In the core scenarios of large-scale concrete batching plant buildings, cement silos (also known as cement tanks) are indispensable key equipment. It is not merely a simple storage container, but a material storage system with airtightness, moisture-proofing and intelligence. It is mainly used to store powdered building materials such as cement, fly ash and mineral powder, providing stable and clean material guarantees for the construction process.
Additionally, concrete silos work in conjunction with screw conveyors to efficiently transport materials to various points within the mixing plant. Their convenient installation method and excellent safety features make them an ideal bulk storage tank for various types of mixing plants.
Cement has long been an important binding material widely used in civil engineering, water conservancy, and defense projects. Previously, cement silos have been widely used all over the world. Choosing the right cement silo is the key to the success of any construction project.
The design of cement silos revolves around two core objectives: “protecting material quality” and “improving construction efficiency”，which can be specifically broken down into three major functions：
Material protection function: The fully enclosed tank design effectively isolates moisture and dust, preventing cement from becoming damp, clumping, or contaminated, and ensuring stable material performance. Additionally, some high-end cement silos are equipped with perforated arch-breaking devices to address clumping issues caused by long-term material accumulation, ensuring material flowability.
Intelligent Monitoring Function: Mainstream cement silos are equipped with real-time material level monitoring systems, using high and low material level sensors to precisely display the position and remaining quantity of materials inside the tank, preventing “empty silo material shortages” or “overflowing silos,” helping construction companies reasonably plan material feeding schedules.
Efficient conveying integration functionality: The bottom of the cement silo is pre-equipped with a spiral conveyor interface, enabling seamless integration with a spiral conveyor pump to smoothly and continuously transport cement from the silo to the mixing main unit or other designated points, achieving an integrated “storage-conveying” system. This reduces manual transfer processes and enhances construction efficiency.
As the core binding material in the construction industry, the quality of cement storage directly impacts the strength and durability of engineering projects. Selecting the appropriate type of cement silo is a critical prerequisite for ensuring material storage safety and continuous construction:
If a small mobile cement silo is used in a large permanent mixing plant, frequent shutdowns for material replenishment due to insufficient capacity will slow down construction progress; If fixed vertical cement silos are used at temporary demolition sites, not only are installation costs high, but there are also challenges with relocating them afterward.
Therefore, understanding the classification and applicable scenarios of cement silos is a critical consideration that must be prioritized from the planning stage of construction projects.
There are various types of cement silos available on the market, but based on structural form and core application scenarios, vertical cement silos and horizontal cement silos are the two most practical types. The differences between the two stem from their varying suitability for “capacity requirements,” “site conditions,” and “mobility needs,” effectively covering the vast majority of construction projects.
Vertical cement silos have a conical shape, with the silo body and legs constructed using thicker steel plates, making them suitable for long-term fixed construction projects. Horizontal cement silos are horizontal rectangular prisms. The silo body is made of channel steel, and the legs are made of square steel, making them suitable for short-term, small-scale mobile construction projects.
Vertical cement silos have the core advantages of “high capacity and small floor space”. The tank body is in the shape of an upright cylinder, with a conical funnel at the bottom. They are mainly used in large concrete mixing plants, cement plants and other construction sites where fixed materials need to be stored in large quantities for a long time.
Its capacity is usually between 30 tons and 500 tons, and some customized models can exceed 1,000 tons, which can meet the material demands of continuous construction in large-scale projects.
Horizontal cement silos are characterized by their “low height and easy mobility”. The tank body is placed horizontally in the form of a rectangular or cylindrical shape and does not require tall supports. They are mainly used in mobile mixing plants, small construction sites, emergency repairs and other scenarios that require frequent relocation or have limited space.
Its capacity can also range from 30 tons to 500 tons. It does not require a complex foundation during installation and can be directly placed on a flat ground.
Analysis of Vertical Cement Silos
Vertical cement silos are the preferred choice for large permanent mixing stations due to their large capacity and space-saving characteristics. To fully utilize their performance, it is necessary to first understand their structural design and key points of use.
Structural Form: The main body is a vertical cylindrical structure, with an inclined conical hopper at the bottom (to facilitate material flow). The overall height of the tank body relies on steel structure supports for stability.
Material Selection: The tank body of the vertical cement silo is made of high-strength steel plate with a smooth inner wall. The supports are mostly made of welded steel sections to ensure stable load-bearing.
