. Depending on the setup, workers can either extinguish the fire, or an existing fire-suppression system takes care of the problem.
Dealing with dust
A host of dust-control systems exist in the marketplace. One option is a spray-down system that literally sprays coal with water to wet the dust, preventing it from becoming airborne. Because water decreases coalโs useful BTU value, this system is not popular. One variation is to spray oil onto coal instead of water; the dust is still managed, but the useful BTU values are not reduced โ though companies must assign a portion of the budget to purchasing mineral or vegetable oil.
To collect dust within the dome, a wet scrubber is preferred because it draws dust through a water system; since it is wet, the dust is not nearly as combustible. The dust is stored in a duct until it can be removed from the facility or destroyed. The scrubber is an attractive alternative to a baghouse system that sucks in air and pulls particulates through a fabric filter, thus collecting dust and storing it in a high concentration where the chance of combustion is still real.
Automatic dust-collection systems can be designed to convey dust away pneumatically via belt to a combuster. Alternately, dust can be collected in a bin or super sack to be hauled away.
Until now, square and rectangular explosion venting has been the norm in storing products prone to deflagration, but Dome Technologyโs team has pioneered a round hybrid model that was installed on bulk-storage domes for two companies in 2016.
The proprietary explosion vents are comprised of a circular geodesic steel lattice covered with the same PVC fabric used in the dome construction process. The panel is anchored to the dome with explosion-venting relief screws that remain secure during the design dead, live and wind loads. But in the event of a deflagration event, the screws release the panel and allow for the release of the excessive internal pressure. The system is watertight and meets the required operational design loads.
When an explosion occurs, the fabric accepts the load and transfers it uniformly around the ringโs circumference.
Preserving product integrity & the environment
Protection begins with the dome itself. Each dome includes a PVC membrane and layer of insulation, and these features ensure that stored coal will maintain its calorific value by keeping dry. The DomeSiloโs insulated nature also prevents heating and cooling of the walls and air inside, thwarting condensation that could contribute to spontaneous combustion.
Since domes are built without the use of interior supports, dust build-up on trusses isnโt a concern. Secondary explosions โ the kind caused when initial explosions shake loose accumulated coal dust โ are less likely because the support-free domes have no ledges for dust to build up.
Managing coal dust is essential to protecting the environment, and again, the dome provides the first line of defense. Sealed and seamless, dust is contained inside and cannot be leeched into ground water.
Coal reclaim and storage: Flexibility comes standard
Although a round dome is predictable and most popular, elliptical-shaped domes can also work on narrow sites. For one project, Dome Technology is proposing an elliptical-shaped dome located on a port to reach the desired capacity and fit the available space. The dome would be 300 feet long and 200 feet wide and 80 feet from the ground level to the top of the dome. Three filling points would line the top of the dome shell with a drag chain and front-end loader providing reclaim. Since an elliptical dome like this isnโt perfectly round and therefore wonโt distribute loads evenly, engineers will design the structure to support anticipated loads, Roberts said.
For more than four decades, Dome Technology has been building efficient facilities with smart systems that manage dust and monitor stored product, reducing the prospect of human error or oversight. Companies working with Dome Technology can enjoy peace of mind knowing their coal is protected by a hard-working, hard-wearing dome.
By Rebecca Long Pyper for Dome Technology
Editor’s note: This article was published in the May/June 2020 issue of World Coal.
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Agricultural-product provider Gavilon hired Dome Technology to repair and coat four existing concrete silos storing corn and soybeans in Creston, […]
Agricultural-product provider Gavilon hired Dome Technology to repair and coat four existing concrete silos storing corn and soybeans in Creston, Iowa, guaranteeing 10 more years of exterior life. See the silo-repair video above or by clicking here.
The silos, built in 1978, were deteriorating, particularly two that had been spalling for three years, said Gavilon superintendent Britt Boozer.
Another company worked on interior upgrades simultaneously, and โwith extending the liners and doing what we did on the outside, (our company) felt like that was a more economical wayโto repair the bins rather than tear them down and build new,โ Boozer said.
The Gavilon concrete silos required light concrete-crack repair, and the Dome Technology team began the project by pressure washing and prepping the structure, then shotcreting and patching all cracks in exposed areas. Silicone sealant was applied to the entire building including the roof, where a nonslip surface was also added.
โWeโre basically encasing the whole structure with this casing, so we shouldnโt see the spalling continue any longer,โ Dome Technology sales manager Heath Harrison said. โThe selling point is making silos truly watertight; paint and other restoration processes fail to do that long term.โ
Cost savings are the biggest benefit to this kind of silo repair. According to Harrison, silos otherwise destined for teardown can be salvaged in only a few weeks.
In addition to repairing the silos, Dome Technology can apply coatings in fade-resistant colors. After exterior concrete is repaired, this coating preserves and extends the concrete life. In the case of Gavilon, the charcoal-gray coating the company chose gives the silos a fresh look. โIt can serve as an aesthetic solution as well, so itโs a two-for-one,โ Harrison said.
Boozer agreed, stating that if people were seeing the silos for the first time, โthey would go, โThese have just been put up three, four, five years ago.โ Aesthetically they look a lot better.โ
For more project videos, visit the Dome Technology video page or follow our YouTube channel.
