Silos Córdoba completes grain terminal in Kazakhstan

 

Silos Córdoba recently completed a grain terminal in the Aktau port of Kazakhstan which serves as a platform for wheat storage and has already went into operation.

The terminal is in its first phase, meaning possibility for future expansion. It currently has six flat bottom silos, each with a capacity for 10,000 tonnes of wheat. It is designed with the objective to handle a target capacity of one million tonnes yearly, and equipped with all necessary safety and anti-wear systems.

The terminal includes: two independent train reception lines; two cleaning lines combining magnet separator and drum sieves; impurities disposal system able to collect all impurities from the cleaning system and transfer them to a truck load silo; silo loading system with chain conveyors and a capacity of 500 tonnes per hour; silo unloading system with belt conveyors and a capacity of 500 tonnes per hour; two independent weighing systems - one for the grain reception (after cleaning), another for expedition (before loading vessels); ship loader with a capacity of 500 tonnes per hour, and is mounted on rails; and complete aspiration system for dust and fine particles installed on reception intake, cleaning system, elevators and loading conveyors.

Due to the features of the grain terminal, impurities are transferred back to the grain flow during the ship loading process. Silos are designed according to the seismic zone, wind speed and snow load in the area. In addition, they are equipped with an aeration system made by centrifugal fans, aeration grill with H type and exhaust fans; complete unloading silo system with central and lateral discharge hoppers, motorised and manual slide gates (to minimise operation failure, each silo outlet has a flow regulator able to supply 500 tonnes per hour, and the ability to prevent blockage in the unloading conveyors); and an automatic control temperature system, which is integrated with the electrical panel that enables automatic aeration.

Silos are designed to be fumigation compatible. This means all silo joints are sealed. Roof vent locks are also installed and will be used when the fumigation process occurs.

There are also two elevator tower supports with step ladder to improve maintenance. These have several maintenance platforms for elevators and an internal weighing system.

The terminal can be fully automated and operated by just six people.