Vol.

5 (3) : 131 - 136 (2003)

SUGAR INDUSTRY
i

Development and Performance of a Sugar Centrifuge

G b a b o Agidi 1 and J.C. I g b e k a 2
1National Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi, EM.B. 8, Bida, Niger State, Nigeria
2University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

A centrifuge having capacity to produce 800kg of sugar per day was designed and fabricated in the National
Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi. It handles one of the unit processing operations in the Institute's cottage
brown sugar processing plant. The machine is made up of a perforated internal basket which is suspended
on a vertical shaft that obtains drive from a 20hp vertical mounted electric motor through pulleys and belts.
The whole machine rests on a U-channel frame. Test result of the machine shows that it has maximum
moisture extraction efficiency of 89-92.4% for a loading capacity of 8-10kg of massercuit per batch. The
machine could also run about 160 cycles per day. The operation of the machine is simple and its maintenance
is also easy. It is thus found useful in the small scale sugar processing industry.

KEYWORDS : Centrifuge, Development, Performance, Brown sugar, Cottage industry

C e n t r i f u g e is one of the e q u i p m e n t used in 1991). Chapman (1963) outlines mechanical factors

processing sugar cane into sugar. It is used for such as strength, corrosion and reliability as parameters
separating the sugar crystal from the molasses after to be considered in the development of centrifugals.
crystallization. All over the world, sugar centrifuges Hugot (1972) also had extensive study on batch type
are classified into two basic categories: continuous and centrifugals and came up with models for predicting
batch types. theoretical and practical volumetric capacities for
different (Conical and Flat bottom) shapes of centrifuge
The continuous type centrifugal are useful in
baskets. Also time per cycle, gravity factor, stress per
advanced (Vaccum pan) processing technologies
unit area of the basket due to centrifugal force,
because of it's complicated features resulting from
permissible thickness of material for the basket and
automation of the system. Unlike low grade continuous
power requirement at starting and at full speed of the
centrifugals, perfection of the development of a high
machine.
grade continuous centrifugal was realized recently in
1995 by Australian researchers (Greig and Bellate, Since batch type centrifugals have been observed
1996). Previous efforts to modify low grade continuous to be more useful in the third world, engineers in the
c e n t r i f u g a l s for curing high grade massercuits National Cereals Research Institute Badeggi undertook
throughout the world yielded only little success (Credoz the development of an adoptable model for utilization
et al., 1977; de Robillard and Journet, 1980; Swindlells in small sugar processing industries in developing
and Kinby, 1981). According to Greig et al., (1992) countries. Accordingly, this paper highlights the design,
and Kirby et al. (1990), the breakthrough in the machine features and performance of the batch type
development of the prototype continuous centrifugal centrifugal machine that was designed and fabricated
called STG became possible after Goodacre et al. in the National Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi as
(1984) suggested some possible design modifications one of the component equipment in the Nigeria's
in the existing ones to o v e r c o m e the difficulties indegeneous brown sugar processing plant.
mentioned above.
Design Analysis
Batch type centrifugals operate i n t e r m i t t e n t l y
between cycles. These have been in the sugar industries Design analysis aimed at determining the necessary
before 1960 and are mo~re useful in the third world design parameters for selection of the various machine
because of its comparable lower sophistication (Gbabo, parts were carried out. This was done in order to avoid
failures of machine parts during the required working
Author for Correspondence : G. Agidi life of the machine.

131
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Fig. 4 : Front view

1840

Fig. 2: PLAIN

Fig. 2 : Plan

04

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Fig. 3 : Left hand side view

Legend for Figures 1

I Fig. 5 : X-Sectional Sketch of Centrifuge Showing Power

A - Outer basket G- Moll~s~s outlet D,,- Diameter o f ilmer basket |
B - Inner b,asket II - Belts P, - Central pipe
C - Central shaft
D - Braking lillka~e
1 - Electric motor
J - El~tric motor frarae
B p - Base plate
DI - Diameter of machine pulley
Transmission System
E - Brakin~ d r u m K - centl5 fuge pulley D : _ Diameter o f m a e h i l l e p u l l e y
I+ - m a c h i n e [ i ' a m c L - Electric motor pulley C - Center to center ~acing b ~ w e e n M ~ h i n e and motor pul
M - Flange
basket for separation of the sugar crystals is obtained
by using the generally estab-lished equation.
Power Requirement
P = FTV .............. (1)
The p o w e r required to drive the m a c h i n e (internal
basket) is a function o f the m a s s o f the internal basket, W h e r e P is the p o w e r required.
its content, f l a n g e s and the central shaft that transmits
p o w e r f r o m the e l e c t r i c m o t o r to the b a s k e t through F T is the total force of the basket, its content, the
p u l l e y s and belts as s h o w n in Figs 5 and 7. central shaft and flanges (N)

Hence the p o w e r required to rotate or drive the V is the v e l o c i t y o f the b a s k e t at full s p e e d ( m / s e c ) .

