Practical determination of cane wagon derailment forces for the Australian sugar industry

Derailments are a significant cost to the Australian sugar industry with damage to rail infrastructure and rolling stock in excess of $2 M per annum. Many factors can contribute to cane rail derailments. The more prevalent factors are discussed. Derailment statistics on likely causes for cane rail derailments are presented with the case of empty wagons on the main line being the highest contributor to business cost. Historically, the lateral to vertical wheel load ratio, termed the derailment ratio, has been used to indicate the derailment probability of rolling stock. When the derailment ratio reaches the Nadal limit of 0.81 for cane rail operations, there is a high probability that a derailment will occur. Contributing factors for derailments include the operating forces, the geometric variables of the rolling stock and the geometric deviations of the railway track. These combined, have the capacity to affect the risk of derailment for a cane rail transport operating system. The derailment type that is responsible for creating the most damage to assets and creating mill stops is the flange climb derailment, as these derailments usually occur at speed with a full rake of empty wagons. The typical forces that contribute to the flange climb derailment case for cane rail operations are analysed and a practical derailment model is developed to enable operators to better appreciate the most significant contributing factors to this type of derailment. The paper aims to: (a) improve awareness of the significance of physical operating parameters so that these principles can be included in locomotive driver training and (b) improve awareness of track and wagon variables related to the risk of derailment so that maintainers of the rail system can allocate funds for maintenance more effectively.

Milling innovations at Rocky Point

This paper reviews the innovations that have been introduced in the milling train at Rocky Point mill since 2001 and provides some operational, performance and maintenance comparisons of the technologies in use. The decision to install BHEM mills in the #2 and #3 mill positions to complement the six-roll mills in the #1 and #4 mill positions has proven a good one. Satisfactory performance is being obtained by these mills while maintenance costs are significantly less. Very good #1 mill extraction and final bagasse moisture content are being achieved. The innovation of using Hägglunds hydraulic drives at higher speed…

Improving factory performance using an integrated sugar factory model

A whole of factory model of a raw sugar factory was developed in SysCAD software to assess and improve factory operations. The integrated sugar factory model ‘Sugar-SysCAD’ includes individual models for milling, heating and clarification, evaporation, crystallisation, steam cycle, sugar dryer and process and injection water circuits. These individual unit operation models can be either used as standalone models to optimise the unit operation or in the integrated mode to provide more accurate prediction of the effects of changes in any part of the process on the outputs of the whole factory process. Using the integrated sugar factory model, the effect of specific process operations can be understood and practical solutions can be determined to address process problems. The paper presents two factory scenarios to show the capabilities of the whole of factory model.

The effects of gas and air flow distributions on the performance of the Farleigh No. 3 boiler

As more raw sugar factories become involved in the manufacture of by-products and cogeneration, bagasse is becoming an increasingly valuable commodity. However, in most factories, most of the bagasse produced is used to generate steam in relatively old and inefficient boilers. Efficient bagasse fired boilers are a high capital cost item and the cost of supplying the steam required to run a sugar factory by other means is prohibitive. For many factories a more realistic way to reduce bagasse consumption is to increase the efficiency of existing boilers. The Farleigh No. 3 boiler is a relatively old low efficiency boiler. Like many in the industry, the performance of this boiler has been adversely affected by uneven gas and air flow distributions and air heater leaks. The combustion performance and efficiency of this boiler have been significantly improved by making the gas and air flow distributions through the boiler more uniform and repairing the air heater. The estimated bagasse savings easily justify the cost of the boiler improvements.

Engaging elementary students in learning science: An analysis of classroom dialogue

Research over a long period of time has continued to demonstrate problems in the teaching of science in school. In addition, declining levels of participation and interest in science and related fields have been reported from many particularly western countries. Among the strategies suggested is the recruitment of professional scientists and technologists either at the graduate level or advanced career level to change career and teach. In this study, we analysed how one beginning middle primary teacher engaged with students to support their science learning by establishing rich classroom discussions. We followed his evolving teaching expertise over three years focussing on his communicative practices informed by socio-cultural theory. His practices exemplified a non-interactive dialogical communicative approach where ideas were readily discussed but were concentrated on the class acquiring acceptable scientific understandings. His focus on the language of science was a significant aspect of his practice and one that emerged from his professional background. The study affirms the theoretical frameworks proposed by Mortimer and Scott (2003) highlighting how dialogue contributes to heightened student interest in science.

