Description

GN Grain Silo Cleaning Robot is a magnetic wall-climbing robotic platform developed for cleaning the internal surfaces of compatible steel grain silos, food-powder storage vessels and other cylindrical ferromagnetic tanks. The robot adheres directly to the steel wall and travels along vertical or curved surfaces while the operator supervises the cleaning operation remotely from a controlled position.

The reference platform combines a compact 25 kg crawler body, 40 kg rated load, IP65 protection, weld-seam crossing capability, tethered power and an active-safety concept. The supplied benchmark material also identifies explosion-proof design as a feature. Depending on the cleaning requirement, suitable end tooling can be evaluated for removing adhered residues or deposits from compatible silo and tank walls.

This robot is intended for cleaning projects where the vessel wall material, diameter, curvature, weld geometry, coating condition, access opening and internal obstacles are compatible with magnetic adhesion and robotic travel. Final tooling, hazardous-area requirements and operating parameters should be confirmed for the specific silo, stored material and site procedure before deployment.

Customer Challenges

• Cleaning the inside of grain silos and powder storage vessels can require personnel to enter confined or difficult-access spaces and work close to contaminated or dusty wall surfaces.
• Large cylindrical walls, vertical surfaces and curved sections make manual cleaning physically demanding and require frequent repositioning to reach different areas.
• Adhered grain residues, powder build-up or localized deposits can remain on the wall and may be difficult to remove consistently by manual methods.
• Internal weld seams, stiffeners, openings and other structural features can interrupt the cleaning path and complicate access to the wall surface.
• Dust, residual material and restricted visibility can increase the difficulty of controlling cleaning quality and documenting completed areas.
• Planned cleaning is often carried out during limited shutdown windows, so customers value a method that can reduce repeated manual access and improve work organization.

GN Grain Silo Cleaning Robotic Solution

The robot is introduced through a suitable access point and positioned on a compatible ferromagnetic silo or tank wall. Magnetic adhesion keeps the crawler attached while it moves across the vertical or curved internal surface. The operator controls the robot remotely, while tethered power supports continuous operation without relying on onboard battery endurance for the reference configuration.

The reference platform is designed for cylindrical vessels with a diameter of at least 2 m. It can travel at 0–10 m/min, cross weld seams up to approximately 8 mm and carry a rated load of 40 kg. These parameters provide a compact basis for configuring a project-specific cleaning attachment while maintaining mobility inside suitable steel silos and storage vessels.

For each project, GN Smart Control reviews the silo geometry, wall material, coating, welds, internal structures, access opening, stored-product residue and hazardous-area requirements. The robot, cleaning tool, tether routing, control method and safety arrangement are then configured as one coordinated cleaning solution.

Key Features & Advantages

Magnetic Wall-Climbing Mobility: Designed for compatible ferromagnetic steel silo and tank walls, allowing the crawler to operate directly on vertical and curved internal surfaces.

Compact 25 kg Robot Body: The lightweight reference platform simplifies handling and deployment through suitable access openings while providing practical wall-climbing mobility.

40 kg Rated Load Capacity: Supports project-specific cleaning tooling and auxiliary modules subject to engineering confirmation and the required cleaning process.

Cylindrical Vessel Adaptation: Reference suitability for cylindrical steel vessels with diameter ≥2 m supports common silo, powder-storage and steel-tank geometries.

Weld-Seam Crossing: Designed to pass reference weld seams up to approximately 8 mm, helping the robot move between fabricated shell sections.

IP65 Protection: The reference protection rating supports industrial cleaning environments where dust and water ingress must be considered.

Adjustable Travel Speed: Travel speed from 0–10 m/min can be selected according to positioning, cleaning coverage and process requirements.

Tethered Power & Remote Operation: The reference configuration uses tethered power, supporting extended operation while allowing the operator to supervise the robot from a controlled position.

Explosion-Proof Design & Active Safety: The benchmark material identifies explosion-proof design and active safety. The exact hazardous-area certification, protection method and project safety arrangement must be confirmed for the final GN configuration.

Technical Specifications

Note: Specifications are for reference only. Final configuration is subject to engineering confirmation and project requirements.

