A supplementary compressed-air ploughing system for batch centrifugals trialled at Racecourse Mill

Many sugar mills in Australia process A and B massecuites using batch centrifugals that are of considerable age. This presents problems with the ability of this equipment to complete its duty effectively. Achieving close tolerances with plough adjustment is difficult, and due to this, large amounts of sugar often remain on the basket after plough-out, reducing centrifugal performance and increasing the recycling of sugar. To improve the performance of these centrifugals and prolong the usable life of these assets, a supplementary ploughing system was tested at Racecourse Mill. The air plough system was designed to use compressed air to blow off the remaining sugar that the existing plough could not remove. The system consists of nozzles attached to the existing plough, which, discharges compressed air aimed directly at the basket as the plough completes its duty. Laboratory analysis and visual inspection were used to assess and verify the improvements made by the system. In all trials, the system made a sizeable improvement in increasing sugar removal during plough-out. This concept can yield significant benefits for millers and is worthy of further research and development.