During sugar production, massecuite leaves the crystallizer at approximately 40°C. At this temperature, it is too viscous to separate the sugar crystals from the syrup in the centrifuges and must be reheated to 50 – 56°C. The process must be carefully monitored and controlled in order to minimize the dissolution of crystals and avoid the Keep reading…
In sugar processing, poor vertical crystallizer design will often result in channeled massecuite flow and dead spaces within the vessel, leading to a corresponding reduction in crystallization efficiency. Good flow patterns, as well as sufficient retention time and cooling, are essential to achieve adequate crystallization. In this blog, we discuss five aspects of design that Keep reading…
Falling film evaporators are equipment used extensively in sugar production for concentration of juice. Compared to other types of evaporator technologies they offer a number of operational advantages including increased heating surface area, effective heat transfer over wide temperature ranges, and reduced consumption of steam. Falling Film Evaporator Operation A falling film evaporator is, in Keep reading…
Continuous vacuum pans play a critical role in sugar production efficiency and crystal quality. In this short blog, we discuss three important factors that impact their operation. 1) Massecuite Circulation – During evaporation, crystal uniformity is achieved when the flow of massecuite through the vessel approaches plug flow conditions. For this to occur, circulation of Keep reading…
In Part 2 of this blog series we discussed crystallation and drying as it relates to the production of sugar from sugar cane. In this blog, we discuss refining and related sugar processing equipment. Refining Overview Raw cane sugar undergoes several stages in a refining process to produce a range of high quality white and Keep reading…
In this blog, we discuss crystallization and drying in sugar proessing. In Part 1 of this blog series we discussed juice extraction, clarification, and concentration as it relates to the production of sugar from sugar cane. Crystallization The syrup produced in the evaporators proceeds to vacuum pans, where it undergoes further evaporation under vacuum to Keep reading…
Juice extraction, clarification, and concentration are critical steps in sugar processing. Below, we discuss what each of these steps entails. Juice Extraction On arrival at the sugar processing plant, sugarcane is loaded onto a conveyor table. It passes through various sugar equipment including a shredder, which uses a series of knives to chop the cane Keep reading…
Unlike sugarcane, which is grown in tropical or sub-tropical climates, sugar beets are grown in temperate regions of North America, Europe and Asia. Beet crops can be stored for several months before being delivered to beet sugar factories. Processing involves several important stages, including: Cleaning and Juice Extraction – Sugar beets are washed to remove Keep reading…
Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) is commonly used for welding alloys, such as stainless steel and aluminum, or any work involving brazing, fabrication or pipework. How GMAW Works The electrode in GMAW consists of a roll of wire that is fed into the work piece by a ‘gun’. The rolled wire electrode allows for the Keep reading…
Thermal fatigue cracking is a potentially dangerous condition that occurs as a result of cyclical expansion and contraction caused by temperature variations in industrial process equipment. The extent of damage will depend on the frequency and magnitude of these temperature swings. Damage from thermal fatigue manifests itself in the form of cracking in the equipment Keep reading…
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