Typical Applications

Grain Silo Wall Cleaning: Cleaning of compatible steel grain silo walls where residues, dust or localized material build-up must be removed from vertical or curved internal surfaces.

Food Powder Storage Vessels: Internal wall cleaning for compatible food-powder or dry-material storage tanks where adhered deposits need controlled robotic access.

Steel Storage Tank Cleaning: Cleaning of compatible cylindrical steel tanks and storage vessels, including applications identified in the supplied benchmark material.

Localized Deposit Removal: Targeted robotic cleaning of selected wall areas where deposits or contamination are concentrated and repeated manual repositioning is undesirable.

Other Cylindrical Ferromagnetic Vessels: Cleaning of suitable steel vessels with compatible diameter, curvature, weld geometry, access and magnetic adhesion conditions.

Customer Benefits

• Reduce the amount of continuous manual work performed directly on internal silo and storage-vessel walls.
• Lower dependence on repeated personnel repositioning inside suitable confined or difficult-access vessels.
• Provide controlled robot travel for more repeatable cleaning paths and wall-surface coverage.
• Use a compact 25 kg platform that is easier to handle and deploy through suitable access arrangements.
• Keep the operator in a controlled position while the robot carries the cleaning module on the vessel wall.
• Use the 40 kg payload capacity as a basis for project-specific cleaning attachments and auxiliary equipment.
• Support planned cleaning and maintenance by making recurring wall-cleaning work more standardized and easier to organize.

Information Needed for Selection & Quotation

1. Silo / vessel type, drawing, overall height and internal diameter.
2. Wall material and confirmation that the working surface is compatible with magnetic adhesion.
3. Internal surface type: smooth steel, corrugated steel, coated steel or another construction, with wall thickness if available.
4. Weld-seam height, stiffeners, ladders, nozzles, hoppers, internal supports and other obstacles on the robot travel path.
5. Access-opening dimensions, launch / recovery position and available space for introducing the robot and tooling.
6. Stored material and residue type, including grain, food powder or other product, plus deposit thickness / hardness and representative photos.
7. Required cleaning objective and expected cleanliness level, including any prohibited cleaning media or contamination-control requirements.
8. Hazardous-area / combustible-dust classification and required explosion-protection certification, if applicable.
9. Available power supply, control-station location and intended tether-routing arrangement.
10. Site cleaning procedure, confined-space rules, safety requirements and any customer-specific hygiene or operating restrictions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the robot work in every grain silo?

No. The wall must provide sufficient magnetic adhesion and suitable geometry. Wall material, coating, curvature, corrugation, welds, internal structures and access openings should be reviewed before selection.

What silo diameter is suitable?

The reference platform is intended for cylindrical vessels with diameter ≥2 m. Smaller diameters or unusual curvature require specific engineering review.

Can the robot cross weld seams?

The reference obstacle-crossing capability is approximately 8 mm for weld seams. Larger welds, stiffeners, rings or protrusions require specific review.

Does the robot require a power cable?

Yes. The supplied benchmark configuration lists tethered power operation. The power cable and tether route should be planned together with the robot access and safety arrangement.

Can it be used in explosive dust environments?

The benchmark material identifies explosion-proof design, but no specific Ex rating or certification is stated. The required hazardous-area classification and certification must therefore be confirmed before use in any combustible-dust or hazardous environment.

What cleaning tools can be installed?

The core product is a magnetic wall-climbing carrier platform. Suitable cleaning attachments can be evaluated according to the residue type, required cleaning method, allowable media and silo geometry.

Can it work on corrugated steel silo walls?

Corrugated or heavily profiled walls require project-specific evaluation because magnetic contact, wheel / crawler contact and obstacle geometry differ from smooth cylindrical steel walls. Drawings and surface photos are recommended for confirmation.

Talk to GN Smart Control

Send GN Smart Control your grain silo or storage-vessel drawing, wall material, internal diameter, access-opening dimensions, weld and obstacle details, residue information, cleaning objective, hazardous-area requirements and site photos. Our engineering team can evaluate magnetic adhesion, robot access, cleaning tooling, tether management and the operating plan for your silo cleaning project.