Installation Requirements: A reinforced concrete foundation must be pre-cast, with sufficient strength to support the tank’s full load; the installation process is time-consuming, and the tank is difficult to relocate once installed.
♦ Main Tank System
Cylinder Shell: Fabricated from high-quality rolled steel plates welded together. Wall thickness is adjusted according to capacity. The inner surface is ground smooth to prevent material adhesion and caking.
Cone Hopper: Located at the lower end with a tapered design to facilitate gravity discharge of cement. Typically features a 45°–60° angle to prevent material buildup and blockages.
Tank Cover: The top is covered with a closed cover plate to prevent rainwater and dust from entering, and it is also equipped with a maintenance opening.
♦ Feeding System
Feeding Pipe: Connected to the cement tanker, the cement is conveyed into the silo by pneumatic conveying.
Feeding Port: Equipped with a buffer device to prevent dust from spilling out due to rapid feeding.
♦ Unloading System
Discharge Valve: Primarily employs manual or pneumatic butterfly valves installed at the bottom of the conical hopper to control discharge operation. Pneumatic valves can interface with the mixing plant control system for automated discharge.
Screw Conveyor Interface: A flanged connection is reserved beneath the discharge outlet for linking to the screw conveyor, which transports cement to the main mixing unit. A sealing gasket is fitted at the interface to prevent dust leakage.
High Space Utilization: Compared with horizontal cement silos, the design of vertical cement silos reduces the occupied area by more than 50%, alleviating the difficulty of site limitations.
Large Storage Capacity: With a storage range of 30 to 500 tons, it meets the cement demands of large-scale projects while minimizing feeding frequency, ensuring uninterrupted production.
Excellent sealing performance: Fully sealed tank body + top sealing cover design, with remarkable moisture-proof effect. It can effectively extend the shelf life of cement.
High Automation: Integrates with mixing plant control systems to achieve seamless “level monitoring – automatic feeding – automatic unloading” operations.
Height Restriction: The height of the vertical cement tank is usually between 11 meters and 30 meters, making it unsuitable for use in areas with height restrictions such as low-rise buildings in cities.
Requires Protective Measures: The center of gravity is relatively high, so additional windproof cables and lightning rods need to be installed. Otherwise, safety accidents are likely to occur in strong wind and thunderstorm weather.
No Weighing Function: Due to the high center of gravity design, it is impossible to integrate a weighing system, and the actual weight of the cement inside the tank cannot be accurately measured. The capacity can only be estimated through the material level sensor.
Analysis of Horizontal Cement Silos
Horizontal cement silos（portable cement silo） are designed with rectangular cylinders placed horizontally, do not require column support, have a low overall center of gravity, and are more convenient for transportation and installation. They are often used in temporary projects or mobile construction sites, forming a sharp complement to vertical cement silos.
Structural Display: The main body consists of a horizontally placed rectangular prism or cylinder, requiring no independent support structure. It rests directly on the ground via a flat base support.
Material Selection: The tank body is fabricated from 5mm to 10mm high-hardness steel plate welded together, utilizing double-sided galvanized steel plates. Support bases are typically square steel or H-shaped steel to ensure stability.
Installation Requirements: There is no need to pour a complex foundation. Just level and compact the ground and place it in position. The installation period is usually 1 to 3 days.
♦ Main Body of the Tank
Main Tank Body: The rectangular tank body employs a “steel plate + structural steel frame” construction to enhance deformation resistance.
Inclined Bottom Design: The inner bottom features a 5°–10° incline to guide materials toward the discharge port, preventing accumulation in dead corners.
Top Feed Opening: The large feed opening is equipped with a dust cover above to prevent rainwater and debris ingress.
♦ Feeding and Discharging System
Feeding Interface: The feeding port is connected to a flexible conveying pipe, which can be quickly connected to cement trucks without the need for fixed pipes, meeting the temporary feeding requirements of construction sites.
Discharge System: A discharge port is set in the middle of the tank bottom. A vibrating motor or arch-breaking device is installed above the discharge port. Through high-frequency vibration, the material lumps are broken to ensure smooth discharge. A small screw conveyor is directly installed below the discharge port, which can transport cement to the mixing equipment.
♦ Dust Removal and Material Level Monitoring
Top Dust Collector: A compact bag-type dust collector is installed beside the feed inlet to effectively filter dust generated during material feeding.
