Articles & News
Articles & News
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On Aug. 30 Dome Technology’s crew inflated the airform for the Iona water tank, an event publicized by local news. […]
On Aug. 30 Dome Technology’s crew inflated the airform for the Iona water tank, an event publicized by local news. The following article was published in the Post Register, the local newspaper.
Iona inflates new water tank: Tank designed by Dome Technology will improve storage, water pressure
By Nathan Brown for the Post Register
Iona’s new water was inflated Friday morning.
The 1 million gallon tank on East 49th North, on which contractor Dome Technology broke ground June 5, consists of a dome-shaped airform that is inflated. Concrete is then sprayed on the inside, and the airform stays intact permanently as a protective membrane. Since concrete is sprayed in place, there are no joints on the tank’s wall or roof.
“We can actually store water up into the dome roof,” said Dome Project Manager Daren Wheeler. “We have that advantage over other precast concrete tanks.”
Wheeler also said the tank’s height means you can store more water in less space than other designs.
The project was driven by the need for more water to fight fires, city officials said in a news release. Iona’s current water tank, on the east end of Iona Road, has a 500,000-gallon capacity.
The tank project cost $1 million, with the tank itself costing $800,000. The city paid for it out of a $3.9 million bond to improve the city’s water system voters passed in 2017.
Dome Technology has built similar tanks in Sugar City and Shelley. Iona officials contacted Dome after seeing the one in Shelley, which was finished in 2018.
“(Dome Technology was) the low bid, but I will tell you we were impressed with the product that was built in Shelley,” said Iona Mayor Daniel Gubler. “We really wanted to try to make the bidding process competitive, so we jumped through a lot of hoops to accommodate everyone that wanted to bid the project. We are happy with the outcome.”
Shelley had planned to spend about $1.1 million but Dome’s model shaved almost $400,000 off the cost. Shelley used the saved money to upgrade a well, said Mayor Stacy Pascoe.
“We have a lot of older fixed-income people,” Pascoe said. “When I look at spending money, I base it off of needs first, and then if it was my own money, ‘Would I spend it on that?’”
As well as making the city better prepared for fires, Gubler said the new tank will boost water pressure and volume for the entire city. Gubler said the city had been considering replacing the water line in the area around 55th East due to poor water flow but won’t have to anymore.
“My full expectation is a generation or two from now can say Iona has great water (and) the product they chose when they did is benefiting us today and into the future,” Gubler said. “We fully anticipate that tank will be here in 100 years.”
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As multi-faceted as grain processing is, choosing a sophisticated storage and handling system is key. Monolithic concrete domes from Dome […]
As multi-faceted as grain processing is, choosing a sophisticated storage and handling system is key. Monolithic concrete domes from Dome Technology makes grain storage and shipment easier by storing more, accommodating mix and blend, increasing loading and unloading rates, and keeping employees safe.
Dome Technology specializes in turnkey facilities where customers have the advantage of working with a team of in-house engineers who can provide everything the site needs, from product reception to robust storage to barge shipment. Here are some key benefits of dome storage:
Capacity
Processors who select a dome — which can range in capacity from 125,000 to 6.6 million bushels — are able to buy and store large amounts of grain regardless of river levels and wet weather. Processors can continue their work even if river transport isn’t an option for months at a time.
Domes are able to store more than silos with similar dimensions, and increased storage is possible based on the dome’s curvature. Because a dome can support pressure at all points of the structure, product can be stored right up to the apex.
Large-capacity domes with insulation built into the shell protect product integrity, and monitoring systems keep tabs on the finite aspects of quality storage.
Mix and blend
A dome can be engineered with the mix-and-blend ability to pull from any gate—a big deal since making grade keeps barge shipments running smoothly.
The typical grain dome features multiple gates within the foundation; to circulate, product is drawn out of these gates, then conveyed to the top of the dome and reloaded. Terminal managers can also select specific gates to address hot spots, and monitoring systems help identify those. If certain pockets are lower in quality, corresponding gates can be opened to various percentages with gates adjacent to high-quality product opened as well. “The dome’s blending capability will create a consistent product for the customer or end user,” Dome Technology sales manager Heath Harrison said.
