Abstract: A water heater system that includes a first water storage tank plumbed in series with a second water storage tank, and methods for controlling such a water heater system. In some instances, and in response to a water draw, a controller may activate both a first heat source associated with a first water storage tank and a second heat source associated for a second water storage tank. This rapid turn-on control may help reduce a drop in water temperature in the first water storage tank that might otherwise occur. The controller may also increase the setpoint temperature of the first water storage tank and/or the second water storage tank in response to a water draw.

Abstract: A chain driven diffuser for use in a sugar extraction process, the diffuser including a diffuser floor, a plurality of chain ladder assemblies being displaceable relative to the diffuser floor, with each chain Id-der assembly comprising two opposing chains being driven by drive sprockets characterized in that at least some of the drive sprockets of the diffuser are driven independently from some of the other drive sprockets of the diffusor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transporting a product within a diffuser during a continuous lixiviation process. The apparatus comprises at least one screen deck for the continuous lixiviation process and at least one longitudinal transport zone, the longitudinal transport zone extending between an inlet and outlet of the diffuser. The transport zone may include a plurality of transport zones. A drive means is arranged to move the longitudinal transport zone at a first speed towards the outlet end of the diffuser and to retract the longitudinal transport zone at a second speed which is substantially faster than the first speed towards the inlet end of the diffuser, so that the transport zone drive the product towards the outlet of the diffuser.

Abstract: A diffusion apparatus for extraction of sugar from sugar cane has a vertically-diposed annular extracting compartment including a revolving screen deck contained within a fixed inner shell and a fixed outer shell. The revolving screen is supported on rollers and driven by any suitable elements. The comminuted sugar cane is fed into the compartment and extracting liquid is moved countercurrent and exits through an outlet.

Abstract: The invention is a process for recrystallizing sugar. The invention involves admixing a first quantity of a powdered sugar and a second quantity of an adjuvant, such as an invert sugar, to provide a sugar blend. The sugar blend has up to about 3 percent moisture. The invention then involves mixing the sugar blend with a high shear extruding means at a temperature between about 220.degree. F. and about 300.degree. F. with a residence time in the extruding means of between about 0.5 second and about 12 seconds. The invention includes the product of a combined phase recrystallized sugar.

Abstract: A diffusion apparatus for use in the extraction of sugar cane juice from "prepared" sugar cane, comprises a lixiviation tank, a diffusion tank containing imbibition water and a conveyor for conveying the sugar cane from the lixiviation tank along a serpentine-like path through the diffusion tank. The diffusion tank has a rear end, a front end, two spaced sides and a base. The diffusion tank includes a plurality of spaced upright partition members which decrease in height in step-fashion from the rear end of the diffusion tank towards the front end thereof. Imbibition water is introduced into the diffusion tank at the rear end thereof and cascades towards the front end of the tank. Sugar cane is conveyed through the diffusion tank on support trays that are carried on chains along the serpentine-like path against the flow of imbibition water in the tank.

Abstract: The invention is a process for recrystallizing sugar. The invention involves admixing a first quantity of a powdered sugar and a second quantity of an adjuvant, such as an invert sugar, to provide a sugar blend. The sugar blend has up to about 3 percent moisture. The invention then involves mixing the sugar blend with a high shear extruding means at a temperature between about 220.degree. F. and about 300.degree. F. with a residence time in the extruding means of between about 0.5 second and about 12 seconds. The invention includes the product of a combined phase recrystallized sugar.

Abstract: A continuous countercurrent process is provided of extracting juice from a bed of fibrous material such as sugar cane, the process comprising a plurality of stages, preferably three, with each stage including the removal of air, displacement of juice by a true plug-flow process, and drainage of the displaced juice and displacing medium.

Abstract: In a process for solid-liquid extraction, in particular of sucrose from beet cossettes, countercurrent extraction in an extraction tower is employed. The tower juice is drawn off together with the small-sized solid constituents obtained in the process, such as sand, essentially exclusively via side screens.

