Summarising and reporting sugarcane locomotive run statistics from TOTools and GPS data

The majority of sugar mill locomotives are equipped with GPS devices from which locomotive position data is stored. Locomotive run information (e.g. start times, run destinations and activities) is electronically stored in software called TOTools. The latest software development allows TOTools to interpret historical GPS information by combining this data with run information recorded in TOTools and geographic information from a GIS application called MapInfo. As a result, TOTools is capable of summarising run activity details such as run start and finish times and shunt activities with great accuracy. This paper presents 15 reports developed to summarise run activities and speed information. The reports will be of use pre-season to assist in developing the next year's schedule and for determining priorities for investment in the track infrastructure. They will also be of benefit during the season to closely monitor locomotive run performance against the existing schedule.

Managing milling train operation and performance

This paper discusses the main milling train management tasks necessary for maintaining good extraction performance through a season. The main activities discussed are making week by week decisions about shredder and mill setting adjustments, and selecting preseason mill settings. To maintain satisfactory milling train extraction performance, the main factors affecting extraction should be examined: cane preparation with pol in open cells or shredder torque, delivery nip compaction through the load or torque controller outputs such as roll lift, feed chute flap position or pressure feeder to mill speed ratio, and added water rate. To select mill settings for the coming season, delivery nip compaction and feed chute exit compaction can be inferred from the previous seasons.

Evaluation of mud filtrate clarification to improve factory performance

Clarification performance and flocculant dosage is strongly linked to the mud solids loading in the feed entering the clarifier. The recycle of filtrate can represent an extra ~10-15% mud solids loading on the clarifier, thereby reducing its effective capacity. Filtrate recycling may cause significant increase in turbidity, complexed calcium ion formation, phosphate, proteins and polysaccharides in mixed juice that impact on evaporator scale formation and molasses exhaustion. The paper details the results obtained from laboratory, pilot scale and factory trials of filtrate clarification using both sedimentation and flotation methods. Clarified filtrate could be produced of similar quality to ESJ. Filtrate clarification was able to significantly remove insoluble solids, turbidity, phosphate, and polysaccharides content with slight reductions in minerals content of the filtrate. On the basis of improved filtrate quality, the clarified filtrate could be directed to ESJ, instead of the normal practice of directing the mud filtrate to mixed juice. The potential impacts of implementing filtrate clarification are discussed in respect to improved performance and throughput of the clarification station.