Factory Engineering
Innovative technology based on mechanical vapour recompression for energy-efficient sugarcane processing
Last Updated: junio 11, 2025Development of innovative technology based on mechanical vapour recompression (MVR) for sugarcane processing is explained. The reuse of thermal waste heat using a compressor allows high heat economy and eliminates the need for external heat generation and rejection units such as boilers, turbines, cooling towers and condensers.
Integration of tribological analysis and machine-learning models to increase the useful life of hammers in sugarcane shredders
Last Updated: junio 11, 2025The cane shredder is one of the most maintenance-intensive and costly machines in the preparation and milling process, requiring hammer replacements every 15-25 days, taking approximately 2-4 hours for that work and causing up to 20 annual stoppages.
Reliable and accurate valve selection for pre-lime and milk of lime
Last Updated: junio 11, 2025This paper presents a comprehensive engineering review focused on the accurate and reliable selection of control valves for milk of lime (MOL) and calcium saccharate applications within the sulphitation, defecation and carbonation sections of sugar-processing plants.
Revamping cooling water treatment to enhance system integrity at Providencia’s Distillery
Last Updated: junio 11, 2025Providencia’s Distillery faced significant challenges in its cooling water system due to contamination by sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB), and insufficient process monitoring for early deviation detection. To address these issues, the acid-based treatment was replaced with an alkaline regimen, alongside a comprehensive overhaul of the treatment chemistry to better manage corrosion, scaling and microbiological growth
Updates to the design of high-pressure traveling-grate boilers to fire challenging biomass and vinasse
Last Updated: junio 11, 2025Biomass (including bagasse) is acknowledged as a renewable and eco-friendly energy source, gaining traction on a global scale. Combustion of some biomass has always been a challenge in traveling-grate technology because of the highly fouling and corrosive nature of ash.
Valuation of the impact of the use of green-cane harvesting on the back end of bagasse boilers
Last Updated: junio 11, 2025The effects of corrosion due to the presence of sulphur in fuel have been widely studied and recommendations have been made on the position of economizer-heater arrangement, minimum temperatures of air, water and gases and others.