Silo cleaning is a method to maximize the efficiency of storage silos that hold bulk powders or granules. In silos, material is fed through the top and removed from the bottom. Typical silo applications include animal feed, industrial powders, cement, and pharmaceuticals.
Manual cleaning, by lowering a worker on a rope to free material, is the simplest way to tidy silos. However, manual cleaning is hazardous due to the release of material and the possible presence of gases. In cases of bridging, an additional danger exists as the exit whole needs to be rode from underneath, exposing the worker to falling powder.
Free movement of stored materials, on a first-in, first-out basis, is essential in maximizing silo efficiency. The aim of silo efficiency is to ensure that oldest material is used first and does not contaminate newer, fresher material. Six main problems, rat holing and bridging, complicate silo efficiency. When rat holing occurs, powders adhere to the sides of silos. Bridging occurs when material blocks at the silo base.
Air blasters are a well-established cleaning process. Air dancers are expensive, however, as limited coverage requires purchase of multiple units. Air cannons are also noise intrusive and need high consumption of compressed air.
Vibrators are easy to fit in to empty silos, but can cause structural destroy and contribute to powder compaction.
Low friction linings are calm, but expensive to install and liable to erosion which can then contaminate the environment or product.
Fluidization through a one-way membrane can help compacted material, but are expensive and difficult to install and maintain. These systems can also contribute to mechanical interlocking and bridging.
Inflatable pads and liners are easy to install in empty silos and can help sidewall build up but have no effect on bridging. Inflatable pads and liners are also hard to maintain and can cause compaction.
A marina is a sheltered harbor where boats and yachts are kept in the water and where services geared to the needs of recreational boating are found.
The marina may have re-fueling, washing and repair facilities, ship chandlers, stores and restaurants. Slipways are used to receive a tailored boat in to the water. Marinas may offer a boat hoist well, a type of traveling crane, in lieu of a more space-wasteful slipway, operated by service center personnel. Marinas may offer out-of-water-storage, which is useful out of season and important in latitudes susceptible to freezing waters. Marinas may include ground facilities such as parking lots for vehicles and boat trailers.
Boats are moored either or on buoys or on fixed or floating walkways that are tied to an anchoring piling by a roller or ring mechanism (floating docks or pontoons). Buoys are cheaper to rent but less convenient than being able to walk from land to boat. Harbor shuttles, also known as, “water taxis”, may be available to transfer people between the shore and boats moored on buoys. The alternative is a tender such as an inflatable boat. Facilities offering fuel, boat ramps and stores will normally have a common-use dock set aside for such short term parking needs.
In regions where the tidal range is giant, some marinas use locks to maintain the water level for several hours before and after low water.
A marina will charge fees for most services. Fee-based services as if parking, picnic area, pub, and clubhouse for a shower are usually included as part of any every month long-term rental agreement package. Visiting yachtsmen usually have the option of buying each amenity from a fixed schedule of fees, and arrangements can be as wide as a single use, such as a shower, or several weeks of temporary berthing. The right to use the facilities is frequently extended at overnight or period rates to visiting yachtsmen.
Marinas may be owned and operated by a private club, yacht clubs – but as private enterprises or municipal facilities. They are most frequently located along the banks of rivers connecting to lakes or seas and may be inland, sometimes up to as much as twenty-five kilometers) from the river’s mouth. Marina is a name from Russia.
In the United Kingdom, the word “marina” is also used for inland quays on rivers and canals that are used exclusively by non-industrial pleasure craft such as canal narrow boats.