Loading granular materials from a transport truck into a storage system

A system, comprising:

• a pump configured to transfer a granular material out of a hopper into a transfer pipe, wherein the pump comprises an upstream portion having an upstream helical flight and a downstream portion having a downstream helical flight, wherein the downstream portion comprises a tailpiece, and wherein:
• an outer diameter of the downstream helical flight is less than an outer diameter of the upstream helical flight,
• a gap between the outer diameter of the downstream helical flight and an auger housing is greater than a gap between the outer diameter of the upstream helical flight and the auger housing,
• a thickness of the downstream helical flight is from about 0.05 inches to about 0.40 inches less than a thickness of the upstream helical flight, and
• a surface of the downstream portion has a lesser coefficient of friction than a surface of the upstream portion.

A method for transporting and storing a granular material, the method comprising:

• transferring the granular material from a truck into a hopper;
• transferring the granular material from the hopper into a transfer pipe using a pump, wherein the pump comprises an upstream portion having an upstream helical flight and a downstream portion having a downstream helical flight, and wherein:
• a thickness of the downstream helical flight is from about 0.05 inches to about 0.40 inches less than a thickness of the upstream helical flight, or
• a surface of the downstream portion has a lesser coefficient of friction than a surface of the upstream portion;
• moving the granular material through the transfer pipe and into a silo using a blower, wherein the blower generates a pressurized gas to move the granular material;
• measuring a pressure of a pressurized gas using a pressure sensor;
• and
• varying a speed of the pump based at least partially upon the measured pressure.