By taking advantage of local climate and materials, and combinating these with innovative use of design software, local consultancy firm EKO Design has devised an ingenuous solution to grain storage in Prieska in the Northern Cape.
The ‘tentsilo’ is the first of its kind in South Africa, and allows for alternative grain storage at a minimum cost. The silo walls are made of gunite, the dense cement-sand mixture often used to line tunnel walls, swimming pools and other structures. The sand is sourced from the surrounding area.
The core of the wall is made from steel mesh. The structure has the functionality of a conventional silo and is more permanent than a grain bunker. It also boasts less grain loss. The tentsilo has a diameter of 60m and can accommodate up to 18 500t of grain, nearly four times the amount of a regular storage unit.
The Prieska area has a very dry climate with extreme temperatures. EKO Design made the most of these conditions by lowering the silo 2m into the ground, saving on wall reinforcement and keeping the grain cool. The silo is fed by a central pipe with openings to enable smooth distribution, eliminating the need for the conventional gantry and conveyor belts, thus conserving energy.
The pipe also acts as a structural element, supporting the fabric, which can easily be replaced by lowering it via a pulley system.
The structure has proven to be very stable, even withstanding a light tornado that uprooted trees in the surrounding area.
