Milling efficiency and technology

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://elibrary2.sugarresearch.com.au/handle/11079/13845

Research outcomes: Optimised mill transport and logistics. Mill capacity and efficiency is optimised through improved processes, technology and value chain coordination and collaboration.

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A condensed report on cane deterioration trials : Fairymead, 1967 season
(BSES, 1968) Messrs, PG; Egan, BT; Kirby, LK
Following Discussion between the Australian Producers' Association and the Director of the Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations it was decided to carry out a series of cane deterioration trials in the South Queensland district during the 1967 season. As management of Fairymead Mill offered to supply and harvest cane for these tests from their plantation, and to make available laboratory facilities for this work, it was decided to carry out the work at Fairymead.
Factors affecting the sugar content of sugar cane in the wet tropics of Queensland: statistical analysis of ccs data at Babinda and Tully
(BSES, 1972) Sturgess, OW; Hogarth, DM; Hurney, AP; Leverington, KC
In the wet tropics, the sugar content of crops is usually below the state's average and is a critical factor in farm economy, particularly during years of low sugar prices. This aspect of sugar production has been the subject of detailed investigation.
Power factor correction : North Eton mill 1979
(BSES, 1979) McIntyre, RJ; Sturgess, OW; Atherton, PG
An investigation of factors affecting ash in first expressed juice in the Rocky Point mill area
(BSES, 1981) Kingston, G
Because of a deep concern at the level of ash in Rocky Point sugars and the lack of information on inorganic composition of juices entering the factory the management of W H Heck and Sons requested BSES to undertake an investigation in 1979 which might assist in identification of factors which contribute to the ash problem at Rocky Point. Accordingly a project was planned to allow identification of the major factors contributing to the ash loading in first expressed juice and to determine whether the ash levels in juice could be related to yield parameters affecting cane growers in the mill area.
Data-base and data handling programs for Plant Data Record
(BSES, 1981) Dyne, GD
The information contained in the BSES Plant Data Record is stored in computer data-bases for reporting and reference. Data for both the 1979 and 1980 seasons is stored at Bundaberg and reports for each of these years were generated using the data-base software. Listings of the forms required for the collection of new information have also been produced with this system. The system offers many advantages over the previous manual techniques, including speed and accuracy of report preparation, and the ability to manipulate stored data and report is as required.
Fibre characteristics of cane - results of measurements carried out at Bundaberg during 1986 season
(BSES, 1986) Noble, AG
During September, 1986 the decision was made to test for extreme fibre characteristics all cane varieties which are prospective Q canes, in the last season before release. The purpose of these tests was to obtain some indication which varieties were likely to cause handling problems during the milling process.
Evaluation of high open area screens
(BSES, 1987) BSES Staff
Following the offer from ANI-Sargeants of several sets of high open area screens for testing, trials were arranged at Fairymead and Millaquin Mills, as it has been the contention that higher open areas would allow higher fugalling rates for the same purging efficiency and purity rise.
Evaluation of laser produced stainless steel screens
(BSES, 1987) Noble, AG
In an effort to develop a more acceptable alternative to the chrome-nickel screens presently in use, BSES approached the CSIRO Division of Manufacturing Technology in Sydney towards the end of 1985 to ascertain the feasibility of manufacturing fugal screens from stainless steel by some method other than the present electrodeposition technique. The eventual outcome of these preliminary discussions was that two screens (one slotted, and the other with round holes) were produced from 300 um thick stainless steel 302 sheeting using a method involving laser technology. The specifications for these two screens, together with that for the chrome-nickel screen currently used in the industry, are given in this report.
Fibre characteristics of cane - results of measurements carried out at Bundaberg during 1987 season
(BSES, 1987) Noble, AG
During September, 1987 a total of twenty-three samples of cane were tested for extreme fibre characteristics at BSES in Bundaberg. The main purpose of this testing program, which was introduced during 1986 season, is to screen all prospective Q canes prior to their release to obtain some indication which varieties are likely to cause handling problems during the milling process.
Factory scale trials with laser produced stainless steel screens : Bingera mill 1987 season
(BSES, 1987) Noble, AG
The main objective in the tests carried out at Bingera was to compare the performance of two adjacent, similar, BMA K1000 centrifugals, one of which was fitted with a new set of standard Cr-Ni screens, and the other with a set of laser cut screens manufactured by CSIRO. Initially, the screens in this latter machine comprised six stainless steel segments and two segments produced from commercially pure titanium. However, the two titanium segments tore along the trailing edges several days after installation, and were subsequently replaced with stainless steel segments.
Open area and screen resistance measurements on fugal screens
(BSES, 1988) Noble, AG
