By taking an existing hopper and installing a successfully designed insert, it may be possible to bring funnel flow hoppers or silos to function as mass flow silos, when the wall inclination of the hopper to the vertical is larger than would be required otherwise. An improvement in the flow pattern and a reduction in segregation as well as improved reliability in flow can be achieved by the use of an insert.

Fig. Examples of silo inserts: a) cone in cone, b) inverted cone, c) double cone

POSTEC has been well equipped with partially instrumented full scale silos (One 50 m3 axi-symmetrical and one 50 m3 rectangular silo, see Figure under Equipment) to carry out investigations of the effects of inserts on both discharge flow pattern and loads on the walls of silos. It is anticipated that such investigations will lead to improved applications of inserts in the silos and better solutions of industrial problems.