Purpose
This regulation aims to standardize the daily operation and management of grain silos, ensure grain storage safety, prevent dust explosions, avoid structural damage, improve operational efficiency, and achieve full-process traceability and record-keeping.
Scope of Application
This regulation is applicable to all mechanical conveying and grain silos with complete risk control devices, including:
- Feeding bin operation;
- Storage period management;
- Unloading and clearance operations;
- Shutdown and regular maintenance.
This regulation is also applicable to the situation where different warehouse capacities are switched for use.
Division of Responsibilities
Operator’s responsibilities
Strictly abide by all operation procedures and be responsible for the safety of operations such as entering the warehouse, storage and unloading. Monitor the operating status of the equipment in a timely manner and report any abnormalities immediately.
Responsibilities of management personnel
Supervise the implementation situation, be responsible for safety training and decision-making in case of emergencies; Ensure that emergency response plans are complete and conduct regular drills.
Responsibilities of maintenance personnel
Be responsible for equipment inspection, repair and maintenance. Register all repair activities and submit equipment health status reports to the management.
General Safety Principles
No open flames or fireworks are allowed
The dust concentration inside the silo is relatively high, which can easily cause explosions and fires. Under no circumstances is welding, sparking or setting off fireworks allowed around the warehouse area.
Explosion-proof measures
All drive motors and control equipment should be equipped with enclosures that comply with explosion-proof grade regulations and be properly grounded. The dust removal system must be turned on before the feeding operation.
Restrictions on operations in confined Spaces
Silos are enclosed Spaces and unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter. If entry is necessary, the operation procedures for confined Spaces must be followed and gas detection conducted.
Personal protection requirements
Workers must wear dust masks, protective gloves, safety helmets and safety shoes. When working at heights, anti-fall equipment should be added.
Unauthorized climbing is prohibited
It is strictly prohibited to climb the outer wall or internal facilities of the silo without safety measures.
Detailed Operating Procedures
(1) Pre-feeding inspection
Target warehouse confirmation
Confirm the number and capacity of the feeding silo to avoid misfeeding or overstorage. If the current position is close to the highest safety line, the plan must be adjusted immediately.
Silo capacity inspection
Confirm the inventory height through the liquid level gauge, visual hole or monitoring system to ensure that the remaining quantity meets the feeding requirements.
Equipment inspection
Check whether the conveyor, discharge valve, ventilation unit and dust removal system are functioning properly. All electrical interfaces must be firm and undamaged.
(2) Feeding operation
Start the dust removal system
The dust removal device must be turned on and kept running before the feeding begins to reduce the risk of dust explosion.
Connect the conveying equipment correctly
All the connections of the feeding pipes should be tight to prevent leakage that could cause dust diffusion or material loss.
Control the feeding speed
It is not allowed to fill the silo at high speed all at once. Adjustments should be made uniformly based on the ventilation capacity and the current material state of the target silo. Avoid the arch bridge phenomenon caused by local stress concentration.
Full-process monitoring
The operator must monitor the temperature, equipment power and material height in real time. If there is any jamming, feeding should be stopped immediately.
Multi-warehouse switching operation
When switching between different warehouse positions, the valve should be closed first to ensure no residual material leakage, and then the corresponding warehouse entrance should be opened.
(3) Management during storage
Regular inspection
During the storage period, stored grains need to undergo periodic inspections to control moisture, temperature and the risk of mold.
Visual inspection
Observe through the inspection hole whether there are lumps, mold spots or pests on the surface of the upper layer of materials.
Auscultation examination
Use equipment such as a stethoscope stick or sound monitoring to identify whether there is any abnormal jamming or mechanical wear.
Instrument monitoring
The temperature probe and humidity sensor need to record and analyze the trend daily. If any abnormality is found, cooling and drying measures should be taken immediately.
Keep the air circulating
When the climate humidity is high or the temperature rises, turn on the ventilation system in a timely manner to ensure the air circulation inside the grain pile.
Moisture-proof and rain-proof measures
The sealing of the warehouse roof and the outer shell should be inspected regularly. Special attention should be paid to the integrity of the protective materials during the rainy season.
(4) Unloading operation
Confirm before unloading
Confirm the number of the target unloading silo and check the status of the downstream transportation equipment. Clean the chute and conveyor in advance when necessary.
The principle of uniform unloading
The bottom of the silo must not be fully opened at one time. Materials should be unloaded layer by layer gradually to reduce uneven pressure on the structure.
Emission rate control
The unloading speed should be adjusted according to the fluidity of the material and the downstream load to prevent blockage.
Requirements for clearance operations
In case of blockage forming an arch frame, it is strictly prohibited for personnel to enter the warehouse. Long poles or mechanical clearance systems must be used to handle the situation from the outside. Entry into silo operations should only be carried out after complete venting and ventilation, and the procedures for confined space operations must be strictly followed.
(5) Shutdown and maintenance
Shutdown sequence
First, stop the feeding equipment, then turn off the ventilator, and finally cut off the power supply. Any emergency shutdown must have its cause recorded.
Equipment cleaning
After unloading is completed, the chute, screen and the surrounding area should be cleaned in time to prevent the residual material from absorbing moisture and getting moldy.
Regular maintenance
- Clean the dust collector on the top of the warehouse and replace the filter bags every month.
- Regularly check and tighten the bolt connections;
- Carry out anti-corrosion treatment on the warehouse body and supporting structure;
- Check the grounding integrity of the electronic control system.
Emergency Response
Overflow handling
Quickly close the feed valve, identify the cause and clean up the overflow. Overflow materials must not be re-put into the silo.
Blockage or arched treatment
No personnel are allowed to enter the warehouse. Vibration devices or mechanical arch-breaking tools should be given priority to solve the problem.
Signs of fire or dust explosion
In case of a sudden rise in temperature or smoke, the vehicle should be stopped immediately, emergency ventilation turned on, personnel evacuated, and the fire extinguishing system activated.
Structural anomaly situation
If the warehouse body is tilted, deformed or cracked, all operations should be immediately halted and the management should be notified to organize professional inspection.
Record-keeping Requirements
All operations, inspections, maintenance and exception handling must be recorded, including:
- Operation time, material type and quantity;
- Equipment operating status;
- Temperature and humidity monitoring records;
- Maintenance and repair records;
- Abnormal events and their handling processes.
These records will serve as important bases for safety audits, quality traceability and continuous improvement.