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Selecting the right storage is just one part of the puzzle for bulk storage. At the same time, companies have […]
Selecting the right storage is just one part of the puzzle for bulk storage. At the same time, companies have to make decisions on conveyance, throughput, conditioning, monitoring and more. But by working with a turnkey builder like Dome Technology, guesswork is eliminated, and the likelihood of a seamless facility is extremely high.
Years ago Dome Technology realized that to produce an optimal facility, the team needed more sophistication. That move โwas customer driven, but it was also us recognizing that every time we went in to do a project, there were 10 to 15 experts in their individual fields, but no one was really an expert over everything,โ Dome Technology vice president of engineering Jason South said, adding that if there isnโt someone who understand global functions working on a project, things can get unwieldy.
Dome Technology now oversees complete projects, though customers can also seek support in specific portions and receive help and innovative options. Their scope of expertise includes dome structures, foundation systems, reclaim systems, conveyance and monitoring systems and more. By working with a one-stop shop, each element is planned with the others in mind.
Design build
A straightforward design-build project is one of the benefits of hiring Dome Technology as general contractor and begins from the ground up. The team provides geotechnical analysis to determine foundation options, and thanks to the companyโs dome models, deep foundations arenโt the only option. In addition to the storage structure itself, Dome Technology can provide structural-steel fabrication, manufactured in its shop located on the corporate campus.
Dome Technology is also knowledgeable in stored-product considerations, optimal design for product integrity and subcontractor management.
Even when the stored material is the same, every project is unique and receives individual attention. Dome Technology meets with customers to determine the details for a domeโs proposed function. Need to fill and empty a dome once a year? Once a month? The team will conceive the optimal plan for a custom dome and material-handling systems within and around it.
Robust storage
A DomeSilo, one of Dome Technologyโs most popular models, allows companies to stack product deeper on a smaller footprint, requiring less property at the site. The increased capacity is made possible by geometry: The double curvature of a dome lends itself to the ability to build up, rather than out, and the curve provides strength at all points of the structure, even at the apex. The entire interior of a dome, then, can be used to contain product.
A dome provides ideal conditions for stored materials requiring a controlled environment. A fabric membrane surrounding the entire dome exterior prevents water and moisture entrance, blocking the introduction of outside water into the stored product. The domeโs insulated nature reduces heating and cooling of the walls and air inside, preventing condensation from forming on the interior. Foam and concrete provide humidity control and moderate externally generated temperature fluctuations.
A domeโs concrete monolithic construction also provides a tolerance for some differential settlement. These qualities combined with geotechnical engineering and site analysis ensure proper foundation selection and performance.
Editorโs note: The preceding is an article published in the Sept. 2019 issue of Dry Cargo International.
By Rebecca Long Pyper for Dome Technology
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Wood-pellet producer Barrette-Chapais first contacted Dome Technology about a ship-unloader project for a new transload facility in Quebec, Canada, but […]
Wood-pellet producer Barrette-Chapais first contacted Dome Technology about a ship-unloader project for a new transload facility in Quebec, Canada, but when the amount of available land was reduced, the companyโs plans for flat storage had to change.
Dome Technology was then contracted to build two DomeSilos, measuring 120 feet (36.5 meters) in diameter and 131 feet (39.9 meters) tall and each capable of storing 22,500 metric tons. Because of their geometry DomeSilos are able to store more product in a smaller footprint, stacking pellets deeper and storing them all the way to a structureโs apex.
According to Dome Technology sales manager Cameron High, one of the customerโs main requests was the ability for truck drivers to pull in, weigh product, unload it, and return to the lumber mill without interruption and on repeat. โThey wanted from start to finish a fully automated system,โ he said.
Dome Technology has also acted as construction manager, supervising Canadian crews on all equipment installationโtruck scale, load-out system, bucket elevator, and conveyance.
Pellets are produced at a BC lumber mill nearby. Upon arrival at the facility, they are dumped into a hopper and conveyed to a bucket elevator, which delivers them to a diverter valve directing product to either dome.
The conveyance piping on the reclaim side is the most striking element of all, reaching 357 feet to collect product underneath both domes and stretching 796 feet to ships that will deliver it to Europe.
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Selecting a massive storage structure is just one part of the puzzle when it comes to bulk storage. Also to […]
Selecting a massive storage structure is just one part of the puzzle when it comes to bulk storage. Also to be determined: How product will get into and out of the building and what kind of accessibility to the structure needs. Thatโs why Dome Technology offers structural-steel systems as part of its services.
With a fabrication shop on the same campus as corporate construction headquarters, itโs easy for engineers and construction managers to work closely with team members who build features like stair towers, work towers, buildings, conveyor supports, handrails, and walkways.
โWeโre tied closely to the dome, so we know what (customers) want, and we know how everything interfaces,โ said Dome Technology shop operations manager Kirby Sheldon. โWeโll see problems other fabricators wonโt see.โ
Scope of services:
- Stair towers
- Work towers
- Conveyor supports
- Structural steel
- Handrails
- Platforms
- Walkways
- Buildings
We also offer support with scoring, labeling, hole punches, and more. With our Voortman B808 we can save suppliers time and lend precision to projects. For more information on our range of services, including info on a recent project that required significant steelwork, check out our 2019 annual report.
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- by Rebecca Pyper
We invite you to participate with us this Friday, April 10, in a worldwide day of fasting and prayer for […]
We invite you to participate with us this Friday, April 10, in a worldwide day of fasting and prayer for relief from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kind regards,
Bradley Bateman, Dome Technology CEO