Benefits of blended learning for the first year medical imaging students in preparation for clinical placement

Although there is a plethora of definitions of blended learning, the underlying distinguishing feature is the combination of traditional content delivery and the utilisation of technology. Within Medical Imaging undergraduate education there is evidence of advantages and increased student engagement when utilising a blended learning approach. Although the embedding of technology has been proven to be a useful teaching tool, “Educators should tailor their teaching media to learner’s needs rather than assume that web based learning is intrinsically superior”. This study aims to determine which clinical learning tools are perceived to be the most useful to the student in preparing them for placements.

Shelf life of minimally processed honeydew, kiwifruit, papaya, pineapple and cantaloupe

Shelf life of minimally processed (peeled, deseeded, and diced) honeydew melon, kiwifruit, papaya, pineapple, and cantaloupe stored at 4°C was studied. Sensory assessments were carried out at 3-day intervals by highly trained panels until the end of shelf life. Microbiological counts were made immediately after dicing fruit and at the end of shelf life. Results indicated that both the length of shelf life and type of spoilage were related to fruit species. Minimally processed fruit had longer shelf life at 4°C than at temp. recommended for whole fruit when these were >4°C. Spoilage of 4°C-stored kiwifruit, papaya, and pineapple pieces was found to be not as a consequence of microbial growth

Changes in sensory quality of sterile cantaloupe dice stored in controlled atmospheres.

Diced cantaloupe flesh that was microbiologically sterile was prepared in order to study the physiological deterioration of fruit when stored under a range of controlled atmospheres at 4.5°C. Sterile fruit pieces were prepared by boiling whole melons for 3 min, then dicing aseptically. Storage atmospheres were in continuous flow and contained from 0 to 26% CO2 and 3.5 to 17% O2. Sensory assessments were carried out by a highly trained panel at 14-day intervals. Products that were acceptable for up to 28 days were obtained when the following 3 treatments were used: 6% CO2 and 6% O2; 9.5% CO2 and 3.5% O2; and 15% CO2 and 6% O2. Overall, treatment with 0, 19.5 or 26% CO2 (irrespective of O2 concn.) caused significant deterioration in sensory properties.

Grower group case study on new farming practices in the Herbert region, Australia

Growers working together have proven to be a successful method for improving the utilization of farm resources and accelerating the adoption of the Sugar Yield Decline Joint Venture principles (SYDJV). The Pinnacle Precision Farming Group was formed in 2004 with the aim to bring together the ideas, knowledge and resources of growers in the Herbert region. Along with their common interest in controlled traffic, minimal tillage and crop rotations, the grower group utilize a farm machinery contractor to provide some of their major farming operations. This paper provides an insight into the changes made by the Pinnacle Precision Farming Group and their journey to adopt the new farming system practices. This paper also details the changes made by the group machinery contractor and a comparison of the old and new farming systems used by a group member. A focus point of the document is the impact of the new farming system on the economic, social and environmental components of the farming business. Analysis of the new farming system with a legume crop rotation revealed an increase in the farm gross margin by AU$22 024 and, in addition, a reduction in tractor operation time by 38% across the whole farm. This represents a return on marginal capital of 14.68 times the original capital outlay required by the group member. Using the new farming system without a legume crop will still improve the group members whole of farm gross margin by AU$6 839 and reduce tractor operation time by 43% across the whole farm. The Pinnacle Precision Farming group recognize the need to continually improve their farming businesses and believe that the new farming system principles are critical for the long term viability of the industry. [U$1 = AU$1.19].

