ABSTRACT
General characteristics of silos used for storing powder and granular materials are as follows: 1. Granular materials can be collected, distributed, and stored in bulk efficiently. 2. Transportation costs, which influence the costs of raw materials and products, can be
reduced. 3. Compared with storage on a flat surface such as a floor, a silo’s storing capacity is several
times greater in the same space. 4. Equipment cost per unit of storage capacity is small. 5. Automatic loading, unloading, and control of storage volume are possible. 6. Operations such as pressurization, heat insulation, moisture proofing, and fumigation are
easily accomplished. 7. Quality change, decomposition, breakage, and damage of stored materials by insects and
rats can be prevented. 8. A silo can be incorporated easily as a part of an industrial production system and has labor-
saving advantages.