To determine whether the decrease in fugal capacity was due to the working screen or the wedgewire backing supporting it, a series of measurements were carried out on test specimens cut from the top, middle and bottom of segments of chrome-nickel working screens removed from the two trial machines. One of these had been fitted with a wedgewire backing and the other with conventional woven mesh backing. These measurements, which were carried out by the author at the Chemical Engineering Department of the University of Queensland, included the following: Slot width and open area determination; Photomicrographs of each screen section; Screen resistance of each specimen.
A wedgewire support for screens in continuous centrifugals, Bingera mill - 1987 season
(BSES, 1988) Noble, AG
Discussions between Bundaberg Sugar Company, the Surescreen Group and BSES resulted in BSES sponsoring the installation of a wedgewire backing screen in a K1000 basket at Bingera Mill during 1987 season. This report presents the results of trials carried out to evaluate the performance of the machine fitted with the new wedgewire backing screen.
High grade sugar recovery using a continuous centrifuge : final report BSC25
(Bundaberg Sugar company Limited, 1990) Swindells, RJ; Griffin, KJ; Lynch, SG
This project report describes the conversion of an existing batch high grade centrifuge to a continuous unit (termed a hybrid fugal) and an assessment of its performance characteristics.
Hygroscopic water in sugarcane : final report 114
(CSR, 1990) Mangion, MJ; Player, MR
At the 1989 Workshop on Cane Analysis conducted by the Sugar Research Council it emerged that the best technical method of cane analysis for the Australian industry was the direct cane analysis method (DCA) employing the wet disintegrator technique. This method involves comminuting a sample of prepared cane with a weighed amount of water and then analysing the resultant liquid extract. The analysis of cane is determined by calculation, making allowance for the degree of dilution by the added water. This calculation also makes allowance for some water in sugar cane which is not available for solution of the dissolved substances in juice. This water is commonly referred to as bound water or hygroscopic water.
Towards functional specifications of a sampling scheme for commercial sampling of prepared cane : final report V89/17
(BSES, 1990) Robinson, G
Payment by Australian sugar mills to sugar can growers has for many years been based on samples of "first expressed juice" - the juice squeezed from prepared cane at the number one mill. This basis for payment is perceived by some sugar industry bodies as being less than completely satisfactory. The weaknesses being focussed on in this. report is that it is an inferential method. The amount of pol in first expressed juice is used to estimate the total amount of pol in the cane. This is unsatisfactory because the relationship between pol in first expressed juice and total pol was derived many years ago when there was less pressure exerted at the number one mill. The relationship has not been altered to allow more accurate estimation of total pol.
Hardening of raw sugar : SRDC final report CSR8S
(CSR, 1991) Mangion, MJ; Player, MR
Australia has a long term contract to supply the Soviet Union with raw sugar. While the contract seeks to avoid delivery in the coldest months, the long transport from Black Sea ports and possible delays can lead to hardening in rail cars. The consequence would be slow unloading of rail cars, extra demurrage, and extra labour cost. The buyers claim that sugar from other sources such as Cuba does not harden to the same extent.
Calibration of a density meter : final report PR92005
(BSES, 1992) Sanders, DH
The Australian Sugar Milling Council (ASMC), as part of its continuing investigation into precision density meters, purchased an EXAC Model 8300EX 12A mass flow meter with density measuring capabilities. This instrument will be tested in four sugar mill laboratories in the 1992 crushing season comparing results with those obtained by the conventional cane payment method ie brix hydrometer. Prior to conducting these trials ASMC requested BSES assistance in calibrating the instrument against the standard bix hydrometer using pure refined sugar solution.
Crack detection and durability assessment of low speed sugar mill gears : final report JCU2S
(BSES, 1995) Anderson, SI; Loughran, JG
Heavy low speed gearing used by the Australian Sugar Industry is manufactured according to code specifications. These gears fail in several ways with the most common failure modes being the gradual surface fatigue of the contacting teeth due to poor lubrication and sudden tooth fracture resulting from the presence of cracks. Over the last decade, sudden gear failures have cost .the industry millions of dollars. The problem is exacerbated by the unexpected lost production time and cost of gear replacements.
Intelligent adaptive control in an on-line cane transport scheduler : final report UCQ2S
(SRDC, 1996) Pinkney, A
The vast majority of the Australian sugar crop is transported from the field to the sugar mill by privately owned cane railways. The total length of the permanent way exceeds 3000 km and approximately 500 x 106 tonne kilometres of cane are hauled during the crushing season, making the combined operation the third largest rail transport system in Australia.
Brix determination in first expressed juice by mass flow meter : SRDC final report SD97011
(BSES, 1997) Mackintosh, DL; Noble, AG; Sanders, DH
A series of trials have been carried out to evaluate the performance of a Micro Motion CMF025 mass flow meter in place of the standard hydrometer for brix measurement in cane pay analyses. Tests were conducted at ten sugar mills over 1994 and 1995 season. The evaluation has been painstaking and extensive in scope and has culminated in the proposal to include a Method 3A in the Laboratory Manual for Australian Sugar Mills, "Brix Determination in Juice by Vibrating Tube Density Measurement". The process has involved millers' and the growers' technical personnel.