Loading and unloading rates
In 2016 Dome Technology completed construction on a grain dome and its handling systems for global commodities merchandizer and agricultural-goods processor Louis Dreyfus Commodities in Cahokia, Illinois. This was the second dome project for Louis Dreyfus; in early 2016 Dome Technology completed an 11,500-metric-ton canola-pellet dome for the company in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada.
The Cahokia dome functions as a daybin with employees filling it during the day and load barges out of the dome during the night. Dome Technology project manager Darryl Cunningham noted that this model makes it possible to run as many as 1,000 trucks per day through the site. The model also allows Louis Dreyfus to run multiple products through the site at the same time through their split receiving systems.
Frequent loading and unloading like this stresses steel tanks, but the dome’s geometry is more tolerant and a better long-term plan for companies wanting to increase throughput. For one upcoming project, a potential client requested that 2,000 tons move per hour — “that would be difficult for some structures to do,” Harrison said.
Ability to move product efficiently and safely
No-entry systems are important for employee safety. According to Carol Jones, an Oklahoma State University professor and expert on grain condition and safety who presented at this year’s GEAPS exchange, about 30 people die per year in the United States in grain entrapment.
Companies eager to secure “no-entry” options can explore different reclaim systems that make this possible; Dome Technology’s engineers identify reclaim that delivers necessary throughput and keeps workers safe. Domes can be designed to hold two to three million bushels and still be a no-entry system, helping with safety and labor efficiency.
These features keep business competitive for processors, shuttle loaders and exporters, and a dome is cost competitive with silos when providing the ability to pull from multiple gates. The inherent strength of monolithic concrete construction boasts the most storage and throughput capabilities for those in the grain industry.
This article was published in the September issue of Dry Cargo International. Read it online here with free site registration.
By Rebecca Long Pyper for Dome Technology
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- by Rebecca Pyper
When rivers are too high for barges to navigate, processors face two big questions: How to maintain product quality when […]
When rivers are too high for barges to navigate, processors face two big questions: How to maintain product quality when shipping conditions aren’t optimal, and how to keep the plant running when product can’t be moved down the river for two months. A dome structure can hold multiple months of grain with the ability to circulate it, providing a way to stay afloat until shipping conditions improve. A dome also stores large quantities of grain to help with capture and carry when merchandisers see those opportunities.
Processors who select a dome—which can range in capacity from 4,000 to 200,000 tons—are able to buy grain regardless of what Mother Nature is up to, providing the solution to these two major concerns. “If you’re a processor, you need to be able to continue processing even if the river is down for three months, and the dome will allow you to do that,” Dome Technology sales manager Heath Harrison said.
Domes are able to store more than silos with similar dimensions, and increased storage is possible based on the dome’s curvature. Because a dome can support pressure at all points of the structure, product can be stored right up to the apex.
But that produces a substantial pile of grain, so maintaining climate conditions is a must. This starts with the dome itself. First, a PVC membrane covering the entire dome prevents moisture entrance. Second, the combination of the waterproof membrane, polyurethane foam insulation and reinforced concrete structure prevents extreme interior temperature fluctuation. These features reduce heating and cooling of the walls and air inside, preventing condensation.
Domes can be equipped with multiple systems that help maintain ideal conditions in long-term grain storage:
Aeration systems
Circulation and adequate aeration make greater capacity possible. Aeration forces air through piles to keep temps consistent and achieve or maintain long-term storage moisture content. Aeration costs can also be less expensive in a dome because of its seamless, insulated construction. Roof exhaust fans draw humidity from the dome.
Temperature cables
A cable array hung from the dome roof monitors humidity and temperature, alerting plant managers when the environment ceases to be ideal.
CO2 monitoring system
Since the dome has the ability to draw from any given reclaim gate, any pockets of grain identified as deteriorating or infested can be drawn out of the structure.
