Browsing by Author "Queensland University of Technology"

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Developing a new methodology for competency based training courses for shift supervisors in sugar factories : revised final report QUT032
(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2014) Broadfoot, R
The provision of effective training of supervisors and operators is essential if sugar factories are to operate profitably and in an environmentally sustainable and safe manner. The benefits of having supervisor and operator staff with a high level of operational skills are reduced stoppages, increased recovery, improved sugar quality, reduced damage to equipment, and reduced OH&S and environmental impacts.
East Timor rice fields - rat control training program
(BSES, 2001) Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations; Queensland University of Technology
The objective of this mission was to rapidly facilitate changes in farm practices that will minimise crop losses due to rodents in East Timor. Five 3 day workshops were conducted across East Timor and included participants from seven districts
Enhancing efficiency and integration from field to factory in the Herbert : SRDC Final report
(2010) Sheedy, P; Giordani, P; Quabba, R; Higgins, A; Kent, G; Everitt, P; Harvesting solutions.
The Herbert sugar region underwent major strategic change in the harvesting and transport sectors, which will involve $7M investment in siding rationalisation and a substantial reduction in the number of harvesting groups. These strategic changes have the potential for large cost savings to the local region (potentially over $2/tc as seen in the SRDC project CSE005) leading to greater sustainability in these two sectors, if optimally implemented to achieve the economic and social goals of each of the participants in the growing, harvesting and milling sectors. The goal of this project was to provide the region with a capacity to better manage operational and seasonal planning in harvesting & transport. Because the project involved several organisations and broad R&D plan, four working groups have been formed around key deliverables of the project: SugarMax, Harvest/Transport Integration, Harvest Haul; and Evaluation. Each small working group comprised of researcher and local representatives, though the entire project team met in Ingham up to five times per year to report progress and plan next steps
Evaluate the performance of the falling film tube evaporator at Bingera Mill : final report 2019/201
(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2020) Sichter, N; Zahn, R; Kumar, S; Broadfoot; Adbi, I
For the 2018 season Bundaberg Sugar installed a 4000 m2 falling film tube evaporator (FFTE) of the BMA design at No 1 evaporator position at Bingera Mill. This was the first installation of a FFTE into the Australian industry. An evaluation program was undertaken during the 2019 season to assess the performance with respect to heat transfer efficiency, effect of scaling rates on heat transfer, deentrainment efficiency of the juice droplets from the vapour outflow stream and the general operational performance. As well tracer studies were undertaken to determine the distribution of residence times for juice in the evaporator. Measurements were also undertaken to determine the extent of sucrose degradation occurring within the evaporator. Overall the evaporator has performed well with respect to the above list of test parameters. However, the effect of scaling on heat transfer efficiency was only able to be evaluated for typically 120 hours of operation as the mill was restricted to 5 day crushing operations each week due to the small drought affected crop. A chemical clean of the evaporator was undertaken on shutdown each week.
Evaluate the suitability of the fixed element crystalliser for widespread adoption in Australian sugar factories : final report 2019/202
(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2020) Gregg, M; Lowrey, M; Broadfoot, R; Abdi, I
The fixed-element design of a horizontal cooling crystalliser is relatively new to the Australian industry and the installation at Broadwater Mill for the 2017 season proved to be an economical solution to refurbish the mill’s first unit in a continuous-flow station of three crystallisers. The crystalliser consists of 12 fixed cooling elements and 14 rotating paddles. A variable-speed drive was installed to allow a rotational speed of the paddles up to 1.45 r/min, depending on the massecuite viscosity and imposed torque. Apart from fabrication of the fixed elements, the mill’s staff undertook the complete installation. During the 2019 season, trials were undertaken which demonstrated good overall performance with respect to heat transfer, residence time distribution and molasses exhaustion. The good performance is attributed to the paddles providing strong flow of massecuite transversely and also longitudinally to generate flow across the cooling surface. Torque control of the variable speed drive is recommended as this allows rotation of the paddles at maximum speed for the prevailing viscosity of the massecuite, while limiting the stresses on the drive components.
Implement supervisory/advisory control of pan and fugal stations : final report 2010/038
(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2015) Broadfoot, R; Dodd, R
Improved train safety through improved locomotive braking performance : SRDC final report QUT019
(Sugar Research Institute, 2009) McKenzie, NJ; Koppen, DE; McCallum, C; Kent, GA; Plaza, F
The safe operation of the cane railway, in the same way as for mainline railways, is gaining greater attention. One important aspect of safe operation is the ability to stop a train in an acceptable distance (or time). Previous work has measured quite variable braking performance (and hence stopping distance) in an extensive series of tests with different locomotives on different track sections in different mill areas. It was found that the locomotive driver was the most variable factor associated with braking performance. When the driver factor was eliminated through the application of a fixed braking pressure, very consistent braking performance could be achieved. It was concluded that it was the driver’s ability to detect wheel slide and their action to reduce slide that caused the variability in braking performance. It was hypothesised that an anti-lock braking system (ABS), where the driver has little influence on the braking performance, could deliver better average braking performance and hence reduced, or at least more consistent, stopping distances.
Reducing in surging in shredders : final report 2019/204
(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2020) Arzaghi, E; Kent, GA; Chohan, P
Cane shredders and the level of cane preparation achieved by them play a significant role in the performance of every mill’s extraction train. The application of feeder rolls to shredders has a twofold objective of increasing the angle of wrap and maintaining a uniform feed of cane into the shredder. In addition to these improvements that were observed in several experiments across the Australian mills, there have been reports on other benefits of using feeder rollers including reduction of deterioration in shredders. Feeder rolls are currently installed in half of the Australian sugar mills. However, there exists several challenges with operating feeder rolls including inconsistency in feeding rate. Limited research effort has been made to identify a design and setting which yields adequate feeding consistency. Most of the previous research focused on feeder rolls dates back to the 1980s and 1990s confirming that the influence of geometric factors on feeding behaviour is well worthy of investigation.
The management of rodents in North Queensland canefields
(BSES, 1993) Wilson, J; Whisson, D
Rodent damage to sugarcane has been of concern to the Australian sugar industry since the 1930's. In more recent times, annual surveys have indicated that damage by rodents occurs over approximately 50% (150 000 ha) of sugar producing areas resulting in annual losses of between two and four million dollars. A further $0.6 million is expended on annual baiting programs. Rodents are therefore the second most important pest of the Australian sugar industry, the most important pest being the cane grub (Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations Annual Reports 1984 - 1989).