Project dates: 01/07/2024 - 23/06/2025
Australian sugar factories currently use massecuite conductivity to control the feed rate of syrup and molasses to pans. Conductivity control is inexpensive and works well, although it does require close attention from pan operators since the conductivity value is affected by variations in the impurity composition in the cane supply.
Microwave transducers to measure massecuite dry substance (DS) are now being used in several overseas refineries and factories for control of the massecuite condition in pans. In a previous project, it was shown that the Berthold microwave transducer provided a reliable measure of the massecuite DS in an A massecuite pan at Farleigh Mill. During this project, a correlation was established with reasonable accuracy between the transducer DS output and factory samples. However, it was not possible to demonstrate the effectiveness of the DS transducer for control of the pan’s operation prior to the finish of the season. Challenges with the control parameters of the program were determined and could not be solved as the accurate correlation could only established near the end of the season.
The overall aim of this project is to demonstrate the use of a microwave dry substance transducer for controlling high grade boilings to a pre-defined DS profile. Improved control will result in cost reduction due to less manual interaction than currently required with conductivity control. An absolute measure of massecuite concentration, is an important first step to reducing the manning requirements on the pan stage in Australian factories.
Chief Investigators
Partner Investigators
- Dr Bryan Lavarack (Mackay Sugar)
- Mr Andrew Clews (Mackay Sugar)
Project funding