132
 A fabrication o f the internal basket was expected to bt
B
adequate enough to withstand the expected stress in
order to avoid possible basket failure while in operation.

t 1
= ==m-w===.u==~.uml===m#a== '
The formula for determining the stress per unit area
- - ~ . = . = = = t ~ ===mlm=
on the wall o f the basket established by Kreg (1975)
was utilized.
VX MT o 2 r M T 03 2 D

(Yb = 7tDH = . ............. (3)

2nDH

Fig. 6 : Sketch (plan) showing the Direction of Centrifugal Force MT co2

.............. (4)
nH
Dl where Gb is stress on the wall of the internal basket
< I > (N/m 2)

r is the radius o f the basket (m).

M T is total mass of basket, its content and shaft
assembly in kg.
L - - - - - - - - - - 7. 7. 7. 7~..-"".-----~ H is height of basket (m).
i
i Pc
m and D have been defined.
!
I
I Allowable tickness of material for the c o n s t r u c t i o n
..... 1 ~/ Bp
of the internal basket
Fig. 7 : Sketch of Internal Basket
In order to withstand the expected stress on the
walls o f the basket, an appropriate thickness o f the
material (stainless steel sheet) was d e t e r m i n e d to
prevent avoidable basket failures. Kreg (1976) stated
qr
that the thickness o f the wall of the basket to withstand
DI the stress is a function of the unit stress that acts on
the wall, the diameter of the basket and the m a x i m u m
Iq c ;', permissible stress of the material as shown below:
G~D
Fig. 8 : Sketch of Transmission System Using V-Belt tb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (5)
2~p

Centrifugal force generated in the internal basket where t b is the thickness o f the basket (m).
A centrifugal force is set up in the basket due to the Gp is the permissible stress of the material of the
rotation o f the internal basket while working. In line basket (N/m2).
with the principle of centrifugal force, the direction o f
Gb and D have been previously defined.
action o f the force is f r o m the center towards the
periphery of the basket as shown in fig. 6. Twisting M o m e n t
The centrifugal force generated was determined by The high r o t a t i n g speed o f the shaft w h i c h is
applying the equation attached to the internal basket is subjected to a twisting
M.r w2 D moment. In order for the shaft not to fail, the value of
Fc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) the twisting m o m e n t generated is expected to be within
2
the permissible limit in order to avoid failure o f the
w h e r e Fc is c e n t r i f u g a l f o r c e generated in the shaft. The expression of Juvinall (1976) was used to
internal basket (N/m) determine the expected twisting m o m e n t o f the shaft
M T is the total mass o f basket, its content, shaft and as shown below.
the two flanges used in (Kg) coupling the internal
basket to the central shaft. Mt = 60w .............. (6)
2nN
W is angular velocity o f internal basket (rad/sec) = 9.55W
D is diameter of the internal basket (m) N .............. (7)
Stress in the internal basket Where Mt is twisting m o m e n t (Nm).
The walls of the internal basket is subjected to stress
N is speed of rotation o f the shaft (rev. per sec.)
(shown in Fig. 6) due to the action of the centrifugal
force. Thus the strength of the material chosen for the W is power transmitted (watts).

133
Torsional shear stress Diameter of Shaft
The Torsional shear stress of the shaft was computed The diameter of the shaft to transmit power to the
as a function of the twisting moment, diameter and internal basket is dependent on the twisting moment
second moment of area as expressed by Webb (1982): (Torque) on the shaft and the permissible shear stress
of the material of make (stainless steel) of the shaft as
MI D
T- . ............. (8) shown (Holman 1969).
2J
(16 mt db)~
where T is the torsional shear stress (N/m 2) d s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (12)
0tp~)
m t is twisting moment (Nm.)
Where ds is diameter of shaft.
D is diameter of shaft (m)
7td 4 m t is twisting m o m e n t (Torque) on the shaft
J is polar moment of area (m4) - developed due to the rotation of the internal basket
32
~d 4 fastened onto the shaft with the aid of a lock bolt (Nm).
By substituting J = in equation .............. (8)
32
G is permissible shear stress of stainless steel =
16mr
T- 115 x 106 N/m2 (Anon, 1978 and 1979)
xd 3
d b is diameter of internal basket (m).
Bending stress
Pulleys and belt for power
The bending stress at any section of the shaft was
calculated once the bending moment diagram was transmission V-belts and pulleys were used to
obtained from the usual bending stress equation: transmit power from the electric motor to the machine
due to their ability to absorb vibration, suitability for
My
transmitting power at relatively larger distance,
CYb -- . ............. (9)
d~ quietness while in operation, long trouble free life span,
and easy detection of fault.
Where o b is b e n d i n g stress at section under
consideration (Nm). Length of belt and angle of contact

