Grain Bin Volume Calculator
Accurately calculating the volume of grain in your bin is crucial for inventory management, planning storage, and making informed sales decisions. This calculator helps you determine both the total capacity of your grain bin and the actual volume of grain currently stored, taking into account the cylindrical body and the conical roof structure.
Understanding Grain Bin Volume
A typical grain bin consists of a main cylindrical body and a conical roof. To determine the total capacity and the actual grain volume, we need to calculate the volume of these two distinct sections.
Key Measurements Explained:
- Bin Diameter: The width of the cylindrical part of the bin, measured across its center.
- Eave Height: The height of the cylindrical wall, from the base of the bin to where the roof begins to slope upwards.
- Roof Pitch: The angle of the conical roof's slope, measured in degrees from the horizontal. This determines the height of the conical roof section.
- Grain Level: The current height of the grain inside the bin, measured from the floor of the bin. This is crucial for calculating the actual stored volume.
How the Calculation Works:
The calculator first determines the total capacity of your bin by summing the volume of the cylindrical section (up to the eave height) and the full volume of the conical roof. Then, it calculates the actual grain volume based on the specified grain level.
- Cylindrical Volume: Calculated using the formula for a cylinder:
π * (radius)^2 * height.
- Conical Roof Volume: Calculated using the formula for a cone:
(1/3) * π * (radius)^2 * height_of_cone. The height of the cone is derived from the bin's radius and the roof pitch.
- Partial Cone Fill: If the grain level extends into the conical roof section, the calculator determines the volume of the filled portion of the cone by subtracting the volume of the unfilled top part of the cone from the total cone volume.
Units of Measurement:
The results are provided in both cubic feet and bushels. The conversion factor used is 1 US dry bushel = 1.24446 cubic feet. This is a standard conversion for agricultural commodities.
Example Scenario:
Imagine you have a grain bin with a 30-foot diameter, an eave height of 20 feet, and a roof pitch of 30 degrees. You've just filled it, and the grain level is at 18 feet.
- Bin Diameter: 30 feet
- Eave Height: 20 feet
- Roof Pitch: 30 degrees
- Grain Level: 18 feet
Using the calculator with these inputs would show you the total capacity of your bin and the current volume of grain stored, helping you track your inventory precisely.
Important Considerations:
- This calculator assumes a perfectly cylindrical bin with a perfectly conical roof. Real-world bins may have slight variations.
- Grain settling can affect the actual volume over time.
- The bushel conversion is for US dry bushels. Other regions or specific commodities might use slightly different standards.
- This calculator does not account for a conical hopper bottom, only a flat bottom with a conical roof.
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function calculateGrainBinVolume() {
var binDiameter = parseFloat(document.getElementById("binDiameter").value);
var eaveHeight = parseFloat(document.getElementById("eaveHeight").value);
var roofPitch = parseFloat(document.getElementById("roofPitch").value);
var grainLevel = parseFloat(document.getElementById("grainLevel").value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("grainBinResult");
// Clear previous results
resultDiv.innerHTML = "";
// Input validation
if (isNaN(binDiameter) || binDiameter <= 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid Bin Diameter (must be a positive number).";
return;
}
if (isNaN(eaveHeight) || eaveHeight <= 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid Eave Height (must be a positive number).";
return;
}
if (isNaN(roofPitch) || roofPitch 90) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid Roof Pitch (0-90 degrees).";
return;
}
if (isNaN(grainLevel) || grainLevel maxGrainLevel) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Grain Level cannot exceed the total bin height (" + maxGrainLevel.toFixed(2) + " feet).";
return;
}
// — Total Bin Capacity Calculation —
var cylinderVolumeFull = Math.PI * radius * radius * eaveHeight;
var coneVolumeFull = (1/3) * Math.PI * radius * radius * coneRoofHeight;
var totalBinCapacityCuFt = cylinderVolumeFull + coneVolumeFull;
var totalBinCapacityBushels = totalBinCapacityCuFt / 1.24446; // 1 US dry bushel = 1.24446 cubic feet
// — Actual Grain Volume Calculation —
var actualGrainVolumeCuFt;
if (grainLevel <= eaveHeight) {
// Grain is only in the cylindrical part
actualGrainVolumeCuFt = Math.PI * radius * radius * grainLevel;
} else {
// Grain fills the cylinder and part of the cone
var cylinderFilledVolume = Math.PI * radius * radius * eaveHeight;
var grainHeightInCone = grainLevel – eaveHeight;
// Calculate volume of the filled part of the cone
// This is total cone volume minus the unfilled top part
var unfilledConeHeight = coneRoofHeight – grainHeightInCone;
var coneFilledVolume = 0;
if (unfilledConeHeight <= 0) { // Cone is completely full or overfilled (handled by maxGrainLevel check)
coneFilledVolume = coneVolumeFull;
} else {
var unfilledConeRadius = radius * (unfilledConeHeight / coneRoofHeight);
var unfilledConeVolume = (1/3) * Math.PI * unfilledConeRadius * unfilledConeRadius * unfilledConeHeight;
coneFilledVolume = coneVolumeFull – unfilledConeVolume;
}
actualGrainVolumeCuFt = cylinderFilledVolume + coneFilledVolume;
}
var actualGrainVolumeBushels = actualGrainVolumeCuFt / 1.24446;
// Display results
var output = "
Calculation Results:
";
output += "
Total Bin Capacity:";
output += "" + totalBinCapacityCuFt.toFixed(2) + " Cubic Feet";
output += "" + totalBinCapacityBushels.toFixed(2) + " Bushels";
output += "
Actual Grain Volume:";
output += "" + actualGrainVolumeCuFt.toFixed(2) + " Cubic Feet";
output += "" + actualGrainVolumeBushels.toFixed(2) + " Bushels";
resultDiv.innerHTML = output;
}