Sugar Production: High-Efficiency Separation & Thermal Technology

Raw cane and beet sugar manufacturing demands robust thermodynamic and hydraulic engineering to master extreme processing duties: raw fibrous juice that blinds standard heat exchangers, extensive multiple-effect evaporation trains consuming massive thermal steam, and abrasive filter cake mud slurries. Lecoqimex integrates non-contact SonFlow Free Flow plate heat exchangers that eliminate fibrous clogging, low-pressure vapour Condenser/Evaporators for energy recovery, sanitary DanPumps, and heavy-duty ABEL HM piston diaphragm pumps for filter-press dewatering.

Sugar Production: High-Efficiency Separation & Thermal Technology

Maximized Evaporative Heat Efficiency & Clog-Free Fibrous Juice Transfer

  • SonFlow Free Flow plate exchangers with wide flow channels and zero contact points preventing bagasse blockage
  • Dedicated Condenser/Evaporator plate units recovering enthalpy from low-pressure vacuum pans and evaporation trains
  • ABEL HM piston diaphragm pumps generating up to 16 bar pressure for high-dryness filter press cake
  • DanPumps S-FP sanitary centrifugal pumps with specialized open impellers handling viscous syrups and molasses

Within cane sugar mills, the highest operational bottlenecks occur during raw juice heating and multi-effect evaporation. Conventional plate heat exchangers with chevron plate contacts trap bagasse fibres rapidly, causing high pressure drops and costly unbudgeted cleanings. SonFlow Free Flow wide-gap plates engineer unobstructed fluid channels without contact points in the flow direction, allowing suspended solids and fibres to pass freely while sustaining high overall heat transfer coefficients.

1. Overview of Fluid Streams & Thermal Duties in Sugar Processing

Industrial sugar manufacturing transforms sugarcane or sugar beet into refined crystalline sucrose across an uninterrupted sequence: juice extraction, clarification, multi-effect evaporation, vacuum crystallisation, and finishing.

Along this journey, fluid rheology transforms dramatically: from raw juice with low viscosity but high cellulosic fibre and soil loads, to concentrated 65-70° Brix syrup with skyrocketing viscosity, and ultimately massecuite slurries packed with crystalline solids. Lecoqimex unites leading European technologies from SonFlow, DanPumps, and ABEL to optimize each specific unit operation.

1. Overview of Fluid Streams & Thermal Duties in Sugar Processing
Fig 1.1: Conceptual material and thermal flows from cane milling to finished crystalline sugar.

2. The Five Core Stages of Modern Sugar Processing

Industrial cane sugar refining is structured across five sequential engineering phases:

Stage 01

Extraction & Juice Heating

  • 01. Cane Milling / Diffusion: Heavy rollers crush stalks to extract raw juice from bagasse fibres.
  • 02. Bagacillo Screening: Rotary or parabolic screens remove coarse cane particles from mixed juice.
  • 03. Primary Juice Heating: SonFlow Free Flow wide-gap PHEs elevate juice to 70°C - 75°C.
Stage 02

Juice Treatment & Clarification

  • 04. Liming & Sulphitation: Dosing milk of lime and SO2 gas to neutralize acidity and precipitate impurities.
  • 05. Secondary Juice Heating to 105°C: Accelerating coagulation kinetics before multi-tray clarifier entry.
  • 06. Clarifier Mud Dewatering: Heavy-duty ABEL HM pumps feed settled mud to filter presses for sucrose recovery.
Stage 03

Multi-Effect Evaporation

  • 07. Evaporator Train: Clarified juice (15° Brix) concentrates systematically to 65° Brix syrup.
  • 08. SonFlow Vapour Condensation: Capturing low-pressure latent vapour enthalpy for thermal reuse.
Stage 04 & 05

Crystallisation & Finishing

  • 09. Vacuum Pan Boiling: Vacuum boiling crystallises concentrated syrup into massecuite magma.
  • 10. Centrifugal Purging: High-speed basket centrifuges spin crystalline sugar away from molasses.
  • 11. Drying, Sifting & Bagging: Fluidized-bed drying, cooling, and automated bagging of commercial white sugar.
2. The Five Core Stages of Modern Sugar Processing
Fig 1.2: Multiple-effect evaporator station and vapour condenser pipework in sugar production.

