BAGACILLO REMOVAL BY SONIC SELF-CLEANING FILTERS

摘要

RESIDUAL bagacillo and other suspended matter contamination of cane sugar factory process streams contribute to processing difficulties and adversely affect marketability of the raw and refined sugar products. Novel Sonic Self-Cleaning Filters (SSCF)were tested over several months on process streams in Australian and South African factories to assess their practicality and effectiveness for removing such contaminants. These streams included clear juice, evaporator syrup and refinery melt. The results report throughput rates up to 46 tonnes per hour for a single SSCF processing evaporator syrup, and bagacillo removal efficiencies in the range 80%—100% for a variety of process streams and conditions. Resistance to clogging of the screen by scaling was shown to be good. The SSCF’s totally enclosed design was found to be readily amenable to clean-in-place chemical cleaning which, when infrequently required, was simple and effective in execution. One SSCF operated continuously on evaporator syrup for30 days, virtually unattended and under automatic control using an occasional automated hot condensate wash regimen, and maintained a consistent throughput of 35 tonnes per hour without need for chemical cleaning. This SSCF employed a laser-drilled filter screen (LaserScreen) with an area of only 0.32 m~2 and apertures 60 μm wide. The results are regarded as preliminary, but it is concluded that this technology holds considerable promise as a simple, practical and efficient ‘in-line’ means for majority bagacillo and insoluble solids removal from such streams, requiring neither manual screen washing nor the installation of additional pumps or tanks.