Dome Technology

Last month International Cement Review published an FLSmidth article about Ozinga’s DomeSilo project in Riviera Beach, Florida, USA. That project was a massive undertaking and a joint effort between Ozinga, Dome Technology, FLS, and more. This excerpt from the article shares Dome Technology CEO Bradley Bateman’s perspective: “We’ve never done anything quite this architecturally sophisticated for an industrial project. It’s a one-of-a-kind project. In order to attach a parapet wall on top of the dome to hide the mechanical equipment, we needed a vertical edge to attach it to. We developed a low-profile dome concept, which includes a structural steel ring at the top of the dome to constrain the geometry between the top of the dome and the parapet wall—effectively a screen to improve the appearance of the dome. We’ve used this design on smaller applications in the past but never on an industrial scale. It took several design iterations to get the profile just right to obtain the needed tonnage of storage while ensuring the height of the parapet wall was sufficient to prevent anyone seeing the mechanical equipment on top. “We created a 3D model of the project and checked the line of sight from several different points on the ground to be sure we’d got it right. In the end we settled on an 18-foot-high aluminium parapet wall. The roof of the DomeSilo is constructed from a second piece of fabric—the same airform material the vertical DomeSilo wall is made from—that attaches to the steel ring at the top of the first section of the dome.” Our company appreciates opportunities to innovate and to work with other companies who also value innovation. Great job, team!

Transitioning from one stored product to the next within a single storage structure might not be as complicated as you’d expect. Dome Technology clients often plan their dome projects with this in mind; it’s a smart way to maximize on existing infrastructure and to ensure multiple options are available no matter what the market does. Here are a few factors to consider for a smooth transition: • To maximize storage, plan a facility designed for the heaviest product. This ensures engineers will design the dome and its systems for the hardest work they might face. • The easiest changes occur between similar products. A company switching from, say, coal to petcoke isn’t going to require the same degree of calculations, reconfiguring, or cleaning as switching from canola to sugar. • To determine if an existing dome can store a different product, look first at the foundation. If, for example, you have a dome that can store 100,000 metric tons of product, you could potentially store 100,000 metric tons of a different product with similar ground loading characteristics with no foundation modifications required. • Next, consider angle of repose. When the stored products have dramatically different angles of repose, it is important to analyze how changing the products will affect the foundation system. For instance, for a dome storing cement clinker with a steep angle of repose—about 45 degrees—switching to cement powder with 10 to 12 degrees will change the loading profile on the foundation system. That’s because the clinker will have a higher load in the middle of the dome floor and lower load on the perimeter while the cement will have pretty much the same loading straight across. “Changes in stored product in the dome can often be easily accommodated through collaboration with our dynamic team,” said Dome Technology CEO Bradley Bateman. • Cleaning the inside of the dome shouldn’t be a deterrent. Either a good spray down with water or a scrub with detergent might be all that’s required. In most cases, any residue left behind would be negligible, but considerations will vary from industry to industry. • If you are planning to switch products in the future, not everything needs to be considered upfront; some features can be added later. For instance, if the new product requires a different conveyance system, that’s a relatively straightforward change—though it obviously comes with a cost. • Something to consider is possible chemical incompatibilities between respective products. For example, some fertilizer will corrode standard rebar; if the previous stored product didn’t have this concern, steps would need to be taken to mitigate corrosion as needed.

It’s a beautiful day in Morocco, where Dome Technology’s team is hard at work on a low-profile dome that will become a state-of-the-art cultural center. This dome model is a true workhorse—one used for storm shelters, auditoriums, gymnasiums, and more. Nice work, team!

One of our best-looking accomplishments is three DomeSilos built in collaboration with Peeples Industries, Inc. in Savannah, Georgia, USA. Working with Peeples is always a pleasure for the Dome Technology team. “They are open and transparent, and they work with us as a team,” sales manager Lane Roberts said, adding both parties always have productive dialogue about how to improve operations. According to Peeples Industries project manager Brad Orwig, Peeples prefers working with Dome Technology because of “customer service, quality of workmanship, ethical business practices, strong relationships, uniqueness of design, (and) transparency of all aspects of cost/project.”

It's just around the corner .... In early August, we will announce the location of our 2025 Dome Technology leadership conference. Where do you think we're headed?

We talk a lot about our industrial projects, but we build sophisticated commercial spaces too. Take a look at the link below to see the custom gyms, auditoriums, storm shelters, churches, and more that we've built over the last few decades. https://lnkd.in/gb2Mz6FP

Dome Technology has produced a project summary highlighting a second dome built for American Crystal Sugar in Montgomery, Illinois, USA, a move that doubled the distribution facility’s storage capacity.   This dome, with its 75,000-metric-ton capacity, was built adjacent to a nearly identical DomeSilo from a 2017 collaboration between the companies. The new dome is 184 feet in diameter and 146 feet tall.   Dome construction was just one part of the project puzzle for Dome Technology. Rail delivers sugar to the site, DomeSilos store it, and trucks primarily distribute it. Dome Technology adapted infrastructure to also provide a rail loadout option so ACS could empty the domes prior to new production runs. Read the full project summary and see more photos here: https://lnkd.in/gh2N8HZq

Dome Technology has completed its project summary for a Titan America DomeSilo in Chesapeake, Virginia, USA. The 67,500-metric-ton DomeSilo is identical to one built for the company in Tampa, Florida, during the same time. The DomeSilo is 138 feet in diameter and 141 feet tall. Because the Chesapeake site had a height restriction like the Tampa site, Titan chose a DomeSilo model that “is not a complete sphere but rather a cylinder with a dome roof,” Titan corporate director of projects Nasos Economou said. Although most of the height comes from vertical stem walls, the structure still benefits from the robust strength and monolithic integrity that comes standard with a DomeSilo. One of Titan’s priorities was taking full advantage of the portside property. The site’s soil conditions required a deep foundation to minimize settlement, and an auger-cast piling system with pile cap provided structural security from the ground up. Because of limited space, Dome Technology designed buildings for the Fuller-Kinyon (FK) Screw Pump and blowers that curve around the DomeSilo exterior rather than standing separate. View the complete project summary and photo gallery here: https://lnkd.in/gqrUXD2X

Dome Technology has completed its project summary for Titan America’s 67,500-metric-ton DomeSilo in Tampa, Florida, USA. The Tampa site was new to Titan America, and the company had multiple priorities with its new acquisition. First, Titan wanted to maximize storage capacity despite the port’s height restriction. In response, Dome Technology fitted the DomeSilo with a low-profile domed roof that might not look like the typical dome but delivers robust strength. This allowed the structure’s vertical walls to reach as high as possible and provide the greatest possible cement storage. “Our challenge before the dome was a full vessel of one product maxed out our capacity,” said Tampa plant manager Eric Poitras. “The dome now allows us the benefit of discharging two vessels back-to-back with different products without maxing out our storage.” Visit our website to view the complete project summary. Great job, team! https://lnkd.in/g_Xn6AwT

In its May/June issue, World Fertilizer published a Dome Technology article discussing the key benefits of storing fertilizer in a dome, namely structure longevity, handling flexibility, and customization. See the link to read more. https://lnkd.in/gUK8t5iG