3. Advanced Equipment Portfolio: SonFlow, DanPumps & ABEL

The equipment engineered and supplied by Lecoqimex targets the most severe points of wear and thermal inefficiency:

SonFlow Free Flow Plate Heat Exchangers

Specifically engineered for particle- and fibre-bearing fluids. Wide open channels with zero plate contact points eliminate clogging risks, enable thorough CIP, and guarantee uptime through entire harvesting campaigns.

SonFlow Condenser/Evaporator Plate Units

Oversized vapour connections ensuring minimal vacuum pressure drop. Ideal for low-pressure vapour condensation from vacuum pans, generating hot condensate for boiler feedwater recycle.

ABEL HM Piston Diaphragm Pumps

Specialized for clarifier underflow mud and filter-press chamber filling. Operating at pressures up to 16-25 bar to produce maximum cake dryness, lowering haulage costs and residual sugar losses.

DanPumps Centrifugal Process Pumps

Featuring S-FP sanitary series for sugar syrups and S-IP/S-MP inlines for cooling water towers. High hydraulic efficiency reduces plant electrical loads by up to 15%.

3. Advanced Equipment Portfolio: SonFlow, DanPumps & ABEL
Fig 1.3: Heavy-duty ABEL piston diaphragm pump skid installed for filter-press dewatering in sugar refining.

Questions and answers about beer production solutions & equipment

Why does the SonFlow Free Flow plate heat exchanger eliminate bagasse fibre clogging?

SonFlow Free Flow plate heat exchangers feature an enlarged plate gap and zero metal-to-metal contact points along the primary flow stream. As a result, suspended cane fibres, bagacillo, and pulp pass smoothly through the channel without trapping, extending continuous production runtime between CIP flushes from days to multiple months.

How does the SonFlow Condenser plate heat exchanger perform in multi-effect evaporation systems?

In sugar evaporation stations, low-pressure vapour generated across vacuum pans carries substantial latent heat. The SonFlow Condenser plate unit incorporates an oversized vapour connection port to minimize pressure drop under deep vacuum. Process vapour condenses against circulating cooling water, generating high-temperature condensate that routes directly back to boiler feedwater systems, significantly lowering fuel consumption.

What advantages does the ABEL HM piston diaphragm pump provide for filter-press mud dewatering?

Clarifier underflow mud contains high concentrations of abrasive sand, soil, and cane fibres. ABEL HM piston diaphragm pumps completely segregate the abrasive slurry from reciprocating mechanical pistons via durable elastomer diaphragms. The pump automatically throttles flow as chamber pressure builds up to 16 bar, yielding exceptionally dry filter cakes and minimizing residual sucrose losses in discarded mud.

Can DanPumps S-FP centrifugal pumps transfer high-viscosity sugar molasses?

The DanPumps S-FP series incorporates semi-open impellers and double mechanical seals with external flush circuits. For medium-viscosity molasses solutions and concentrated evaporated syrups, it delivers steady non-cavitating flow and easy in-situ maintenance. For high-Brix massecuite slurries laden with solid sugar crystals, Lecoqimex engineers specify dedicated positive displacement pumps.

Technical Brochures, Manuals & Certificates

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From non-clog Free Flow plate exchangers for fibrous juices to multi-effect vapour condensers and ABEL filter-press slurry pumps, Lecoqimex engineers calculate process balances within 24 hours.

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How We Deliver Your Solution

From initial parameters to verified commissioning, our engineering team ensures optimal thermal performance and seamless integration.

01

Parameter Assessment

We analyze your specific flow rates, temperature profiles, wort gravity, and cellar cooling requirements.

02

Thermodynamic Modeling & CAD

Application engineers run thermodynamic simulations to size heat exchangers, select materials, and prepare 2D and 3D CAD files for your plant layout.

03

OEM Optimization & Proposal

You receive a detailed technical proposal with verified performance guarantees, energy recovery estimates, and transparent pricing.

04

Commissioning & Support

We provide on-site installation guidance, commissioning validation, full sanitary compliance documentation, and ongoing spare parts availability.

Need urgent sizing assistance? Reach our engineering team at +33 7 82 85 35 55 or services@lecoqimex.com

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