Browsing by Author "QUT"
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Item Evaluating the suitability of two mud level sensing technologies for juice clarifiers : final report 2020/201(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2021) Stobie, R; Abdi, AMud level measurement using sensors in juice clarifiers is a challenge for Australian sugar mills. Measurement of the mud/juice interface is typically by manual means and the operator must visually locate the position of the interface through sight glass windows and make adjustments to either mixed juice feed rates or mud filtration rates to keep the interface at a ‘safe’ operating level. High level excursions can cause carry-over of mud particles into the clarified juice (with subsequent impact on evaporation and crystallisation). If the interface is too low, then rat-holing of juice to mud can occur (impacting mud filtration and increasing filtrate recycle). Sugar mill juice clarifiers present a harsh environment for in-situ interface monitoring owing to the high temperature (100℃), varying populations of suspended floc particles, relatively fine density profiles and rotating equipment inside the vessel.Item Evaluation of the Neltec Colour Q for measuring the purity of magma from C centrifugals : final report 2018/201(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2019) Pike, D; Broadfoot, R; King, S; Woods, PIn Australian factories one operator typically manages the high grade fugalling, sugar drying and low grade (C) fugalling stations. The C fugals are managed least effectively as there is no process instrumentation to monitor on line C sugar purity or final molasses purity. Conditions can change rapidly in the C fugals without the operator being aware and poor performance can persist for several hours. Tight control of the C sugar purity is important to avoid high sucrose losses to final molasses or an excessive recycle of impurities in the C sugar (magma or remelt) to the pan stage.Item Increasing sugar recovery through improved mill sanitation and biocide application : final report 2020/203(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2021) Fernando, A; Shi, CUndetermined sucrose loss during the processing of sugarcane to sugar is estimated between 1-2%, being a large financial loss to the industry. Microbial infection of sugarcane juice is from the microorganisms that enter the mill with the cane supply, and those from the floor washing and filtrate. Microbial degradation contributes 93% of the sucrose loss in mixed juice. Effective cleaning and sanitation procedures are needed to reduce microbial degradation in a factory. However, the hygiene practices vary among Australian mills. Biocides are not routinely used in Australian mills, though they are used overseas.Item Investigating the corrosivity of evaporator condensates and the contributing factors : final report 2020/204(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2021) Woods, P; Arzaghi, ERecent studies of steam efficient evaporator stations in Australian factories have shown that sucrose degradation and the subsequent formation of acids in the juice produces final evaporator condensates of low pH (sometimes less than 5). Using corrosion coupons this study investigated the corrosivity of final condensates at four factories for four materials commonly used in the construction of evaporators and the ancillary pipework. As well, on-line measurements of pH and instantaneous corrosion rates were made.Item Reducing boiler maintenance costs and deferring capital expenditure through improved technology : final report 2016/020(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2021) Plaza, F; Alam, NBoiler tube wear and corrosion costs the industry approximately $5 million a year in repairs, stops and inefficient operation. For example, the replacement cost of one convection bank due to wear is approximately $1 million with a tube life of approximately 10 to 15 years using current protection technology (tube shields). Given that most boilers in the industry are more than 30 years old and that the high capital cost of new boilers will result in very few replacements, nearly all existing boilers will operate into the foreseeable future. As these boilers age, the wear and corrosion costs are likely to increase. Tube coatings have been successfully applied in other industries and are expected to be equally beneficial to sugar mill boilers. The application of tube coatings is expected to become a viable alternative to tube shields and significantly reduce wear and corrosion of boiler tubes in convection banks, air heaters and economisers.