Laboratoriohoitaja- ja sairaanhoitajakoulutuksen antamat valmiudet kliinisen mikrobiologian näytteenottoon

Tutkimuksen tavoitteena on ollut kuvata pian valmistuvien sairaanhoitaja- ja laboratoriohoitajaopiskelijoiden teoreettista työnhallintaa kliinisen mikrobiologian alaan kuuluvien potilasnäytteiden ottamisessa. Tutkimuksessa haluttiin selvittää, miten peruskoulutus ja työelämän harjoittelujaksot ovat vaikuttaneet näytteenottovalmiuksien syntymiseen sekä minkälainen käsitys valmistuvilla hoitajilla on omista mikrobiologisista näytteenottotaidoistaan. Syy tutkimuksen tekemiseen oli tarve arvioida ammatillisen koulutuksen tuloksellisuutta sekä hakea mikrobiologian opetusalueelta tutkimustietoa opetuksen kehittämiseen ja sisältöjen suuntaamiseen. Tutkimukseen osallistui 21 laboratoriohoitajaopiskelijaa ja 27 sairaanhoitajaopiskelijaa. Opiskelijat olivat viimeiseltä lukukaudelta ja valmistuivat keväällä 1998. Tiedonkeruumenetelmänä oli kyselylomake, jonka alkuosa koostui neljästä mikrobiologisesta näytteenottotilanteesta. Opiskelija vastasi toimintatapansa kertoen ja perustellen, miten hän ottaisi näytteet näissä tilanteissa. Vastaukset ryhmiteltiin käyttäen luokitteluun mukaeltua Solo-taksonomiaa. Koulutusta ja opiskelijan käsityksiä kartoittavat kysymykset olivat joko puolistrukturoituja tai avoimia. Laboratoriohoitajaopiskelijoiden tiedollinen työnhallinta sijoittuu tulosten perusteella tyydyttävän ja hyvän välimaastoon. Sairaanhoitajaopiskelijoiden tietotaso oli heikko ja osin hyvin heikko. Laboratoriohoitajaopiskelijat arvioivat koulutuksen antamia mikrobiologisen näytteenoton valmiuksia pääasiassa hyviksi tai tyydyttäviksi; sairaanhoitajaopiskelijat pitivät opetuksesta saamiaan valmiuksia heikkoina. Näytteenoton arvostusta pidettiin kaiken kaikkiaan matalana, ja tietoa laadukkaasta näytteenotosta arvioitiin puuttuvan työelämässä laajasti. Tutkimuksen perusteella näyttää siltä, ettei valmistuvilla sairaanhoitajilla ole tiedollisia ja taidollisia valmiuksia suoriutua edes perusnäytteenotosta niin, että saatu näyte edustaisi laadukkaasti potilaan tilaa näytteenottohetkellä. Näytteenotto on koko laboratoriotyön prosessin kriittisin vaihe. Jos näyte on otettu, säilytetty tai kuljetettu väärin, paraskaan analyysitekniikka ei pysty tuottamaan siitä potilaan hoitoa oikeaan suuntaan ohjaavaa tulosta. Kaikkien laboratorionäytteiden oton siirtäminen laboratoriohoitajille ja runsaan lisäkoulutuksen anto tälle ammattiryhmälle voisi tuottaa parannuksen vallitsevaan tilanteeseen. Avainsanat: ammattitaito, osaaminen, ammatillinen koulutus, kliinisen mikrobiologian näytteenotto, tiedollinen työnhallinta Keywords: occupational skills, competence, vocational education, collecting of specimen in clinical microbiology, conceptual mastery of work

Sugarcane smut after three years: a policy retrospective.

The detection of sugarcane smut disease (Ustilago scitaminea) in the Bundaberg-Childers region of eastern Australia in 2006 triggered a comprehensive and united response from BSES Limited, Queensland Government and CANEGROWERS. The response to sugarcane smut in the Bundaberg-Childers area was the first test for the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed, an agreement between Australian governments and plant industries to facilitate a response to a plant pest incursion. As part of this response and the subsequent inquiry, economic models of the likely pattern of spread and cost of the smut epidemic were prepared. This paper reviews the predictions of those models in the light of the subsequent three years' experience. It examines reasons for divergence from the modelled outcomes, some of which were good approximations of actual experience.