With these monitors, processors can keep a close eye on product and address concerns in short order.
Mix and blend
The typical grain dome features multiple gates within the foundation; to circulate, product is drawn out of these gates, then conveyed to the top of the dome and reloaded. Terminal managers can also select specific gates to address hot spots, and monitoring systems help identify those. If certain pockets are lower in quality, corresponding gates can be opened to various percentages with gates adjacent to high-quality product opened as well. “The dome’s blending capability will create a consistent product for the customer or end user,” Harrison said.
For processors, shuttle loaders and exporters, these blending options are essential. A dome is cost competitive with silos when providing the ability to pull from multiple gates, an option limited with steel tanks, which cannot withstand frequent loading and unloading as the pressure of drawdown will cause them to topple.The inherent strength of monolithic construction makes blending or mixing and blending possible.
“Domes allow you to maximize blending capability, giving companies the opportunity to maximize profits and efficiencies,” Harrison said. “The grain industry operates on tight margins, so sometimes throughput and mix and blend are all we have to increase the bottom line. Domes will maximize that bottom line.”
In addition to these benefits, recent construction advances are yielding better results for grain companies. For instance, Dome Technology has pioneered round explosion panels that channel pressure out of the structure, preventing structural damage in the event of an explosion. Also, domes are free-span structures, free of ledges or beams where dust could accumulate.
Companies eager to secure “no-entry” options can explore different reclaim systems that make this possible; Dome Technology’s engineers identify reclaim that delivers necessary throughput and keeps employees safe. Domes can be designed to hold two to three million bushels and still be a no-entry system, helping with safety and labor efficiency.
A turnkey solution
Dome Technology customers work with an in-house team of engineers and construction experts to determine the ideal design and execution of a facility. When all the elements are planned with others in mind, the result is a dome that stores more, monitors product conditions and interior climate, circulates product and does it all seamlessly. A dome is the proactive longterm grain-storage solution for dealing with frustrations of the river and beyond.
Editor’s note: The article above was published in the August 2019 issue of Milling and Grain. Read the full issue online here.
By Rebecca Long Pyper for Dome Technology
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Storage and reclaim made simple: Dome Technology develops Drive-Thru DomeSilo that debuts in cement market By Rebecca Long Pyper for […]
Storage and reclaim made simple: Dome Technology develops Drive-Thru DomeSilo that debuts in cement market
By Rebecca Long Pyper for Dome Technology
Dome Technology developed its Drive-Thru DomeSilo for companies to fill truck or rail directly from the storage structure and to speed up the process of product reception to delivery.
In general the Drive-Thru DomeSilo incorporates a fill pipe, storage vessel, stair or ladder access, scale and appropriate foundation. Companies save by building a single drive-through storage facility that eliminates the need for multiple mechanical systems, operators, and structures.
This model allows for direct load-out, where stored product flows through a spout for direct load-out into the truck or rail. The dome provides 100 percent reclaim utilizing a fully aerated floor.
The system directly competes with bolted steel tanks and drive-through concrete silos. Due to unique construction techniques, this storage vessel is quickly constructed and price competitive.
Featured Project: Continental Cement Company
In 2018 Dome Technology built its first Drive-Thru for Continental Cement Company at a recently acquired site in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. While the existing silo and adjacent scale had not been used for some time, complete upgrades of these assets along with a new barge unloader, dock upgrades and, as mentioned, the Drive-Thru dome has allowed Continental Cement to become the leader in service in the Memphis market.
With dimensions of approximately 100 feet tall and 50 feet in diameter, the Drive-Thru can be supplied by barge from any one of Continental Cement’s plants. The new barge unloader discharges into either the Drive-Thru dome or the 3,000-ton existing steel silo. New aeration in the existing silo allows for a much-increased truck-loading rate. A bridge between the dome and silo provides access between the two.
