These are notes that I am writing to help me learn our industrial history. They are my best understanding, but that does not mean they are a correct understanding.
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Grain Bin Explosions
(Update: explosions aren't the only risk of elevator damage. Moist grain can also cause spontaneous combustion in the middle of the grain bin that smolders. Unfortunately, fire fighters pouring water onto the grain while it is in the bin makes it harder to put out. The grain needs to be removed from the bin, and then cooled off with water.)
This elevator in northern Franklin County, OH, may not long endure, based on the seemingly increasing trend toward demolition of large vacant structures. Urban encroachment eliminated the nearby farming necessary to its usefulness long ago.
The comments indicate that the holes at the base of two of the bins were caused by grain explosions. The comments also point out that these explosions leave very little soot.
I knew that explosions where an issue in the head house and that dust control is a very important aspect of operating an elevator, but I did not realize that they could also pop out the side of a concrete silo.
Jesse T Wells commented on the above posting Here is a pic of a hole caused by a grain explosion. Note that there is no soot residue.
Update: keeping the dust under control to avoid explosions is not a completely solved problem. The Prairie Grain elevator in Clarkfield, MN, exploded around 8am May 11. When I looked on May 14, their web site had an alert indicating that they will be receiving grain starting May 13.
kfkyrtv, another example of how flammability of grain dust --- it is expected to be a total loss.
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