Purity and uniformity are two of the most valued traits in the sugar industry. Upholding these values requires selecting the right equipment to produce sugar products.
Wire mesh screen sections, known for their versatility, are an ideal screen solution for ensuring consistent operational success. But how exactly do wire mesh screen sections benefit sugar production?
With over 150 years of wire weaving experience, W.S. Tyler is dedicated to providing the knowledge needed to craft solutions that will enhance your operation's performance and reliability.
With that, the following article will cover:
- What the sugar production process looks like
- What a wire mesh screen section is
- How wire mesh screen sections impact the production of sugar
- Creating a wire mesh screen section tailored to sugar production
What Process Do Plants Use To Produce Sugar?
The production of sugar starts with a harvesting process. Raw sugar cane or sugar beets are harvested and cleaned, removing dirt and other unwanted debris.
At this point, sugar-rich juices are drawn after crushing the sugar cane or sugar beets. This juice is treated to naturalize the natural acids and settle unwanted impurities.
A filtration process that leverages mediums like woven wire mesh is also implemented to remove larger particles that the initial treatment can't handle.
Once purified, the sugar juice is heated to extract water, producing a thick syrup. The syrup is then placed in a vacuum to begin forming sugar crystals.
To separate the crystals from the remaining elements of the syrup, they are placed in a centrifuge filter. Once separated, the sugar crystals are taken to a dehydration/drying station to remove any remaining water.
At this point, dry sugar crystals are placed onto a vibrating screen to be separated and classified by size. The crystals can then be packaged and shipped for consumption.
What Is a Wire Mesh Screen Section?
A wire mesh screen section is a screening element constructed by weaving hundreds of metal wires. This centuries-old technique forms weave patterns outfitted with uniform and precise pore openings.
Note: Screen sections are typically available in slotted or plain weave pattern variants.
Virtually every aspect of these screens can be customized, including the alloy, weave pattern, and hook profile. This is because they are easily adaptable to most vibrating screening machines.
Read the article below to gain a comprehensive understanding of how a wire mesh screen section is made:
How Does Wire Mesh Screen Sections Benefit Sugar Production?
Wire mesh is used at various stages of the sugar prediction process, including the initial filtration of the sugar juice. In the screen section, however, it is used to separate and classify the final sugar crystals.
Multiple screen sections are placed into a vibrating screen, which utilizes controlled vibrations to agitate the sugar crystals. This agitation causes the crystal to travel across the surface of the mesh to find the openings.
This action sorts the sugar crystals by size, ensuring consumers receive a uniform, high-quality sugar.
NOTE: The wire mesh screen section's screening functions also serve as a final screening to remove impurities.
Implementing a wire mesh screen section methodically throughout the specifications can improve the purity and quality of sugar while also speeding up operation speeds.
Create a Screen Section Custom to Sugar Production
As stated above, the properties of wire mesh screen sections empower you to fabricate a solution tailored to your exact needs. That said, W.S. Tyler offers food-proven hook strips and a duplex alloy that can b.to ensure your screen sections produce industry-leading sugar batches.
Food Proven Hook Strip
Food-proven hook strips are designed to meet the demanding guidelines associated with the food and beverage industry. These hooks stand out because the mesh screen is welded directly to the hook hardware.
Additionally, the seam of the weld is sealed with an FDA-approved adhesive. This construction ensures no food particles can get stuck in the hook, potentially contaminating future sugar batches.
Duplex
The production can often create an atmosphere with concentrated moisture and acid. For this reason, you must select an alloy that can perform under the harshest circumstances.
Duplex, for example, is widely used to construct wire mesh screen sections as it delivers optimal durability and corrosion resistance. This means it can withstand the constant stress of abrasive crystals passing through the surface while combating pitting and stress corrosion.
Duplex offers the performance needed to prevent premature wear, corrosion, and costly downtime.
Open the Door to Peak Screening Performance in Sugar Production
Wire mesh screen sections play a pivotal role in achieving optimal screening results in your sugar production process. When you implement the correct specifications, they can ensure accurate particle classification, effectively remove pesky impurities, and improve overall operational success.
To further maximize the performance of your wire mesh screen sections, you must take the time to understand every aspect of the weave you use. One of the more critical parameters that most customers need to consider is the percentage of open area, a specification that impacts the precision and flow capacity of the weave.
W.S. Tyler has specialized in weaving tailor-made wire mesh solutions for over 150 years and is committed to helping refine your process and improve product quality.
Read on to discover how your screen section's percentage of open area can be leveraged to improve your sugar production process: