Solutions · By-Product Storage
Filter dust and lignin are fine by-products that have to be collected, stored, and moved on – to disposal, recycling, or the next process. PW Silo Systems designs aluminum and stainless steel silos for filter dust, lignin, and other fine by-products with you – material, design, and safety concept are defined with you for your product.
By-Product Storage at a Glance
A filter dust silo collects and stores the dust separated by filters and dust collectors – for later disposal, recycling, or return to the process. A lignin silo stores lignin from pulp production or biorefineries for use as a binder, dispersant, fuel, or raw material for bio-based products.
Both are fine, dusty products whose properties depend on the process they come from. They can bridge, dust during filling and discharge, and may need explosion protection. That is why the silo material, the design, and the safety concept are defined together with you for your product and your site.
Why Filter Dust & Lignin Are Demanding
Changing properties, fine particles, and safety decide whether a by-product silo runs reliably.
Filter dust depends on the process it comes from. Particle size, moisture, and composition can change over time.
Fine, cohesive dusts compact under their own weight and build bridges or narrow flow channels above the outlet.
Filter dust and lignin dust again when the silo is emptied into trucks, big bags, or the process.
Venting, filtration, and explosion protection depend on the product and its particle size.
In funnel flow, dust can stay in the silo for a long time and cake while fresh product passes through the center.
Dusts from different filters or processes may have to be kept separate for disposal or recycling.
Silo Materials
We build silos exclusively in aluminum and stainless steel. Carbon steel is not an option for us: its coating is the only protection against corrosion – and damaged coating is quickly attacked by aggressive dusts.
Which of our two materials and which design fit your filter dust or lignin silo depends on the product, its composition and moisture, your process, and your site. We define the material and the design with you.
Your By-Product Silo System
Silo, discharge, blending, filtration, and monitoring 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 pneumatic filling and conveying – sized for fine powders.
Learn moreMonitoring
Level measurement for reliable monitoring of the silo content – so you know when to reorder.
Learn moreIndustrial By-Products
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
Filter dust, collector dust, baghouse dust
Filter dust is on our list of bulk materials tested in our lab. Material and design for your specific dust we define with you.
Tested in our lab
Lignin, kraft lignin, lignin powder
Lignin is on our tested list. Discharge and dust collection are planned for this fine powder.
Tested in our lab
Wood dust, sanding dust
Wood dust is on our tested list. Dust collection and explosion protection are reviewed with you.
Tested in our lab
Char, biochar, pyrolysis char
Char is on our tested list. Silo and discharge are designed for its grain size and dust.
Review with us
Fly ash, pulverized fuel ash
Fly ash properties depend on its source. We review your product data with you before designing the silo.
Review with us
Lignosulfonate powder, sodium and calcium lignosulfonate
Lignosulfonate powders can absorb moisture. We review your material data and storage requirements with you.
Also tested in our lab:
Send us your material data and we will review the right solution with you:
Product 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 dust or lignin 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 filter dust, lignin, and other fine by-products in silos.
Dry, fine by-products can be stored in a properly designed silo. These products are on our list of bulk materials tested in our lab:
Fly ash, lignosulfonate, cement kiln dust, and other by-products we review with you based on your material data.
Filter dust depends on the process it comes from. Particle size, moisture, composition, and safety requirements can differ widely. We define the silo material, the design, and the discharge with you based on your product data.
Closed discharge into trucks, big bags, or back into the process plus PW FilterLine dust collectors keep the dust inside the system. We design the discharge with you for your method and your site.
Explosion protection, venting, and filtration are reviewed with you where your product requires it – for your product, your process, and your site.
In mass flow, the entire silo content moves downward when material is discharged – not just a channel in the center. Your filter dust and lignin leaves the silo in the order it came in (first in, first out), and no product is left behind in dead zones. Our PW StoreLine silos are designed for concentric mass-flow discharge without asymmetric flow zones.
We build silos exclusively in aluminum and stainless steel – never in coated carbon steel. Which material and which design fit depends on the product, its composition and moisture, your process, and your site. We define them with you.
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 – particle size, bulk density, 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.
