SRI's expertise in the evaporation process and evaporator technology in the raw sugar factory is world-renowned.
Our aim is to bring benefits to clients with practical advice backed by extensive factory-based knowledge and modern computer modelling techniques.
Some of our major achievements in the field include:
- Development of modifications to improve juice flow patterns in Roberts evaporators that have improved inlet and outlet juice transfer arrangements resulting in lower brix of juice in contact with heating tubes;
- Improving juice feed systems by using computational fluid dynamics to model juice flows within the Roberts evaporator;
- Development of a functional expression for heat transfer coefficient based on trials in factory and pilot scale evaporators. The functional expression forms the basis for modelling software to determine the energy balance for the process sections of the factory (evaporator station, crystallisation pans and juice heaters);
- Development of the SRI design of Roberts evaporator incorporating improvements in the steam supply system, noxious gas and condensate removal systems and juice supply and removal. The SRI Roberts design achieves increased heat transfer coefficients of at least 10% above the conventional Roberts evaporator;
- Modelling of the process steam usage of factories to develop practical and economical configurations for reduced process steam consumption. SRI has used these modelling tools to define the process steam arrangements for several factories implementing cogeneration plants. The studies have developed practical configurations for steam consumption as low as 35% steam on cane;
- Improvement of understanding of the composition and morphology of scale components that deposit on the surfaces of the heating tubes, and procedures for effective chemical cleaning to remove the scale; and
- Experience with the operation and performance of a falling film plate evaporator.
