Abstract

CRUZ, M. Carolina; DIAZ, Gisela F.; DIEZ, Oscar A.  and  PAZ, Dora. Preliminary studies of cane sugar refining in the off season. Rev. ind. agric. Tucumán [online]. 2017, vol.94, n.1, pp.1-11. ISSN 1851-3018.

The purpose of this paper is to theoretically study the process of production of refined sugar in the off season period in a factory in Tucumán. For this purpose the most important process variables, such as, amount of soft water (water of low hardness), exhaust steam requirement, and production of refined sugar, were determined by solving material and energy balances. A base scheme was defined and solved, 772.9 t/d of refined sugar were produced from 850.0 t/d of raw sugar, 766.2 t/d of soft water and 887.4 t/d of exhaust steam. As necessary equipment, a water evaporator of 747.0 m2 and two heat exchangers 102.8 m2 of total area were required. Then, a second scheme, proposed to improve the base case, was proposed and solved using the same methodology. For this instance, energy integration was performed by reusing the energy of the process streams. The results of the second scheme were compared with respect to the base case, achieving a saving of 11.4% steam exhaust and 17.8% soft water, with the use of more than 21.1% evaporation surface and 109.4% more surface area for heating. Besides a saving of 5.8% of raw sugar was achieved, resulting in a 6.2% refinery recovery sugar. With this proposal, the refinery would be operated all year round, resulting in the mentioned economic benefits.

Keywords : refinery; raw sugar; off season.

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