Mill Material Balance

CHAPTER VI
ABSORPTION ABILITY FACTOR AND BAGASSE WEIGHT
Bagasse has the character of expanding when leaving the feed work opening, as well as when
leaving the delivery work opening in a unit of mill. The expanding character of bagasse has
influenced the amount of extracted juice, where part of the juice will be re-absorbed during it
passing through each of the work opening. Then it is understood that the no-void volume of
bagasse will be greater than the escribed volume of the work opening respectively.
The ratio between the no-void volume of bagasse and the escribed volume of work opening in
the same unit time is called the absorption ability factor, which is symbolized with r.
The value is not the same with the value of so called the re-absorption factor.
The re-absorption factor is the ratio between the no-void volume of bagasse contained with
juice and the no-void volume of bagasse without juice in it (fully dry).
The value of re-absorption factor, logically increasing from the ultimate up to the penultimate
mills, because bagasse becomes respectively dryer from the first up to the last mill. In fact the
milling of cane practiced, bagasse is not freely expanded when pressed by the rollers, the space
still limited by the gap / work opening between the two rollers. And that is why the occasion
would not the same with the term logically occurred to the re-absorption factor mentioned
above. The value of the absorption ability factor is decreasing from the first to the ensuing
mills. Because this is merely the ability to absorb the juice back, while the occurrence is still
limited by the gap of work openings, and is not the absorption in a free space (atmospheric
condition).
We can write the absorption ability factor occurred in feed opening:

Where
and

:
:

Vbf
rf = ----------- ............................................ (11)
Vef
Vbf = no-void volume of bagasse exhausted by the feed opening
Vef = escribed volume of the feed opening

The absorption ability factor of the delivery opening:

Vb = no-void volume of bagasse exhausted by the delivery opening

The space behind the feed opening is still narrow, limited by the top roller surface and the trash
plate. Hence the expansion made by the bagasse exhausted by the feed opening is not as free as
when exhausted by the delivery opening. The narrow space behind the feed opening limits the

Absorption Ability Factor and Bagasse Weight

VI-1

Mill Material Balance

expansion of bagasse; the ability to absorb back the juice is smaller if compared to the ability of
absorption occurred at the delivery opening.
With another word, the absorption ability factor of the feed opening is smaller than the
absorption ability factor occurred in the delivery opening.
Thus :

rf < r

The value of absorption ability factor for the feed opening is similarly the same for each mill in
the tandem. The predicted average value is:
rf 1.1
Further to equation (12):
r
Or

Vb
= ------Ved

Vb = r.Ved ................................................... (13)

If equation (10) and equation (13) combined, then well find:

hence :

The no-void density of fiber (df) is a little less than the density of cellulose.
According to E. Hugot1), the density of cellulose is 1.55 kg/dm3 and the density of cane fiber is
a little less, that is around 1.52 kg/dm3.
For the purpose of calculation the use of empirical formula hereunder, which is based upon the
ambient humidity is relevant to define the no-void density of fiber, that is:
df
Whereas

df
H

1.52 x 152
100 + 0.52 H

... (15)

= no-void density of fiber in kg/dm3

Based on the experience made by the writer, the maximum value of the no-void density of fiber
or bagasse under pressure could be also calculated by the empirical formula mentioned above.
But it is advisable a periodical compression test should be carried out during the season to
determine the most appropriate value of the subject density. This compression test is best
implemented by self-made hydraulic press, and is carried out weekly during the crushing season.
1)

Handbook of Cane Sugar Engineering, 1972, page 134

Absorption Ability Factor and Bagasse Weight

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Mill Material Balance

Based on the above description, then the weight of bagasse exhausted by a unit of mill is:
Wb = df.Ved ............................................. (16)
Also
then

:
:

Wb = db .Vb
db.Vb = df.Ved
We know, that : Vb = r.Ved
so
:
r.db .Ved = df.Ved
hence :
r.db = df
Substitution of r.db = df to equation (14), well have:
df - dej
Ved --------------- Vf ..................................... (14a)
df - r.dej
Substitution of this equation to the equation (16), resulting a general formula to calculate the
weight of bagasse exhausted by a unit of mill:
(df - dej) df.Vf
Wb ---------------------df - r.dej
Because df.Vf = Wf, then:
(df - dej)
Wb --------------- Wf ..................... (17)
df - r.dej
Although the work openings known when they were set, but practically the actual average work
openings during operation were not known, especially the operation of mills provided with
hydraulic or spring.
Therefore, if the value of Ved in equation (14a) and the value of Wb in equation (17), each
constitute the average value for the unit, then the inherent value of absorption ability factor
constitutes the normal value for the respective mill.
And that means we could write the formula of the normal absorption ability factor for any mill
in the tandem:
df.Ved - (df - dej) Vf
r' ------------------------------ ......................... (18)
dej.Ved
Hence, the formula for the average bagasse weight of any mill unit (equation 17) becomes:
(df - dej)
Wb --------------- Wf ........................... (17a)
df - r'.dej
The normal value of absorption ability factor for any mill unit in the tandem (n) is a little smaller
than the normal value occurred in the ultimate mill (n-1). It experienced approximately equals to
the logarithmic of the mass value, or r'n = r'n-1 . log 9.81.

Absorption Ability Factor and Bagasse Weight

VI-3