Silo cleaning
This article covers the cleaning of silos when used as storage for agricultural products.
Many producers prefer to store their products in an outdoor or large-scale silo, as the monitoring of the temperature , the storage management and the hygiene are easier to handle.
problem
Grain loses moisture during storage. Due to the different temperatures inside and outside the silo, it precipitates as condensate on the walls and forms a thick layer of dirt in connection with the grain dust. The trapped moisture not only causes corrosion of the silo wall and thus attacks the structural substance, the layer on the walls also provides an ideal breeding ground for z. B. Mold , mites and grain beetles . This creates a considerable risk of contamination of subsequent deposits.
Legal Aspects
The storage of agricultural products is a. a. regulated in different EU regulations on food hygiene (e.g. regulations (EC) No. 178/2002, 852-854 / 2004). These state that food business operators must ensure, as far as possible, that primary products such as B. grain, with a view to a later processing from contamination (pollution) are protected.
economic aspects
The marketing of unhygienically stored grain harbors the risk that the commercial buyer will not buy or only buy it at a reduced price because of contaminated batches . If, in addition, a strong infestation of the stored goods is determined and no effective control measures can be initiated, there is a risk of total loss.
cleaning
The necessary cleaning process is difficult due to the height of the silos of up to 30 meters. Most companies clean the surface with the help of a scaffold installed inside and a broom , but here most of the dirt is whirled up and redistributed. In addition, the respiratory tract contamination from the bacteria and mold spores contained in the dust represents a high health risk. Some companies limit cleaning to striking the outer walls of the silo with a large hammer in order to loosen the layer of dirt. However, this method seems questionable with regard to the endeavor to maintain operational values and to achieve sustainable results.
Mechanical cleaning is possible for containers up to 25 m. A robot equipped with rotating nozzles is installed in the silo . The layer of dirt is then removed under high pressure with the help of water .
Alternative working methods
- Fisat - or IRATA -tested industrial climbing - rope techniques
- Assembly of an access system or a pulling cage
- Cable hoisting techniques in silo access
- High-pressure and ultra-high pressure jet techniques without access to the silo with various lance systems
Access with rope ladders or similar auxiliary means do not comply with the regulations of the employers' liability insurance association .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Leaflet on the Feed Hygiene Regulation , as of January 2008, Ministry of Food and Rural Areas, Baden-Württemberg