Abstract: The invention is a process for recrystallizing sugar. The invention involves admixing a first quantity of a powdered sugar and a second quantity of an adjuvant, such as an invert sugar, to provide a sugar blend. The sugar blend has up to about 3 percent moisture. The invention then involves mixing the sugar blend with a high shear extruding means at a temperature between about 220.degree. F. and about 300.degree. F. with a residence time in the extruding means of between about 0.5 second and about 12 seconds. The invention includes the product of a combined phase recrystallized sugar.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for continuous preheating of powdered starch in the preparation of modified starch are disclosed. The powdered starch (1) is fed into a preheating circuit including an inlet opening (2) for powdered starch in a conduit (3), and is pneumatically conveyed in the conduit by a hot air flow. When the powdered starch has been preheated by the air to the desired temperature, it is separated from the air in a separating device (4), whereupon the air is recycled in the circuit via a conduit (5), a fan (10) and a heat exchanger (14) for reheating the air, back to the inlet opening (2) for conveying and preheating of a fresh quantity of powdered starch. If necessary, excess air can be removed from, or supplementary air be supplied to, the preheating circuit.

Abstract: A counterflow single-screw extractor includes a screw conveyor having a helical scroll formed from arcuate flight sections each having a plurality of elongated slots extending away from the direction of screw rotation and permitting the flow of effluent through the product and the flights in a manner controlled by the size, number, and orientation of the slots. The slots permit efficient extraction using relatively little extraction medium and at the same time permit a single-screw extractor to be used without having to periodically reverse the direction of screw rotation to unclog the slots and by the pitch of the screw conveyor. The inventive arrangement permits the use of a multi-section extractor employing different extraction media and/or different extraction media wash rates in different sections of the extractor.

Abstract: Apparatus for conditioning freshly ground confectioners' sugar employs a closed vessel with an inlet for unconditioned sugar, an outlet for conditioned sugar, and an agitating unit which is installed in the vessel and not only agitates the admitted material but also conveys it toward the outlet into the range of a feed screw. The bottom of the vessel is permeable to gases and receives air which has been conditioned to have an optimum temperature and moisture content prior to admission into the vessel. Spent air is evacuated through a duct which contains a filter serving to intercept conditioned sugar. The conditioned air can heat or cool, increase the moisture content or reduce the moisture content of sugar in the vessel.

Abstract: The process and the continuously working installation are intended for the extraction or flushing out of a substance from a heterogenous system with a solid phase of fibrous or granular material by means of a liquid, which, in the course of the process, forms a liquid phase which is increasingly loaded with the substance to be extracted or flushed out. The solid phase (2) is advanced in the installation with conveyor means (9. 9', 9"). the liquid phase (4, 4', 4") passes through the installation substantially in the opposite direction to the solid phase. Elements (30, 31, 32, 30', 31', 32', 30", 31", 32") for compressing and decompressing the solid phase (2) are disposed along the path of the solid phase (2) through the installation which may consist of several treatment stages (5, 5', 5") connected in series. Means for drawing off at least a part of the liquid phase are foreseen in each of the compression zones.

Abstract: Liquids, such as sugar cane juices, are removed from fibrous materials by an apparatus which receives the fibrous, felt type or matted materials in strand form, for example from a sugar cane diffuser. Two hollow compression rollers having perforated circumferential walls are pressed toward each other for working in a compression range of about 0.5 kg/cm.sup.2 to about 50 kg/cm.sup.2, and form a material feed-in gap facing substantially upwardly. The rollers are arranged above liquid collecting troughs. Lateral funnel forming walls sealingly close the ends of the feed-in gap so that the rollers together with these lateral walls form a feed-in funnel. Material entraining members cover the holes in the perforated circumferential roller walls but with a spacing between the outer roller wall surface and the respective entraining member to form a liquid flow channel into each hole. The material is supplied into the feed-in gap through a substantially vertically extending chute reaching to or into said funnel.

