Silo dust collection

A kit for collecting dust when removing granular material from a silo with a discharge opening at a bottom portion thereof configured such that granular material flows out through the discharge opening to a target location, and with a loading conduit mounted to the silo with a lower input end located at a lower location on an exterior of the silo and an upper output end located in an upper portion of an interior of the silo;

• the kit comprising:
• a sealed housing enclosing a flow path between the discharge opening and the target location;
• a dust conduit connected at an input end thereof to an interior of the housing, and connectable at an output end thereof to the lower input end of the loading conduit;
• and
• vent covers operative to close vent openings in an upper portion of the silo and prevent air movement into the upper portion of the silo.

A method of collecting dust when removing granular material from a silo with a vent opening in an upper portion of the silo and a discharge opening at a bottom portion of the silo configured such that granular material in the silo flows out through the discharge opening to a target location, the method comprising:

• enclosing a flow path between the discharge opening and the target location with a sealed housing;
• connecting a vacuum conduit at an input end thereof to an interior of the housing, and locating an upper output end of the vacuum conduit in an upper portion of an interior of the silo;
• closing the vent opening to prevent air movement into the upper portion of the silo above the granular material in the silo;
• operating a gate to release a flow of granular material through the discharge opening such that granular material flowing out the discharge opening creates a vacuum in the upper portion of the silo above the granular material therein and draws air and dust from the housing into the vacuum conduit and through the vacuum conduit into the upper portion of the silo.