Live-Bottom Silos

SPIRAC’s live‑bottom silos and hopper systems are designed for the reliable storage, transfer and discharge of non–free‑flowing materials. They are ideal for sticky, cohesive or high‑moisture materials that typically cause bridging, ratholing or blockages. While based on standard design principles, each system can be customised in size, layout and orientation to suit specific site requirements.
These silos are usually top‑loaded via shaftless spiral conveyors and discharged using large‑diameter, large‑pitch shaftless screws. Operating at low RPM, these spirals create a true live‑bottom effect that ensures continuous, controlled flow across the full silo width. This design eliminates bottlenecks and maintains consistent movement, even with severely cohesive materials.
The preferred geometry is rectangular, enabling multiple screws to work efficiently across the floor. A tapered floor is used to support the live‑bottom mechanism; while this reduces storage volume, it makes the system highly effective for small to medium capacities where dependable flow matters more than maximum volume.
Live‑bottom silos offer excellent bridging control, low energy use and a low maintenance profile with no hydraulics. They are a cost‑effective solution for smaller installations where sticky material behaviour makes flow assurance essential.
Typical handled materials include sludge cake, cohesive industrial sludges and difficult solids prone to ratholing.