Abstract: The liquid content of sugar cane bagasse is reduced by a low pressure process having a substantially longer duration than the duration of prior art high pressure liquid removal processes. For this purpose the liquid containing bagasse, as it emerges from a diffuser, is exposed to a relatively slowly increasing yet low pressure as compared to prior art high pressures, whereby the bagasse travels with a substantially constant speed sequentially through a dewatering zone, wherein a further compaction takes place, a preliminary squeeze-out zone and a final squeeze-out zone. During the preliminary squeeze-out the pressure above an open surface area or section without a sieve or screen is about 0.2 kg/cm.sup.2. During the final squeeze-out the pressure (p) is about p/0.6D>0.003, wherein D is the diameter, in mm, of a squeeze-out roller. The pressing duration t in seconds is also related to the squeeze-out roller diameter D such that D:t is smaller than a constant value K.

Abstract: The liquid content of sugar cane bagasse is reduced by a low pressure process having a substantially longer duration than the duration of prior art high pressure liquid removal processes. For this purpose the liquid containing bagasse, as it emerges from a diffuser, is exposed to a relatively slowly increasing yet low pressure as compared to prior art high pressures, whereby the bagasse travels with a substantially constant speed sequentially through a dewatering zone, wherein a further compaction takes place, a preliminary squeeze-out zone and a final squeeze-out zone. During the preliminary squeeze-out the pressure above an open surface area or section without a sieve or screen is about 0.2 kg/cm.sup.2. During the final squeeze-out the pressure (p) is about p/0.6D>0.003, wherein D is the diameter, in mm, of a squeeze-out roller. The pressing duration t in seconds is also related to the squeeze-out roller diameter D such that D:t is smaller than a constant value K 16.

Abstract: Disclosed is a maceration system of the type generally used in the grinding and juice extraction of sugar cane. The last mill has a roll and feed and discharge bottom rolls with elongated trash plate spanning the space between the bottom rolls. Separate troughs extend below each of the bottom rolls to catch and separate juice therefrom. The top roll has longitudinal flow passageways around it opening into ports in the roll surface and water is introduced through these passgeways to flow into the pulp moving over the trashplate to the discharge roll, and the juice from below the discharge roll is directed to the pulp moving to the feed roll. In the case of multiple mills in tandem, the juice recovered from the feed roll is directed to the top roll passageways of the previous mill and the juice from the discharge roll of that mill is directed to the feed roll thereof.

Abstract: A mill, particularly a mill for extracting juice from cane sugar, has a fixed top roller (24), and feed discharge rollers (25) and (26) which are independently pivotable by respective power operated means (47, 51) to vary the feed opening between the feed roller and top roller and the discharge opening between discharge roller and top roller. A trash plate (55) for transferring material between the feed opening and the discharge opening is connected to the feed roller for pivotable movement therewith.

Abstract: Method of improving the recovery of sugar from sugar beets comprising washing the sugar beets to remove impurities therefrom, wholly or partially removing the outer layer of the washed sugar beets, slicing the sugar beets thus obtained and extracting the sliced sugar beets with an aqueous solution to form a sugar juice.Apparatus for wholly or partially removing the surface layer of washed sugar beets, the apparatus comprising two spaced rows of rotatable cylindrical brushes mounted so as to advance sugar beets in the space between the rows while subjecting them to the influence of the brushes to wholly or partially remove the outer layer of the sugar beets.

Abstract: A sugar cane mill facility for the extraction with imbibition of sugar from sugar cane.This mill is characterized by the fact that it includes a fourth roller placed in front of the upper roller, against which it presses and, above the inlet roller and mounted on a mobile support, means acting upon the said support in order to flexibly push the fourth roller towards the upper roller, adjustable stops hindering these two rollers from coming together, and a trash plate placed between the fourth roller and the inlet roller integral with the said mobile support. The juices extracted by pressure between the upper roller and the fourth roller can be recycled to the bagasse layer feeding the mill, either with the juices which have passed through this layer, or with the juices extracted by pressure between the upper roller and the inlet and outlet rollers.

