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Bioenergy International no 7 December 2015

PELLETS t SHIPPING t LOGISTICS t PELLETS t SHIPPING 1FMMFUT6OEFSUIF%PNF US-based Dome Technology is a pioneer in dome storage solutions that, according to the company, outperform traditional silos and flat storage warehouses for dry bulk. What originally began over 35 years ago as an innovative steel-reinforced concrete construction process is now finding it ideally lends itself to large volume storage of wood pellets. LOOKING AT THE AERIAL IMAGE of the Drax Power station in the UK, the four white pellet storage domes resemble a giant clutch of eggs. If it had been built prior to 2009 it might have been a source of inspiration for Stephen King’s “Under the Dome” sci-fi novel and subsequent TV series. Each of the four storage domes is enormous, measuring just over 50 m in height and 63 m in diameter and capable of holding 80 000 tonnes of pellets. In total the domes could store a massive 320 000 tonnes of wood pellets, equivalent to the annual production of a reasonably sized pellet plant. The first-of-its-kind biomass storage project in the UK and a new storage solution for Drax, who had previously chosen flat storage and silos, it was also the largest project ever for Dome Technology. While the size and scale of the Drax power station storage project were unprecedented it was not the first wood pellet dome project. – We have several biomass projects in the US, such as the Savannah Bulk Terminal in Georgia for Georgia Biomass; the Enviva Biomass Terminal in Chesapeake, Virginia and Enviva in Wilmington, North Carolina and for Quebec Stevedoring (QSL) in Canada. The domes were more economical and have a smaller footprint than other technologies and a quicker build process, recounted Lane Roberts, Sales Manager, Dome Technology. – We have completed over 270 industrial projects worldwide. These are found at power plants 8 Bioenergy International No 83, 7-2015 like Drax, but also mines, heavy industry and terminals for storing dry-bulk products - for instance cement, potash, coke or agri-bulk like corn, soybeans, sugar, canola and wood pellets, said Roberts. Inherent strength provides options The thin-shell structure consists of several layers and whilst the domes may appear alike, no two projects are the same since each is tailored to the indivudual project. A bulkstorage project usually begins with assessing the material to be stored along with site constraints and operational requirements of the client factored into the initial design and engineering of foundations, tunnels, domes and operational systems. Precast concrete tunnels can speed up project delivery and, paired with various dome shapes and floor configurations, accom- modate efficient underground mechanical reclaim systems. – The inherent strength of the dome allows for diverse foundation and product reclaim options. The concrete ring beam serves as both footing for structure and the belt keeping the structure in tension, explained Roberts. In locations where soil conditions would require deep foundations beneath traditional structures, intermediate options can often suffice with a dome. – The Savannah Bulk Terminal project is a good example. Here the operators, Peeples Industries, were originally considering a conventional A-frame storage solution for 50 000 tonnes of pellets. This would have required a deep pile foundation on account of the soggy Savannah soil, said Roberts, adding that the cost of piling alone would have been equal to about featu re: “The inherent strength of the dome allows for diverse foundation and product reclaim options.” LANE ROBERTS Sales Manager, Dome Technology. Photo courtesy Dome Technology


Bioenergy International no 7 December 2015
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