Sugar factories

Introduction to Valves in a Sugar Factory

The image shows the Jiangxi PureCircle Sugar Factory, established on January 4, 2002. Its full name is PureCircle (Jiangxi) Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (formerly Ganzhou Julian High-Tech Food Co., Ltd.). The company is located in Yangtang Industrial Park, High-Tech Zone, Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province, and currently employs over 400 people, with a high proportion of professional and technical personnel. The company has been successively rated as an "AAA Credit Rating" enterprise, a Jiangxi "High-Tech Enterprise," a "Provincial Leading Enterprise in Agricultural Industrialization," an "Excellent Agricultural Leading Enterprise," and more. Its steviol glycoside products have also been rated as "High-Tech Products" and "Jiangxi Famous Brand Products."

Steviol glycoside is a new type of sugar extracted and refined from the leaves of the herbaceous plant Stevia rebaudiana. It has high sweetness (200-300 times that of sucrose), low caloric value (1/300 of sucrose), is purely natural, and safe for consumption. It is widely used in beverages, food, medicine, brewing, tobacco, and daily chemicals. It is an ideal sugar substitute for diabetics, obese individuals, and those pursuing health.

The company’s products are sold domestically and internationally, with an export rate of 95% and an international market share of 30%. PureCircle is one of the largest producers of steviol glycoside products in China, with the best product quality and the strongest competitiveness. PureCircle Sugar Factory uses various types of valves in its production process to control, regulate, and protect fluid flow.

Stages Where Valves Are Used:

1. Raw Material Processing Stage:
   - Crushing/Grinding: Valves need to be wear-resistant, high-pressure resistant, and corrosion-resistant to cope with high-intensity workloads, such as the crushing of sugarcane and sugar beets.
   - Cleaning: Valves may be used to control the flow and pressure of cleaning water to ensure the cleanliness of raw materials.

2. Processing Stage:
   - Syrup Production: Valves control the flow and mixing ratios of syrup during cooking, filtering, and refining to ensure syrup quality and stability.
   - Evaporation: In evaporators, control valves need to precisely regulate steam pressure and temperature for efficient evaporation.
   - Clarification: Valves must accurately control the flow and pressure of liquids to achieve optimal clarification.

3. Equipment Protection and Safety:
   - Vacuum Pans, Crystallizers, and Centrifuges: Valves ensure the safety and stability of equipment and processes.
   - Safety Valves: Used in steam tanks, steam pipelines, and air compressors, safety valves provide protection by preventing overpressure in equipment.

4. Storage and Transportation:
   - Storage Tanks and Mixing Vats: Valves control the internal pressure of storage tanks and mixing vats to ensure the safe storage of raw materials and products.
   - Transport Pipelines: Valves are used to cut off or regulate fluid flow in pipelines transporting syrup and molasses.

5. Cleaning and Maintenance:
   - Cleaning/Extraction Stage: Valves need to be high-pressure resistant, wear-resistant, and corrosion-resistant to ensure efficient cleaning and prolong equipment life.

Different types of valves used include globe valves, gate valves, ball valves, butterfly valves, safety valves, and more.(Click to view detailed descriptions of different types of valves)

Why Are So Many Valves Used?

1. Improve Production Efficiency:
   - Automated control of valves enables precise control of the production process, reducing manual operations and improving production efficiency.

2. Ensure Product Quality:
   - Valves precisely control the flow, pressure, temperature, and mixing ratios of fluids in each stage, ensuring product quality and stability.

3. Ensure Equipment Safety:
   - Safety valves and other types of valves automatically open in case of overpressure, preventing equipment damage and accidents, ensuring the safety of equipment and personnel.

4. Meet Process Requirements:
   - Different types of valves have unique characteristics and functions to meet the complex process requirements of sugar production.

5. Reduce Energy Consumption and Costs:
   - By precisely controlling fluid flow and pressure, valves reduce energy waste and consumption, lowering production costs.

The use of valves in sugar companies is extensive and critical. They play an irreplaceable role in production efficiency, product quality, equipment safety, process requirements, and cost control. With the continuous advancement of technology and the development of industrial automation, the types and applications of valves in sugar companies will become more diverse and varied in the future.