Abstract: Continuous hydrolysis to produce sugars is effected by cyclically immersing a solid, divided lignocellulosic material in a bath of concentrated hydrochloric acid and draining the material between successive immersions so as to dissolve the produced sugars, until the sugar concentration of the acid in the bath has attained a desired value.The solid material and the liquid acid are delivered to a tubular horizontal rotary reactor arranged to provide a bath of the acid, to produce a rotating movement for cyclical immersion of the solid material in the bath of acid and longitudinally displace the solid material undergoing hydrolysis together with the acid of the bath and to continuously discharge solid residue and acid containing dissolved sugars due to overflow by gravity at an outlet end of the reactor.

Abstract: Continuous hydrolysis to produce sugars is effected by cyclically immersing a solid, divided lignocellulosic material in a bath of concentrated hydrochloric acid and draining the material between successive immersions so as to dissolve the produced sugars, until the sugar concentration of the acid in the bath has attained a desired value.The solid material and the liquid acid are delivered to a tubular horizontal rotary reactor arranged to provide a bath of the acid, to produce a rotating movement for cyclical immersion of the solid material in the bath of acid and longitudinally displace the solid material undergoing hydrolysis together with the acid of the bath and to continuously discharge solid residue and acid containing dissolved sugars due to overflow by gravity at an outlet end of the reactor.

Abstract: A diffuser, particularly for solvent extraction, and more particularly for the extraction of sugar from sugar cane, the diffuser comprising vertically disposed annular extracting stages, each having means to move the material being processed around each stage, each stage including an orifice for material to fall to a lower extracting stage or to a material removal stage.

Abstract: The feed blanket is conditioned prior to entering the mill to provide more uniformity of thickness and to control maximum thickness. Overfeeding is prevented by self-regulated by-passing of excess feed. Plural mills of a milling tandem can be made to operate in a parallel fashion while the remaining ones continue to operate in their usual series fashion.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved rotary extractor assembly comprised of a rotor positioned within a vapor tight vessel and having upper and lower wheel assemblies positioned along the periphery thereof, which wheel assemblies ride on upper and lower track assemblies mounted to the inner surface of the vessel.

Abstract: A diffusion tower for sugar beet cossettes is provided with a cossettes feed-in mechanism which includes at least one, preferably a plurality, of slots in the bottom of the tower housing. Each slot extends at an angle to the radial direction and is connected to a feed device or supply conduit for supplying a mixture of sugar beet cossettes and juice into the lower end of the tower housing. A screening feed screw may be arranged to return sugar beet cossettes into the tower to thereby facilitate the juice extraction.

Abstract: A counter-current leaching or extraction tower for comminuted vegetable matter such as sugar beet cossettes, or crushed sugar cane, is provided with conveying elements, the longitudinal dimension of which may be altered in response to the operating condition in the material or matter being leached. Especially, the baffle members in the tower and, if desired, also the conveyor screw wings which are arranged to cooperate with the baffle members, are adjustable in their length in response to control signals derived from sensors, such as strain gauges, attached to the conveying elements. The angular position of the conveying elements in a plane parallel to the motion of the screw wings and relative to a radial direction may also be adjustable in response to the same type of control signals. The conveying elements may be constructed to include telescoping members which are longitudinally and thus radially extendable and retractable relative to the volume of the extraction tower.

Abstract: An extraction tower for leaching sugar beet cossettes or comminuted sugar cane. A central shaft is rotatably supported in a tower housing. Feed advance wings for the material to be leached are secured to the central shaft with spacings between the wings. Baffle elements are secured to the inside of the tower housing so as to extend into the spacings between adjacent wings. The baffle elements are elongated plates which are secured to the housing wall at a plurality of points, preferably three points so as to simultaneously form a reinforcement of the tower housing. The baffle plates are twisted relative to a longitudinal axis so that one end of a plate has an inwardly and upwardly facing edge, while the opposite edge faces downwardly and vice versa.

Abstract: An extraction tower for the counter-current leaching of sugar beets cossettes or crushed sugar cane. The elements which convey the material to be leached through the tower, especially the conveyor screw means and/or the baffle means which are arranged for cooperating with the conveyor screw means are provided with load sensor means, such as strain gauge elements which through control amplifier means control the drive means for the conveying elements to adapt the through-put and thus the conveying to the loads occurring throughout the tower. Even the pump and valve means may be controlled in response to such strain gauge means.