The Drive-Thru delivers 100 percent live reclaim using a fully aerated floor. Product flows through the truck spout into the truck; the same system could be used for a rail loadout system. An in-line lump crusher on the loadout stack-up ensures that lumps passed through the receiving system do not make it into trucks. The dome can receive 350 mtph from the barge unloader and load out at 320 mtph.
Meeting a need in the marketplace
With a portfolio full of projects with capacities as large as 200,000 metric tons, the Dome Technology team was eager to pursue opportunities for smaller storage.
Steel and concrete silos have made the most of the drive-through concept for decades. The Dome Technology team set a goal to take this concept and improve on it. Borrowing from the success of its DomeSilo model, a tall and narrow dome with drive-through capability was designed to store more product on a smaller footprint than a silo of comparable dimensions; this increased storage is made possible by the dome itself, which can be filled to the top since it can support the pressure of product at all points of the structure, combined with a nearly flat floor rather than a steep cone.
The preceding is an excerpt of a Dry Cargo International feature published in the May 2019 issue. For more information on DCI, click here. And for more about the Drive-Thru, click here.
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Dome Technology is finishing construction of a storm shelter on the Tupelo High School campus that, when complete, will be […]
Dome Technology is finishing construction of a storm shelter on the Tupelo High School campus that, when complete, will be the largest community storm shelter in the state of Mississippi.
At 175 feet in diameter, the low-profile dome can withstand an EF5 tornado. The 24,000-square-foot shelter is designed to accommodate 2,000 students in a wind event, and though a large building, it is being engineered to meet city restrictions on height.
“Due to a height restriction on the site, the dome needed to be a 1:8 ratio—that means (the dome) has a very low profile. Being the only dome builder that promotes and builds domes with this low of a profile, we were able to provide the solution for this project,” said Dome Technology sales manager Daren Wheeler.
Federal regulations specified the height of the shelter based on its proximity to a national park. “Because of the sightlines and scenic vistas, we had to keep the height down,” said principal architect Will Lewis of JBHM Architecture. “That low-profile curvature of the dome was what made (the storm shelter) feasible for that location.”
Photo via Daily Journal
Groundbreaking took place in April 2018, and the project will wrap up this month. FEMA and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency grants funded the majority of the project.
Although intended to serve as command center and storm shelter for the student population at Tupelo High School, the building will be finished as a gym and function as a multipurpose building also. Students will take priority during storms, but on the weekend, the shelter will be open to the public should a tornado be likely.
In an interview with local news station WCBI, Tupelo district athletic director Eddie Moore said, “We’re just proud to have it on our campus. We are the biggest high school in the state, and this reflects another plus for Tupelo High School and Tupelo Public School District.”
More and more storm shelters are being built for cities and school districts where natural disasters are common. JBHM Architecture builds many shelters, most of them domes. “The domes are just more flexible, more efficient, and more cost effective than other safe shelters,” Lewis said.
Dome Technology builds shelters that withstand windborne debris, projectiles, and 250-mph winds. The shelters meet and in some cases exceed ICC 500 specifications and FEMA 361 criteria, which allows many publicly funded entities to apply for and receive grant assistance.
Dome Technology hires local crews to build its steel-reinforced concrete storm shelters with local materials, and a dome’s double curvature requires fewer construction materials and produces less waste. In addition, a dome is a free-spanning structure; no interior supports are necessary, making it possible for these storm shelters to also be used as sports facilities or auditoriums.
Key players on this project include Tupelo Public School District, Dome Technology, JBHM Architecture, and general contractor Murphy & Sons.
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One of the hallmarks of quality workmanship is the number of repeat customers it generates, and Dome Technology has worked […]
One of the hallmarks of quality workmanship is the number of repeat customers it generates, and Dome Technology has worked with some of the biggest industry leaders on multiple projects. This is the fifth part in a five-week series highlighting a lineup of Dome Technology customers who’ve come back for more.
Boral Material Technologies has contracted with Dome Technology three different times to build fly-ash storage. The most recent project required a dome near Cartersville, Georgia, standing 120 feet in diameter and 100 feet tall with a storage capacity of 30,000 English tons.