Level Sensor: Installed at the top and bottom of the tank body, it monitors high and low material levels, with data displayed via a simple dashboard.
♦ Mobile and Support System
Bottom Support: The base features anti-slip pads or pre-drilled bolt holes, allowing secure anchoring to the ground via expansion bolts (temporary fixation, easily removable).
Lifting and Transport Interfaces: Lifting lugs are installed at both ends or the top of the tank body for crane handling. Some small horizontal cement silos can be transported directly by forklift without disassembly.
Easy installation: No complex foundation is required. It can be used on a flat ground and is suitable for projects with short construction periods and temporary sites (such as house demolition and reconstruction, rural road construction).
Strong mobility: After disassembly, it can be transported as a whole by truck or disassembled into small components for transportation (suitable for complex road conditions such as mountain roads and narrow roads), and can be quickly transferred between multiple construction sites.
Good height adaptability: It can be used in indoor workshops, low factories or near urban residential areas, without height restrictions.
Cost control: Both the equipment procurement cost and installation cost are lower than those of vertical cement silos of the same capacity, and they can be reused, reducing long-term investment.
Significant Space Occupation: Under the same storage capacity conditions, the floor area occupied by a horizontal cement silo can reach 2 to 3 times that of a vertical silo, requiring sufficient flat land to be reserved and having higher requirements for construction space planning.
Capacity Limitation: The maximum capacity of a single warehouse generally does not exceed 500 tons, which is difficult to support the material reserve requirements of long-term continuous construction in super-large engineering projects. Frequent replenishment of materials or the configuration of multiple pieces of equipment are needed.
Slightly Inferior Sealing Performance: Due to their horizontal structure and frequent relocation requirements, their sealing performance suffices for temporary storage. However, beyond 6 months, their moisture resistance falls short compared to vertical silos.
| Comparison | Vertical Cement Silo | Horizontal Cement Silo |
| Main Form | Vertical cylindrical body with high height | Horizontal layout with overall lower height |
| Support Method | Column + cone bucket structure, requires concrete foundation | Steel structure base frame, directly placed on the ground |
| Land Area | Compact footprint, high height | Large footprint, low height |
| Installation Method | Transportation in sections, on-site welding | Complete transportation, easy installation |
| Discharge Device | Gravity discharge from lower cone hopper + screw conveyor discharge | Screw conveyor with direct discharge |
| Silo Top Unit | Dust collector, explosion relief valve, feed inlet, level gauge | Dust collector, pressure relief valve, feed inlet, level gauge |
| Maintenance Convenience | Maintenance of silo tops requires a tall ladder | Low height for easy maintenance |
| Transportation Convenience | Long-distance sea freight difficulties | Container shipping convenience |
Whether vertical or horizontal, the core working logic of cement silos revolves around “safe storage” and “efficient transportation”, but due to structural differences, the specific processes are slightly different.
First, prepare for feeding: inspect the dust collector and safety valve for proper function, close the discharge valve, and securely connect the cement truck‘s conveying pipe to the silo top inlet. Activate pneumatic conveying to press cement into the silo while the dust collector simultaneously filters particulates. Cease feeding when the level sensor reaches “high level.”
During storage, the sealed tank isolates moisture and dust. The safety valve maintains stable air pressure. Use the arch breaker to loosen material when clumping occurs. Sensors monitor the material level, alerting for replenishment when low.
During discharge, open the bottom butterfly valve to allow cement to flow by gravity into the screw conveyor for transport to mixing equipment. Adjustable valves control flow rate, and the arch breaker activates when clumping occurs. After discharge, close the valve first, then stop the conveyor, and clean residual cement.
Feeding Stage: First position the silo on level, compacted ground. Inspect the top dust collector and discharge valve status. Then connect the flexible conveying hose from the bulk cement truck to the silo top inlet. Activate the pneumatic conveying system to feed cement into the silo while the dust collector simultaneously filters particulates. Feeding stops when the level sensor detects “high material level.”
Storage Phase: The inclined silo base directs cement toward the discharge outlet. For extended storage periods, periodically activate the bottom vibrating motor to prevent material caking. Sensors continuously monitor the material level and alert for replenishment.
