Project dates: 01/07/2024 - 30/06/2025
Australian sugar factories are amongst the least energy efficient in the world. To maintain the Australian industry’s competitive position and drive the transition to a net zero economy, sugar factories will be required to make substantial changes in energy management and thus operate at significantly higher levels of steam efficiency. For factories seeking to achieve high levels of steam efficiency, extensive vapour bleeding from the evaporator station is usually undertaken. This change in operation typically leads to the juice being exposed to higher temperatures and over longer time. These conditions increase the levels of sucrose degradation that occurs as well as contributing to the formation of acidic condensates that cause premature failure of piping, valves and fittings through corrosion. Sucrose losses and increased maintenance costs due to corrosion impact on the profitability of sugar production.
The aim of this project is to progress the research and commercial implementation of chemical control systems and improved pH control across evaporation to increase operational efficiencies and mitigate the degradation reactions and associated issues that occur in the evaporators of steam efficient factories.
Chief Investigators
Partner Investigators
- Mr. Aaron Baker – Production Superintendent (Sunshine Sugar – Condong Mill)
Project partners
- Sunshine Sugar (Condong Mill)
Project funding