Interactions between rotation breaks, tillage and N management on sugarcane grown at Bundaberg and Ingham.

The impact of cropping histories (sugarcane, maize and soybean), tillage practices (conventional tillage and direct drill) and fertiliser N in the plant and 1st ratoon (1R) crops of sugarcane were examined in field trials at Bundaberg and Ingham. Average yields at Ingham (Q200) and Bundaberg (Q151) were quite similar in both the plant crop (83 t/ha and 80 t/ha, respectively) and the 1R (89 t/ha v 94 t/ha, respectively), with only minor treatment effects on CCS at each site. Cane yield responses to tillage, break history and N fertiliser varied significantly between sites. There was a 27% yield increase in the plant crop from the soybean fallow at Ingham, with soybeans producing a yield advantage over continuous cane, but there were no clear break effects at Bundaberg - possibly due to a complex of pathogenic nematodes that responded differently to soybeans and maize breaks. There was no carryover benefit of the soybean break into the 1R crop at Ingham, while at Bundaberg the maize break produced a 15% yield advantage over soybeans and continuous cane. The Ingham site recorded positive responses to N fertiliser addition in both the plant (20% yield increase) and 1R (34% yield increase) crops, but there was negligible carryover benefit from plant crop N in the 1R crop, or of a reduced N response after a soybean rotation. By contrast, the Bundaberg site showed no N response in any history in the plant crop, and only a small (5%) yield increase with N applied in the 1R crop. There was again no evidence of a reduced N response in the 1R crop after a soybean fallow. There were no significant effects of tillage on cane yields at either site, although there were some minor interactions between tillage, breaks and N management in the 1R crop at both sites. Crop N contents at Bundaberg were more than 3 times those recorded at Ingham in both the plant and 1R crops, with N concentrations in millable stalk at Ingham suggesting N deficiencies in all treatments. There was negligible additional N recovered in crop biomass from N fertiliser application or soybean residues at the Ingham site. There was additional N recovered in crop biomass in response to N fertiliser and soybean breaks at Bundaberg, but effects were small and fertiliser use efficiencies poor. Loss pathways could not be quantified, but denitrification or losses in runoff were the likely causes at Ingham while leaching predominated at Bundaberg. Results highlight the complexity involved in developing sustainable farming systems for contrasting soil types and climatic conditions. A better understanding of key sugarcane pathogens and their host range, as well as improved capacity to predict in-crop N mineralisation, will be key factors in future improvements to sugarcane farming systems.

Increased profitability through product diversification and improved sugar quality.

The proposed simplified Integrated Sugar Production Process (ISPP) using membrane technology would allow the sugar industry to produce new product streams and higher quality mill sugar with increased sugar extraction efficiency. Membrane filtration technology has proven to be a technically sound process to increase sugar quality. However commercial viability has been uncertain partly because the benefits to crystallisation and sugar quality have not outweighed the increased processing cost. This simplified ISPP produces additional value-added liquid streams to make the membrane fractionation process more financially viable and improve the profitability of sugar manufacture. An experimental study used pilot scale membrane fractionation of clarified mill juice confirmed the technical feasibility of separating inorganic salt and antioxidant rich fractions from cane juice. The paper presents details on the compositions of the liquid streams along with their potential uses, values and challenges in getting these products out to market.

Increased profitability through product diversification and improved sugar quality.

The proposed simplified Integrated Sugar Production Process (ISPP) using membrane technology would allow the sugar industry to produce new product streams and higher quality mill sugar with increased sugar extraction efficiency. Membrane filtration technology has proven to be a technically sound process to increase sugar quality. However commercial viability has been uncertain partly because the benefits to crystallisation and sugar quality have not outweighed the increased processing cost. This simplified ISPP produces additional value-added liquid streams to make the membrane fractionation process more financially viable and improve the profitability of sugar manufacture. An experimental study used pilot scale membrane fractionation of clarified mill juice confirmed the technical feasibility of separating inorganic salt and antioxidant rich fractions from cane juice. The paper presents details on the compositions of the liquid streams along with their potential uses, values and challenges in getting these products out to market. This paper was presented at the 2010 Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists annual conference.