Discharge Phase: Open the discharge butterfly valve as needed and activate the vibrating motor to loosen the cement. The cement flows along the inclined silo bottom into the bottom screw conveyor and is transported to the mixing equipment. Adjust the valve to control the discharge rate. After discharge, close the valve first, then stop the conveyor only after residual cement has been cleared. Finally, clean any remaining material.
The EPDAS cement storage silo is constructed with advanced production techniques and high-quality steel, featuring a stable structure and excellent sealing performance. It effectively prevents materials from getting damp and caking, ensuring safer and more reliable cement storage. It can be customized in a personalized way, enjoy long-term stable guarantees, and make the construction process smoother and more efficient.
The thickness of the spiral interlocking edge is five times that of ordinary steel plates, which has strong load-bearing capacity, is not easy to deform, and completely eliminates weld cracking. Double-sided hot-dip galvanized steel plates are moisture-resistant and salt spray-resistant, with a service life of over 10 years, which is 2 to 3 times that of ordinary carbon steel silos.
Specialized spiral folding equipment eliminates lengthy traditional welding wait times. Select models support segmented assembly, allowing the tank body to be disassembled into multiple sections for transportation based on site road conditions and lifting equipment constraints. Rapid on-site assembly resolves challenges associated with transporting large equipment.
Achieves ultimate moisture-proof sealing with dual sealing strips at spiral joints and silicone gaskets at top loading and bottom discharge ports. Capacity can be customized to project requirements.
Compared to traditional silos, EPDAS silos achieve 20% higher material utilization (spiral forming reduces steel plate cutting waste), 15%-20% lower per-silo construction costs, and reduced maintenance labor and consumable expenses.
Choosing the right cement silos the first step is to match the capacity with the project scale, which is the primary prerequisite for selection. For small-scale local construction projects, small-capacity silos can meet the demands. For large-scale projects, high-capacity silos must be selected.
Only when the silo capacity matches the average daily cement consumption and the feeding cycle can construction interruptions caused by frequent material replenishment be avoided, ensuring the continuous progress of the project.
Second, select the type based on mobility requirements. For temporary projects like road repairs or rotating construction across multiple sites, horizontal silos are more suitable. They require no complex foundations and are easy to dismantle and transport. For fixed locations such as mixing plants or cement factories, prioritize vertical or concrete silos, which better suit long-term usage scenarios.
Furthermore, durability determines long-term returns. Cement silos are investment products that need to be used for many years. One should not only look at the initial cost. When choosing a warehouse, pay attention to the material. A warehouse made of high-quality materials is wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant, which can reduce the trouble of later maintenance and replacement.
Finally, environmental and site conditions demand attention. Assess the structural stability of the installation site. For soft ground foundations, select silo types with low foundation requirements. On solid ground, choose flexibly based on capacity needs to ensure the silo remains secure and stable after installation.
What Should be Paid Attention to When Installing A Cement Silo?
Solid Foundation
Vertical silos require concrete foundations poured with thickness increasing proportionally at 50 tons per 50 cm. Horizontal silos only require compacted ground.
Structural Precision
Vertical deviation during hoisting must not exceed 1‰ (1 cm tolerance for 10-meter silos). Load-bearing welds require UT flaw detection. Supports must be fully welded to foundation embedded plates.
Wind and Lightning Protection
Vertical silos ≥15m must install guy wires (anchor weights ≥10% of full load capacity) and independent lightning protection systems (grounding resistance ≤10Ω).
System Debugging
Detect the negative pressure of the dust collector (-50 to -100Pa), test the unloading system for no lag, and calibrate the material level sensor (accurately triggered by 10% low alarm and 80% high alarm).
Safety Protection
Equipped with anti-slip ladder guardrails, set up unloading isolation areas, and strictly prohibit single personnel from entering the warehouse for operation.
Continuous Maintenance
Check the structural integrity weekly, clean the dust removal filter bags monthly, and carry out regular anti-corrosion treatment (paint the carbon steel silo every 1-2 years, and repair the zinc layer of the galvanized silo in time).
Cement silos are indispensable in the modern construction industry, providing reliable cement storage solutions for various engineering projects. EPDAS offers a full range of products including vertical and horizontal types, with capacities covering large tonnages to meet the needs of different scenarios.
Whether for permanent mixing plants or temporary construction sites, EPDAS delivers comprehensive lifecycle technical support and customized services. For more information about our cement silos, please contact us immediately. We are always ready to provide you with storage solutions.