My is b e n d i n g moment at section under The length of belt required to transmit power from
consideration (Nm) the motor to the machine is a function of the diameters
of the two pulleys and center to center distance between
d the two pulleys and is expressed by the following
Y - is distance from axis of shaft (m)
z
7td 4
established formulae.
I is second moment of area - for solid shaft
64 rt (D2 - D1) 2
(m4).
LT = T (D2 + Dr) + 2C + 4 ...... (13)
~d 4
Substituting I - 64 in equation .............. (9)
where L v is total belt length required in m.
32 M
o - . ............. (10) D l, D 2 and (have been defined).
7zd 3
The angle of contact between the belt and pulley
Radial deformation in shaft
depends on the diameters of the two pulleys (drive and
The shaft that transmits power to the internal basket driven), the center to center distance between the two
was expected to experience deformation due to the pulleys and the orientation or mode of usage of the
torsional shear stress it is subjected, The extent of belt (either open or cross). In this design, open belt is
distortion (deformation) depends on: the torsional shear employed (Fig. 9) for the transmission of power from
stress, length, modulus of rigidity and radius of the the electric motor to the machine because of the absence
shaft (Ryder 1982). of rubbing action of the two sides of the belt that might
cause wear while working unlike the cross belt hence
TL
- ~,- . ............. (11)
would ensure durability.
The angles of contact of the belt with the drive and
Where f is the radial deformation, shear strain or driven pulley is determined from the equation.
angle of twist.
(D 2 - D 0
T is the maximum torsional shear stress of the shaft dPl = 180~ + 2sinl 2c .............. (14)
(N/m2).
( D : - D~)
L is the length of the shaft (m). ~2 = 180~ - 2sin'l 2c .............. (15)
G is the modulus of rigidity (N/m).
where qbI is the angle of contact between the belt
R is the radius of the shaft (m). and motor pulley (degrees).

134
 (D2 is the a n g l e o f c o n t a c t b e t w e e n the belt and Where Mm = Mass of evaporated moisture
m a c h i n e p u l l e y (degrees). (kg)
D l is the d i a m e t e r o f m o t o r pulley in m. M T = Total Mass o f moist s u g a r (kg)
D 2 is the d i a m e t e r o f m a c h i n e pui]ey in m. M d = M a s s o f dried sugar (kg).
c is the center to center d i s t a n c e b e t w e e n the m o t o r (2) Centrifugal efficiency
and m a c h i n e p u l l e y s (m).
Me
Performance Assessment /'Icy - Me + mm X 100% .............. (17)
The m a c h i n e was tested to assess it's efficiency in
W h e r e M o = M a s s o f m o l a s s e s (kg)
s e p a r a t i n g m a s s e r c u i t into s u g a r crystal and molasses.
M m and M T have been p r e v i o u s l y defined.
MATERIALS AND METHOD
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION
F o u r s a m p l e s o f sugar m a s s e r c u i t w e i g h i n g 8.0 kg,
10.0 kg, 12.0 kg and 14.0 kg in three r e p l i c a t i o n s w e r e The result o f the c e n t r i f u g a t i o n test is shown in
i n t r o d u c e d into the centrifuge. The m a c h i n e was put T a b l e s 1 and 2. It i n d i c a t e s that t h e c e n t r i f u g a l
on for a period of 45 s e c o n d s to separate the m a s s e r c u i t efficiency of the m a c h i n e d e c r e a s e d with i n c r e a s i n g
into s u g a r crystal and m o l a s s e s . The spinning p e r i o d load. A l s o s o m e quantity o f a g g r e g a t e d sugar were
o f 45 s e c o n d s was c h o s e n b e c a u s e p r e l i m i n a r y tests o b t a i n e d for the 12kg and 14kg m a s s e e r c u i t . In
c o n d u c t e d on the m a c h i n e shows that c o m p l e t e p u r g i n g addition, s o m e v i b r a t i o n t e n d e n c y of the m a c h i n e was
o f m o l a s s e s from the m a s s e r c u i t was a c c o m p l i s h e d c l e a r l y o b s e r v e d f o r the h i g h e r l e v e l s o f s u g a r
w i t h i n 30-35 s e c o n d s . The wet s u g a r c r y s t a l and massercuit. It is the v i b r a t i o n t e n d e n c y o f the m a c h i n e
m o l a s s e s were w e i g h e d with a w e i g h i n g b a l a n c e ( B A W at the 12kg a n d 14kg l o a d that m u s t h a v e b e e n
7210). The sugar was then d r i e d with a l a b o r a t o r y responsible for the lower centrifrugal efficiency because
electric rotary d r y e r from 55% to 10% moisture content. the centrifugal force d e v e l o p e d u n d e r this v i b r a t o r y
The w e i g h t of the dried s u g a r was r e c o r d e d and the c o n d i t i o n are distorted. Thus less c e n t r i f u g a l force is
quantity of evaporated moisture and centrifugal g e n e r a t e d to e x p e l the v o i d a n d b o u n d m o l a s s e s
e f f i c i e n c y of the m a c h i n e were c o m p u t e d as follows: b e t w e e n and w i t h i n the s u g a r c r y s t a l s . F r o m this
observation, a m a x i m u m m a s s e r c u i t l o a d o f 10kg is
(1) Mass of evaporated moisture :
found to be m o r e suitable for the o p e r a t i o n o f the
Mm = M T- Md .............. (16) centrifuge. Also, considering a maximum sugar

