Many of the everyday objects surrounding us require incredible power to be mass-produced, including one of the most popular commodities, sugar. In order to separate sugar crystals from sugar beet or sugar cane juice, high-speed rotary action is required. As they turn heavy loads, sugar centrifuges demand high-torque capabilities in couplings. Falk gear couplings are perfectly suited to sugar production facilities.
Sugar production involves multiple procedures, regardless of whether one begins with sugar beets or sugar cane. In both crops, the first steps involve boiling and crushing the beet or cane pulp. This creates a sugary juice, which is mixed with lime or other agents to bring the sugar to a neutral 7 rating on the pH scale. (If the sugar juice is not chemically neutral, it is more likely to decay and play host to bacteria.) Carbonation follows, to remove impurities. Supplementary neutralizing compounds, such as soda ash, may be added, and the sugar juice may also be left to settle in clarifying tanks. Multiple-effect evaporation comes next, to thicken the sugar juice into syrup. Agitation is required for mixing at all of the preceding stages, but the most intense torque is required for powering the centrifuge that is critical to forming sugar crystals.
Like laboratory centrifuges, sugar centrifuges use centrifugal force to separate out different elements in a mixture. As the centrifuge spins, the heavier sugar particles are sent to the centrifuge wall, where they attach to fine sugar crystals. These crystals are seeded into the centrifuge to act as a base. Sugar centrifuges also contain a wash inlet, which keeps the sugar crystals clean as they form. A plough-shaped arm scrapes off the formed sugar crystals, dropping the sugar through to the bottom of the centrifuge.
Higher quality sugars tend to be formed with batch centrifuges, while continuous centrifuges are used for raw sugars, which are more liable to break sugar crystals. In both cases, strong couplings are required. Subpar couplings can cause excessive oscillation, potentially damaging equipment.
Falk G Couplings are well suited to sugar plants, as they are strong and flexible. Falk designs their G couplings to be interchangeable, half for half, with other standard AGMA gear coupling sizes. A four-point seal, paired with Long Term Grease lubrication, results in extended working life and the elimination of tainted product. Radial clearances and backlash are reduced thanks to 20° full-depth, triple-crowned gear teeth. Because sugar syrup is thick, it demands reliable hold and high-torque capabilities. Falk gear couplings deliver outstanding performance in sugar centrifuges thanks to high bore capacities. Falk couplings pair a low initial cost with long-term performance, saving plant managers up to 35% over alternative brands.
[Photo by parhessiastes via CC License 2.0]
Posted under Articles, Products/Services on Thursday, April 30th, 2015