According to Dome Technology sales manager Lane Roberts, Boral was looking for an economical storage solution. Boral’s director of engineering services Gary Gentry agrees. A dome would provide the amount of storage needed to meet operational needs, allowing Boral to “maximize storage for the footprint at a cost that’s susceptible to return on capital investment,” he said.
Based on front-end engineering, Dome Technology’s team was able to identify the ideal foundation type for the Georgia dome. The site is comprised of karst, where water has dissolved portions of the limestone and left voids in the rock; this can result in sinkholes and unsure foundations. “We looked at different kinds of deep foundations, and (Boral) agreed that only one kind would work: micropiles,” Roberts said.
In 1997 Dome Technology built a fly-ash dome for the company in Walnut Cove, North Carolina, measuring 165 feet in diameter and 82.5 feet tall. In 1998 Dome Technology a dome was built in Fontana, California, measuring 94 feet in diameter and 53 feet tall.
According to Gentry, Boral is a repeat customer based on the experience working with Dome Technology in the past and “because of the professionalism and success of the previous two projects.”
For more information on fly-ash and cement storage, visit our Stored Products page. To see more projects for Dome Technology customers, visit our Projects page.
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SACO, Maine—The new domed home for Funtown Splashtown’s Astrosphere is ready to roll for the summer season. Saco, Maine’s Press […]
SACO, Maine—The new domed home for Funtown Splashtown’s Astrosphere is ready to roll for the summer season.
Saco, Maine’s Press Herald reported May 18 that Funtown Splashtown guests were getting their first look at the reinforced-concrete dome, an upgrade to the Astrosphere with its existing fabric dome housing a Scrambler ride with a laser and light show. Funtown Splashtown USA is Maine’s largest amusement and water park. The park has 50 rides, water slides and pools covering the 72-acre property with some of the biggest attractions in northern New England.
Previously the fabric Astrosphere was inflated constantly by fan during the park’s open season, and the airform was approaching its 15-year lifespan. Park owners employed air domes for the ride since the mid-1970s, requiring that the airform and ride be taken down for the off season, then reassembled come spring. Ready for something permanent with little maintenance, company leadership contracted with Dome Technology to build the dome.
“What I’m looking forward to is a building that’s going to be hard as a rock. It’s going to save me work, it’s going to be turnkey—in the spring I’ll turn on the light, do a little dusting, and we’ll be ready to go,” said Funtown Splashtown USA senior vice president Billy Cormier.
Conditioning the Astrosphere has also been difficult historically, with highs in the summer that exceed those outside—”not good for equipment and not good for workers,” Cormier said. The concrete shell will moderate temperatures, and the building is air conditioned. It will also provide a backdrop for new laser shows and other special effects.
The concrete dome stands 75 feet in diameter and 30 feet tall with a utility garage and emergency exit. For the full Press Herald article, click here.
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One of the hallmarks of quality workmanship is the number of repeat customers it generates, and Dome Technology has worked […]
One of the hallmarks of quality workmanship is the number of repeat customers it generates, and Dome Technology has worked with some of the biggest industry leaders on multiple projects. This is the fourth part in a five-week series highlighting a lineup of Dome Technology customers who’ve come back for more.
To meet anticipated increases in demand, concrete producer Ozinga contracted with Dome Technology to build a DomeSilo in Chicago, Illinois, that stands 125 feet (38.1 meters) in diameter and 138 feet tall and can store 50,000 metric tons of cement. Product is loaded pneumatically via a barge unloader, and dual Fuller-Kinyon pumps convey cement from the dome to two day bins. The apex easily supports the 45,000-pound filtration system that provides excellent dust protection. The system consists of 272 filters, minimizing the dust escaping the structure.
Ozinga management considered slip-form concrete silos, bolted steel silos, and flat storage for the Chicago site, but “we determined that the dome storage was the most economical and efficient form of storage for the amount of material we wanted to store and the amount of annual put-through,” company president Marty Ozinga IV said.
