Percolation Behaviour of A Cane Diffuser
Percolation Behaviour of A Cane Diffuser
Percolation Behaviour of A Cane Diffuser
J
Percolation Behaviour of a Cane Diffuser.
PERCOLATION BEHAVIOUR OF A CANE DIFFUSER
By
ABSTRACT
gated in both pilot plant and full scale diffusers. A wide range
from the pilot plant experiments which relate the percolation rate
particle size and fibre content of the cane. The dispersed plug
flow model was found to fit the results of tracer tests on both the
INTRODUCTION
liquid is sprayed onto the top surface of the bed than is able
process is destroyed.
rates through the cane bed are highly desirable, as these condi-
in cane diffusers, due to the less dense beds with a more fibrous
cane S :
(1)
fibre.
Insert Fig. 1
rates through the bed increasing the liquid solid contact effi-
calculated.
EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS
Insert Fig. 3
plastic windows down one side so that percolation and thus the
stant flow for any valve setting, a constant head tank is pro-
a sample of sliredded cane was taken from the cane sampling hatch.
The direct cane analysis figures were utilised for the corresponding
consignment.
8.
The pilot plant diffuser column was filled with this cane to
the column was manually adjusted to give the maximum flow without
rate decreased with time as the bed compacted. When the bed had
this time, the juice leaving the column was run to drain to pre-
analysis.
the test, the salt solution was added rapidly to the last of the
tion of tracer appearing in each of the three trays was thus auto-
matically recorded.
belt weigher.
tion rates and the complexity of their effects, only some of them
burnt cane consignments, of variety NCo 376. Apart from cane analy
bottom before starting percolation (to remove all air from the
rate after compaction of the bed. This was however not confirmed
when added to the percolating juice after the bed had compacted and
Agitation of bed
bed and thereby increase percolation rate, air, water and steam
were injected into the bottom of the bed through the perforated
diffuser.
bottom of the cane bed are re-deposited on the surface of the bed.
1,8 kg/m 2 .
12.
pH of juice
investigated both by adding lime after the bed had compacted and
Table 2 gives the results of two tests where lime was added
Insert Table 2.
Insert Table 3.
In the tests were lime was added to the surface of the bed
high density on the surface of the bed. This would cause the re-
where lime was used, the bed density was only 2% higher than in
the percolation rate was 33% lower. The effect of lime CpH)
1) Cane quality
and trash were found to be very low and did not vary much
2) Cane preparation
(See Appendix 3 ) .
14.
Correlation of percolation testing results
As previously described the equation
has been used as a basis for correlating the results o± the perco-
lation tests.
15.
are available, only have a small variation in bed height and the
b = 4,3, despite the fact that these tests included a wide range of
a granular bed.
Insert Fig. 7
18.
REFERENCES
1. Bird, R.B., W.E. Stewart and E.N. Lightfoot (1960). Transport
phenomena John Wiley New York. 780 p
of the particles by :
Sb = SD
bed over a length of bed, T, across the full width of the bed. The
shown in Fig. 2.
equation is
Tray B from y = A - Vt to y = A + L - Vt
Tray D from y = A + L - Vt to y = A + 2L - Vt
Tray R from y = A + 2L - Vt to y = A + 3L - Vt
Ey , Ez can be obtained.
distance A + 1,5L - 0, 5T. For 1001 recycle the bed will have
travelled A + 2,5L - 0,5T and for 100% bypassing the bed will have
APPENDIX 3
size x.
given by :
Percolation
pH rate
(m/min)
Without lime addition 5,2 0,200
With lime addition 7,6 0,134
Table 4 : Results of pilot plant tracer tests
Bed Mean Variance Fibre Packing Percola- Percola- Dispersion Ratio of per-
height particle of parti- in cane density tion rate tion ve- coeffi- colation ve-
size cle size locity cient locity to per-
colation rate
(m) (mm) (mm ) (%) (kg fib/ (m/min) (m/min) (m2 /min)
m3 )
Mean 1,47 5,36 58,4 14,5 74,7 0,22 0,32 0,029 0,70
33.