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What is Fly Ash?
Coal power plants and other industries that burn pulverized coal must manage the resulting byproduct fly ash. When released directly into the air, fly ash negatively impacts air quality. In 2015, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published requirements for the safe disposal of coal combustion residuals like fly ash.1 Today, fly ash is stored in concrete storage silos and domes and has numerous commercial and industrial applications. In paints, adhesives, and composites, fly ash is used as a filler. In the cement industry, fly ash can be added to mixes to improve concrete durability, make mixes easier to work, and improve permeability.
Marietta Silos leads the industry in fly ash silo construction and has constructed more fly ash silos than any other company combined. We have earned an unparalleled reputation for excellence through extensive experience with concrete fly ash silos with numerous leading power utilities and contractors throughout the United States. Marietta Silos is also highly experienced in silo building and design for bottom ash and palletized fly ash storage silos.
Storage Domes
When it comes to storage dome cleaning and maintenance, it's important to consider how the unique shape impacts material flow and buildup. Regardless of whether domes store cement or fly ash, hardened material will still accumulate along the interior surface. To remove this material buildup from storage domes, specialized equipment used by silo and dome cleaning professionals is essential. Furthermore, the large, domed ceiling can make cleaning of material buildup more challenging.
Once fully empty and cleaned, storage domes can be inspected by a trained professional who can recommend necessary maintenance and repairs. It's also a good time to replace or repair existing fluidizing equipment, like air pads, to help ensure continued material flow.
Ready for your next dome cleaning? Contact USA Silo Services to Request a Quote.
1 US EPA, O. (2014, December 11). Disposal of coal combustion residuals from electric utilities rulemakings [Other Policies and Guidance]. https://www.epa.gov/coalash/coal-ash-rule.
Addressing Silo Emergencies
From unplanned downtime and lost revenue to silo failure and loss of life, the consequences can be dire when emergency silo issues arise. Without routine silo inspections, silo repair emergencies and structural failures can seem like they came out of nowhere. Failing to complete preventive maintenance is a leading cause of costly, dangerous silo failure. Addressing minor issues as soon as they arise helps keep the costs of silo ownership low as major repairs, emergencies, and structural failures are more expensive up front, take longer to correct, and inevitably result in unplanned downtime.
When emergency silo issues arise, Marietta Silos' team acts quickly to offer emergency services that meet all of your silo needs. Our experts have the experience and expertise to fix your silo problems for good.
Preventing Silo Emergencies
Though many silo emergencies can be fixed, the best way to protect workers and keep costs low is to prevent silo emergencies from happening in the first place. Regular maintenance and silo inspections are necessary to ensure that silos remain in good working condition and that any issues can be identified and addressed before they become larger problems.
Scheduling routine maintenance during temperate times of the year can help you reduce expenses by catching and addressing problems early and reducing downtime. Times of the year with mild weather, like the spring and fall, tend to provide better working conditions for various silo repairs. These ideal weather conditions can make a repair or restoration go more quickly – reducing the cost of labor and your downtime.
Contact us to schedule your next silo repair, restoration, or inspection.
Cement plant facility managers understand the importance of limiting downtime and ensuring cement silos maintain optimum storage capacities. However, without a routine inspection, cleaning, and maintenance schedule, moisture intrusion and/or impaction can lead to material buildup, blockages, and material flow issues. Air pads and other fluidizing equipment also needs to be inspected and serviced regularly by a professional silo cleaning company to ensure correct operation. These common silo problems can cause shifts in the production schedule that greatly impact the bottom line.
How do you clean a cement silo?
USA Silo Service can clean, inspect, and maintain your cement storage silo or dome. For nearly thirty years, we've repeatedly seen that our enhanced pneumatic cleaning method with our proprietary cleanout head, The Boss™, is the most powerful silo cleaning method available. The USA Silo Service cleaning solution is 2/3 more powerful than conventional cleaning methods. In addition, since The Boss moves more material per hour, our system delivers optimal cleaning quickly and correctly, resulting in less downtime and production loss, ultimately saving you money.
How do you improve cement plant operations?
Cleaning, inspecting, and maintaining your cement silo is one of the best ways to improve your cement plant operations. A clean, well-maintained silo not only helps you stick to production schedules and yield maximum production, it also helps you ensure the quality of your product and protect employee safety.
Schedule your next silo cleaning today. The Boss silo cleaning machine and USA Silo Service can help you return to a regular silo cleaning schedule to maximize efficiency, production, and safety.