Table - 1 : Centrifugation data

Mass of Mass of Mass of Time taken to Mass of Mass o f evaporated

massercuit (kg) moist sugar (kg) molasses (kg) separate sugar dried sugar (kg) moisture during drying

8.0 4.0 3.9 128 3.52 0.48

8.0 4.2 3.6 135 3.77 0.43
8.0 3.9 3.8 131 3.5 0.4
10.0 5.6 4.2 120 5.1 0.5
10.0 5.2 4.7 140 4.7 0.5
10.0 5.5 4.3 125 4.9 0.6

12.0 7.0 4.8 122 6.0 1.0

12.0 7.3 4.5 130 5.8 1.5
12.0 7.1 4.8 132 6.2 0.9

14.0 9.0 4.8 118 7.3 1.7

14.0 9.01 4.8 123 7.0 2.1
14.0 8.8 5.0 136 7.3 1.5

"Fable - 2 : Average Values of Centrifugation data and machine efficiency

Mass of Mass of Mass of Sugar Discharge Mass of Mass of Total Mass of Centrifugal
massercuit moist sugar mollasses period (sec) dried sugar evaporated mollasses and efficiency (%)
(kg) (kg) (kg) (kg) sugar (kg) moisture (kg)

8.0 4.03 3.77 3.6 131.33 0.48 4.08 93.4

10.0 5.43 4.4 4.9 128.3 0.53 4.93 89.25

12.0 7.13 4.7 6.0 128.0 1.13 5.83 80.62

14.0 8.96 4.8 7.2 125.7 1.77 6.64 73.3

135
discharge period of 136 seconds the m a c h i n e can run Goodacre, B.C., Bristow, H.C. and Conor, R. (1984). Continuous
160 cycles per day o f 8hrs working period. At this centrifugal development for high grade massercuit. Sugar Ind.
Technology paper 507.
rate, about 800kg of s u g a r can be produced per day.
Greig, C.R. and Belloti, A. (1996). The successful development
REFERENCES of a continuous centrifugal for high grade sugars Zuckerindustrie
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Hugot, E. (1972). Capacities of batch type centrifugals In:
Anonymous (1978). Metric Keys and Keyways British Standard Handbook of Cane Sugar Engineering Elsvier publishing company,
Institution, 2 park Street, London, W.1. Amsterdam.
Chapman, F.M. (1963). Factors Affecting Centrifugal Operations Juvienall, R.C. (1976). Engineering Consideration of stress, strain
Principles of sugar Technology Vol. III, Elsvier, Amsterdam. and strength. McGraw Hill Company, New York.
Credoz, P., Jounet, G. and Ledoun (1977). Development of Kreg, E. (1975). Stress in Centrifugals In: Principles of Sugar
Continuous Centrifugals in the area of high purity sugar. Ind Alimeat
Technology, Voi. IIl. Elsvier, Amsterdam.
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Ryder, G.H. (1982). Strength of Materials Mc Millan Press limited,
De Robilard, J.P. and Journet, G. (1980). Preliminary appraisal
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of continuous centrifugal operating on "A meassecuit at lllovo
factory. Proceedings of South Africa Sugar Technology Association, Swindells, R.J. and Kurhy, L.K. (1981). Continuous high grade
54 : 812-86. massercuit separation. Proceedings of Australian Society of
Sugarcane Technology, 2 : 201-209.
Gbabo, A. (1991). Design and fabrication of A centrifuge for
separating palm oil and sugar crystals. Paper delivered at the Web, C. (1982), Shafts in Alloy Steels. The Internal Nickel
Agric. Engineering Departmental Seminar University of Ibadan, Company (Mond) limited. Thomas House, London.
Ibadan.

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