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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2000 - 200911

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Start date: 2000End date: 2009

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 11
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    Monitoring cane at the mill to improve nitrogen management on the farm : final report CTA029
    (SRDC, 2002) Keating, BA; Biggs, IM; Webster, AJ
    The project originally had a third objective, namely to “Develop promising leads in rapid and cost effective analyses of N compounds in the mill juice stream to a “proof-of-concept” stage.” Instrumentation issues and industry developments with respect to installation on on-line NIR infrastructure meant that this third objective was transferred to the project CTA045, which is on going. Objective 1 was addressed via laboratory analyses of cane sourced from a wide range of experimental studies in different seasons at a range of sites, involving variation in N fertiliser inputs, sugarcane varieties, irrigation inputs, and other agronomic variables. Objective 2 was addressed via a series of grower-managed on-farm trials in which N fertiliser inputs were varied above and below the grower’s “normal” management and the results were interpreted in relation to additional information obtained from soil analyses and amino-N analyses of the cane at harvest time.
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    Improving CCS in the wet tropics via block-specific monitoring of nitrogen in cane delivered to the mill : final report CTA045
    (SRDC, 2003) Keating, BA; Webster, AJ; Biggs, M
    This project seeks to implement a scheme for monitoring the nitrogen status of all cane crops in a wet tropics mill district and aims to work with growers in the use of this information to improve CCS and reduce the risks associated with the overuse of nitrogen fertiliser.
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    Improved batch pan monitoring, control and optimization - a soft sensor approach : SRDC final project JCU018
    (SRDC, 2001) Schneider, PA
    Cane sugar is manufactured in process vessels called vacuum pans, which are closely supervised by operating personnel, known as pan boilers. Traditionally, the pan boiler’s job has been made easier through the use of a control system based on electrical conductivity. However, conductivity-based vacuum pan control is far from perfect, since it requires continual attention from the pan boiler to ensure that the vacuum pan is running efficiently.
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    An on-line cane monitoring system to measure the extraneous matter present in billet sugar cane : final report CSU001
    (Charles Sturt University, Sugar Research Institute, 2000) Moore, WE
    Extraneous matter (EM) in cane billets consists of two major types of material; dirt and trash. Dirt consists of primarily inorganic, rock derived material, while trash consists of primarily organic, non-productive sugar cane derived material such as leaves, tops, and root balls, Trash can also contain other non sugar cane derived organic matter such as weeds and other items included during the harvesting process.
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    Clean Cane Workshop 2000 : SRDC final report
    (SRDC, 2000) Wilson, MF
    The Corporation has identified clean cane as a strategic issue that transcends several of its programs of research.
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    An experimental study of boiling in calandria tubes : SRDC final report JCU021
    (SRDC, 2001) Schneider, P
    Raw sugar processing relies heavily on process equipment employing calandria-based heating systems to concentrate highly viscous sugar solutions, such as evaporators or vacuum pans. The design of these unit operations is based largely on experience and lacks a rigorous basis. Due to the high capital cost of these components, this situation is highly undesirable. The main aim of this project is to develop an experimental apparatus that can be used to measure viscous boiling phenomena in a single calandria tube, boiling molasses and massecuites. Data gathered will be an invaluable resource to assist with the development of models that can be used to assist with the design of full-scale equipment.
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    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.
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    Understanding why potential field CCS is not realised at the factory : SRDC final report SD02005
    (BSES, 2002) Berding, N
    Declining ccs in the Mossman-Tully region has been linked to increasing extraneous matter in mill-supply cane. This was quantified by measuring the proportion and quality of crop fractions in pre-and post-harvest subsamples. These were taken from 54 sites in 1999 and 2000, dissected into basic crop components, quantified, and analysed for five quality components. In March-July 2000, 14 sites with crops showing pre-harvest-season stalk-habit variation - erect versus lodged - were sampled three times. Pre-harvest habit had a marked effect on crop ccs. Lodged, unsound cane had a mean ccs 25% less than erect, sound cane. Relatively, average mill ccs compared poorly with pre-harvest potential ccs (75.9 and 85.1% for 1999 and 2000, respectively) and post-harvest potential ccs (83 and 87%). Mill-realised ccs was marginally above the average, weighted, whole-crop, in-field ccs, in both years, almost equalled the post-harvest ccs in 1999, and was just below in 2000. In 1999, harvesting did not reduce the in-field extraneous matter content (18.9%). In 2000, the proportion changed from 18.9 to 13.1%. An erect crop maximises quality and must be addressed by crop improvement and agronomy activities. The results severely question the efficacy of current harvesting technology, or how this is being used.
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    Impact of chopper harvesting on the translation of field CCS to factory realised CCS : SRDC final report SD01007
    (BSES, 2001) Davis, RJ; Norris, CP
    This project was designed to investigate the impact of chopper harvesting on CCS at the mill relative to measured CCS levels of cane in the field, as part of the reason behind declining CCS. Background for the project was provided mainly by field trials evaluating harvesting best practice, and sugar balance studies in the Mulgrave Mill area. These projects identified significant losses in cane CCS during the harvesting process, and an increase in CCS of leaf and trash between the field and the factory. They also indicated less depression of CCS than expected at low harvester cleaning intensities where extraneous matter levels in the cane supply were high. The exact magnitude of the losses, the mechanisms causing losses, and the fate of lost sugar have not been clearly identified, and this project was designed to clarify these issues. The chopper test rig developed for research on chopper performance was used in the project to help clarify the role of the chopper system in loss of sugar during harvesting.