Later Ozinga hired Dome Technology again, this time to act as construction manager for Chicago terminal expansion and oversaw the erection of two 4,000-ton silos, one rail silo, one blower building/electrical room, and three operator load-out kiosks.
In addition, new rail lines and switches were installed, and piping, electrical, and controls were put in. Two new truck scales and one new rail scale were added to the site, as well as automation and programming for these systems.
A host of conveyance options were also introduced. For offloading, product can be conveyed to barge, railcar, or truck; product can also be loaded into the existing 50,000 metric ton dome, which Dome Technology built in 2017. On the loading side, inbound product can be housed in one of the 4,000-ton silos, the rail silo, the existing 10,000-ton tanks, trucks, or rail cars—“that’s a lot of versatility,” said Dome Technology project manager Brent Toone.
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One of the hallmarks of quality workmanship is the number of repeat customers it generates, and Dome Technology has worked […]
One of the hallmarks of quality workmanship is the number of repeat customers it generates, and Dome Technology has worked with some of the biggest industry leaders on multiple projects. This article features Enviva and is the third part in a five-week series highlighting a lineup of customers who’ve come back for more.
In Spring of 2011 and November 2012, Dome Technology built two domes for biomass manufacturer Enviva at the Port of Chesapeake in Virginia, USA. The domes, which stand 157 feet high and 176 feet in diameter and store 45,000 metric tons apiece, feature systems for continuous monitoring and temperature control. Dome Technology’s team completed construction ahead of projected completion, even though the project started a month later than planned.
Five years later Enviva again contracted Dome Technology to build two additional, almost identical domes at Port of Wilmington, North Carolina, USA. This pair of domes stands 170 feet tall, boast a capacity of 45,000 metric tons each, and can withstand hurricane force winds.
“Enviva is the biggest wood-pellet producer in the world. It’s just a joy to work with such a large, progressive company,” said Dome Technology sales manager Lane Roberts.
According to Enviva Senior Vice President Norb Hintz, the company has been pleased with Dome Technology’s work. In a letter of recommendation, he writes, “We appreciate the high-quality workmanship, professionalism, and attention to detail demonstrated by their staff. Should Enviva need additional wood-pellet storage in the future, Dome Technology will be on the short list of suppliers we consider.”
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Our team is busy with projects in the U.S. and abroad. Here is a look at two current Dome Technology […]
Our team is busy with projects in the U.S. and abroad. Here is a look at two current Dome Technology projects that show our expertise beyond building industrial domes.
Beggs, OK:
Dome Technology is building two storm shelters in Beggs, Oklahoma, for the Beggs Public Schools.
The project will wrap up in early summer. The domes are not identical; one is 140 feet in diameter and the other 110 feet. Both will be used as multi-purpose spaces.
This is the second Dome Technology project in Beggs. In 2004 the team built two identical storm shelters for the school district, adjacent to the elementary, middle, and high schools. The new domes are located on the same site.
Port Allen Tank 27:
Dome Technology is rehabilitating a tank in Port Allen, Louisiana, by pouring concrete to raise the floor, placing an above-grade tunnel, installing aeration troughs, and adding new access doors. The project should be completed in early May 2019.
The customer has utilized the steel tank to store soybeans for years, but reclaim has been slow because of the age of the structure. “In today’s market, you’ve got to move (quickly) because when you move, you make money,” said Dome Technology sales manager Daren Wheeler. “We went in and put in a bigger tunnel so reclaim is in a tunnel, not just in the bottom of the tank. Now we’ve got reclaim, we’ve got hoppers, and we’ve got aeration troughs. We’ve provided a sweep in the bottom, and we have a high-roller conveyance system that basically now can move product four or five times faster.”
After the rehab the tank will have two access doors, one located at ground level for tunnel access and another above that, accessed by a ramp when cleaning is required. Dome Technology fabricated the steel ramp.