China Inflates Massive 9,000-Tonne Pneumatic Grain Silos
In a significant leap forward for grain storage technology, China successfully inflated its first five 9,000-tonne pneumatic grain silos on Monday in Changsha, the capital of central China’s Hunan Province. These towering structures, each 24 meters in diameter and 33 meters tall, mark a new era in the country’s agricultural infrastructure.
Capable of storing up to 9,000 tonnes of grain each—enough to feed 23 million people for a day—the silos represent the latest advancement in China’s fourth-generation grain storage technology.
“What’s unique about these pneumatic silos is their ability to withstand rain and cold air compared to traditional grain storage facilities,” said Wang Yue, head of the engineering design center at the Chengdu Grain Storage Research Institute under Sinograin. “Their airtightness is six times higher than national standards, and their thermal insulation performance is three times better than conventional squat silos.”
Beyond their outer air membranes, the silos are equipped with a reinforced concrete layer for structural support and a polyurethane thermal insulation layer. Once operational, a network of sensors inside will provide real-time monitoring of the grain’s temperature. The nearly oxygen-free environment helps control pests, ensuring optimal grain quality.
In addition to improved storage conditions, the new silos offer significant reductions in operational and maintenance costs—expected to be 30 percent lower than those of traditional silos.
“The silos’ insulation and concrete structure are built inside the air membrane, making them unaffected by adverse weather conditions like rain, snow, or wind,” explained Jin Feng, head of the pneumatic silos project at China Coal No. 68 Engineering Co., Ltd. “What once required a team of over 100 workers can now be completed by just 18 people, with the construction period reduced by a quarter compared to the previous generation of squat silos.”
The five 9,000-tonne silos are slated for completion by the end of this year and are expected to enter operation in February next year.
