I20 Proceedings of The South African Sugar Technologists' Association - June 1984

DEWATERING OF CANE DIFFUSER BAGASSE USING A SPIKEY-

TOOTH PRESSURE FEEDER
By C. P. VAN BREDA
Tongaat-Hulett Sugar Limited, Amatikulu Mill

Abstract Layout
A spikey-toothed roll pressure feeder was installed on a con-
ventional three roller mill used to dewater bagasse from the Drive Arrangement
cane diffuser at Amatikulu mill. This is a presentation of the The spikey-tooth pressure feeder (STPF) is gear driven. Two
results achieved by this dewatering unit. Comparisons are also straight spur gears are used, one on the final drive gear wheel
drawn against a grooved two roller, pressure fed, three roller shaft and the other on an independent shaft which is coupled
mill and a conventional four roller mill, both used in the same to one of the spikey-tooth rolls.
dewatering application.

Introduction
Amatikulu mill has a cane diffuser rated at 400 tons cane Dewatering Unit Arrangement
per hour (62 tons fibre per hour). Dewatering of the bagasse is The pressure feeder is mounted on its own headstock. The
done through three sets of drying mills, two of which have bagasse is fed into the spikey-tooth rolls via an adjustable chute,
pressure feeders and the third has two conventional four roller which is fed from an overhead slat carrier. A hinged plate makes
mills in series. Of the two pressure fed mills, the first has a adjustment of the chute possible. A pneumatically operated
conventional two roller, Walker type, pressure feeder with pinch plate allows the flow of bagasse to the spikey-tooth rolls
grooved rollers, while the second has a two roll spikey-tooth to be stopped at any time. The spikey-tooth rolls feed the mill
pressure feeder. through a short, robust pressure chute.

Final
Reduction

FIGURE 1 Mill drive arrangement

Proceedings of The South Afican Sugar Technologists' Association - June

Based on the average crushing rate of 50 tons fibre per hour

for the 1983/84 season, No. 2 Dewatering Unit handled, on
average, about 21 tons fibre per hour which is equivalent to
about 130 tons cane per hour.
Mill Settings
The spikey-tooth dewatering mill was set up with a theoret-
ical 2,9: 1 work opening ratio. In practice however this turned
out to be a 1,8:1 work opening ratio as the top roll lifted to its
maximum of 32 mm. From week- 16 the mill was set up using
the recommended work opening setting of 1,7:1 and this gave
the best results.
Bagasse Moistures
The bagasse moistures from the STPF dewatering unit varied
from a high of 56,3% in the first week of operation to a low of
50,5%. See Table 1. The season average of 52,9% for the STPF
dewatering unit was appreciably better than that for either of
the other two dewatering units, being 0,5% better than that for
,thegrooved roller pressure fed dewatering unit, and 1,4% better
than that for the two mill dewatering unit. It is important to
Pressure
Feeder

7 -7
FIGURE 2 Dewatering unit arrangement
Mill
remember that the STPF mill was processing 40% more bagasse
than either of the other two dewatering units.
TABLE 1
Bagasse Moistures - 1983/84

rate (TFPH)

10 - 53,3 533 52,O 48

, Mid-Season Stop

FIGURE 3 Photograph of STPF

Year
To Date
1
I
53.4 1
I
52.9 1
I
54.3 1
I
53.0 1
I
50
Results and Discussion * Spikey-toothed pressure feed unit.
If the average bagasse moisture for each of the dewatering
Throughput units during the 7 week period from week 18 to week 24, (week
The existing feed arrangement, whereby an overhead slat ending 24.12.83) is calculated, then the results from the STPF
conveyer is used to feed all three dewatering units, makes it are 1,3% better than those for the 1st Dewatering Unit and
very difficult to establish the split between the three units. If 2,9% better than those for the 3rd Dewatering Unit. This 7
it is assumed, however, that the split is proportional to the week period is significant in that the optimum work opening
escribed volumes of each of the mills then the spikey-tooth ratio of 1,7:1 had only been implemented in week 16; all the
pressure fed mill handles 40% more than either of the other plant was operating effectively; the cane supply was regular and
two units i.e. about 41% of the total bagasse throughput. The the quality of the cane was reasonable. After Christmas the
only reason for it being greater is the physical limitations on cane supply became erratic and the quality of the cane dete-
reducing the throughput of the spikey-tooth pressure feeder. riorated markedly.
 ?edingsof The South African Sugar Technologists' Association - June 1984

Power Absorbed Any repairs to the teeth of the STPF can be undertaken at
Torque measurements, using strain gauges and telemetery the mill. The STPF rolls do not have to be sent for reshelling.
equrpment, carried out on the tailbars of the pressure feeder
and the mill, revealed a maximum power requirement of 86 Conclusions
kW for the pressure feeder and 328 kW for the mill, giving a
total absorbed power of 414 kW. See Table 2. From the results obtained we can see that spikey-tooth pres-
sure feeders are particularly suitable for dewatering cane dif-
fuser bagasse for the following reasons:
TABLE 2 (1) Positive feeding characteristics
Mill Torque Measurements (2) Low power requirements
Torque Power (3) Low bagasse moistures obtainable
Top roll
speed Pressure Pressure (4) Good mechanical efficiency
Mill Mill PF % Total
feeder feeder (5) Minimal attention required
rPm kNm kNm kW kW Yo Optimum results are achieved when a mill work opening
1,45 212 1 106 47 179 20,94 ratio of 1,7:1 is used. The spikey-tooth pressure feeder appears
1,45 220 1 240 49 20 1 19,70 to be capable of handling very large quantities of bagasse. Any
1.81 224 1 068 63 216 22,49
1,81 256 1 145 72 232 23,67 restriction on throughput would be related to the mill rather
131 277 1 335 78 270 22,30 than to the pressure feeder.
1,81 212 1 240 59 25 1 19,lI
2,41 195 954 73 257 22,09
3,02 183 973 86 328 20,68 Acknowledgements
Average 21,37 Thanks are due to the Technical Management Department
of Tongaat-Hulett Sugar Limited, Management and staff at
Amatikulu Mill and the Sugar Milling Research Institute for
their contribution to this project.
From Table 2 it can be seen that the pressure feeder absorbs
about 21% of the total power observed. This is much lower
that the 30% which is generally accepted for grooved roller
pressure feeders. The power absorbed by the STPF dewatering APPENDIX
unit under normal operating conditions represents 10,8 kW1t Technical Details
Gearing
fibrelh. The Australians with similar size mills quote between Straight spur
6,5 and 8,5 kW/t fibrelh, while Fletcher & Stewart estimate 11 Wear life 50 000 h
kW/t fibre!h. Design torque
Pressure Feeder
Mass of Spike!.-Tooth roll
Advantages Drum dianirtcr
Lcngth of PF c l i ~ ~ t c
The spikey-tooth pressure feeder has several advantages over Mass of PF cliutc
a grooved roller pressure feeder and these include- Sctting (drum to drum).
Mill
~ h STPF
k has a very positive feed into the mill which min- Roller length
imises slippage. Slippage absorbs power and increases wear. Roller diameter
Cost

. Less power is required to drive the STPF.

The moistures from the STPF are much lower.
The STPF rolls are robust and require little attention during
Pressure feeder
Gearing
Erection
Total Cost
operations. No welding is required to roughen the teeth. Length of Project
Less mechanical damage will result when tramp iron goes Pressure feeder delivery 8 months ex F & S
through the STPF because of the greater clearances. This Gear delivery 9 months ex Vecor
Erection 3 months
means longer roll life.