Solutions · Functional Fiber Storage
Plant-based functional fibers and filter aids are light, fibrous, and dusty – they bridge easily and need reliable dust collection. PW Silo Systems designs aluminum and stainless steel silos with discharge aids for cellulose fibers, filter aids, and related functional ingredients.
Functional Fiber Storage at a Glance
A filter aid silo stores cellulose fibers, diatomaceous earth, or other filtration and functional ingredients close to production – for beverage filtration, food processing, chemical processes, or compounding. It protects the product from moisture and contamination and feeds it in a controlled way to dosing.
Cellulose fibers have a very low bulk density and interlock; diatomaceous earth is fine and dusty. PW Silo Systems designs silo geometry, discharge aids, and dust collection around your product.
Why Functional Fibers Are Demanding
Light, fibrous, and dusty products need a silo designed for their flow behavior.
Cellulose fibers interlock and form stable bridges or narrow flow channels.
Fibers take up a lot of volume for little weight.
Diatomaceous earth and fine fibers release a lot of dust during filling and conveying.
Fine filter aid dust is combustible. Filling and conveying release dust into the silo and its surroundings.
In coated carbon steel silos, flaking paint and steel particles can end up in the filter aid.
Food plants often handle several filter aids side by side – including allergen-relevant or specialty products.
Silo Materials
Aluminum and stainless steel offer high corrosion resistance, good hygiene, and a long service life.
Carbon steel is not an option for us: its coating is the only protection against corrosion. Once it wears, paint particles and steel can get into the product. Which of our two materials fits your silo depends on your product, your process, and your site – we review it with you.
Your Filter Aid Silo System
Silo, discharge, blending, filtration, and safety equipment are engineered as one system. That means fewer interfaces for your team and components that are designed to work together.
Storage
Concentric mass-flow discharge without asymmetric flow zones – as standard, site-assembled, indoor, or multi-compartment silos.
Learn moreBlending
Gravity blending and homogenizing with four technologies, including PW ConeBlend with a hopper that is quick to clean.
Learn moreDischarge
Air fluidization for uniform discharge of poorly flowing products – prevents bridging and can be retrofitted to existing silos.
Learn moreDischarge
Vibration from unbalanced motors breaks up cohesive forces, resolves caking, and keeps the outlet clear.
Learn moreFiltration
Dust separation during filling and conveying, in a hygienic design for the food industry.
Learn moreSafety & Monitoring
Rupture discs or explosion vents for combustible dust, level measurement for reliable monitoring of the silo content.
Learn moreFibers & Filter Aids
Products marked “Tested in our lab” are on our list of bulk materials. The others we review with you based on your material data before designing the silo.
Tested in our lab
Cellulose fibers (filter aid)
Cellulose fibers used as filter aids are on our list of bulk materials tested in our lab. Discharge aids are planned for their fibrous structure.
Tested in our lab
Cellulose fiber, powdered cellulose
Cellulose fiber is on our tested list. Its very low bulk density is considered in silo sizing.
Tested in our lab
Diatomaceous earth, kieselguhr
Diatomaceous earth is on our tested list. Filters and dust collectors are planned for this fine powder.
Tested in our lab
CMC granules, carboxymethyl cellulose
CMC granules are on our tested list. A closed silo protects this hygroscopic product.
Tested in our lab
Lignin
Lignin is on our tested list. Storage and discharge are designed for its flow behavior.
Tested in our lab
Wood flour, wood dust
Wood flour and wood dust are on our tested list. Explosion protection is planned with you.
Review with us
Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)
MCC is a fine cellulose powder. We review your product data with you before designing the silo.
Also tested in our lab:
Send us your material data and we will review the right solution with you:
Material Check
Type in your product or any other bulk material to see whether it has already been tested in our lab. The list covers 287 bulk materials.
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Service in the U.S.
With more than 40 years of experience in silo engineering, we support your filter aid silo project from the first design discussion to commissioning. We deliver to every U.S. state and install with our own qualified personnel.
FAQ
Answers to the questions plant managers, engineers, and buyers ask most often about storing cellulose fibers and filter aids in silos.
These products are on our list of bulk materials tested in our lab:
Microcrystalline cellulose, perlite, methylcellulose, and bamboo fiber we review with you based on your material data.
Light fibers interlock above the outlet. We design silo geometry with you and add discharge aids such as bin activators and PW SpeedBlow air fluidization.
Both are possible. Aluminum and stainless steel offer high corrosion resistance, good hygiene, and a long service life. Which material fits depends on your product, your process, and your site. We review the options with you.
In a carbon steel silo, the coating is the only protection against corrosion. If it wears or flakes off, paint particles and steel can end up in your filter aid. That is why we build silos exclusively in aluminum and stainless steel.
Fine filter aid dust is combustible, and many bulk solids carry an explosion risk. For combustible bulk solids we supply explosion-protected silos designed in accordance with applicable codes and regulations. Venting devices – rupture discs or explosion vents – are selected for your silo, your product, and your application. Integrated filters and dust collectors reduce dust during filling and conveying.
The right size depends on your daily consumption, delivery intervals, the number of products, and the space available at your site. PW StoreLine silos are available in a wide range of sizes and diameters, and silos too large for road transport are assembled on site. We size the system with you – without oversized investment.
Yes. We deliver to every U.S. state and support your project with silo transport, field assembly, silo installation and supervision, and site relocation of existing systems.
Very likely. Our silo systems are designed for nearly all free-flowing, granular, and powdered bulk solids. Send us your material details – kernel size, moisture, and how the product is filled and discharged – and we will review the right storage solution with you.
Tell us about your products, required storage capacity, how the silo is filled and discharged, and your site conditions. Based on this, we work out the material, silo type, and configuration with you and send you a detailed quote.
Your Project
Whether you need a single filter aid silo, several silos for different products, or a complete system with blending and discharge, tell us about your requirements. We'll develop a solution that fits your product, your process, and your site.
Send a Request NowWhat Happens Next
Tell us about your bulk material, your process, and your site conditions.
We work with you on material, silo type, and configuration – based on a bulk material analysis if needed.
You receive a custom-engineered solution with a detailed quote.
