Determination of compaction efficiency in pile type silo

The most important factor in silage making is compaction. The most commonly used type of silo in silage making is pile type-silos. The aim of this study is to investigate the compaction efficiency applied to the material in the pile-type silo under the field conditions. Tractor was used as compaction equipment. Pressure measurement system (BOS) was used to determine the compaction pressure applied to the material. Pressure sensors were located at the pre-determined measuring points in the silo and the compaction pressure was measured at these points. Temperature was measured by placing temperature sensors at the measuring points. At the same time, the compaction times were recorded by the BOS. Temperature values were found to be highest at the measurement points where compression pressure was highest. As a result; The compression pressure was fount heterogeneously in the silo. The highest compaction pressure (0.35 bar) and the highest compression time (228 minutes) were determined in the bottom layer of the silo. In addition, due to the tractor route, the compression pressure on the right side of the silo was measured high. The highest temperature values were measured at the highest compression pressure measurement points.The compaction time and the tractor route were found to be significant on compaction efficiency.