Bosch Projects, in association with Wellman Company Ltd, recently designed a 16.5 metre wide 833tch Bosch Projects chainless bagasse diffuser for the Khon Kaen sugar mill in Thailand. Specialised equipment was supplied by Bosch Projects, with the fabrication and erection being done by Wellman Company A Bosch commissioning engineer is currently in Thailand commissioning and optimising the diffuser operation.
Bagasse diffusers have a long history in South Africa’s sugar industry since first being introduced in the 1960s. They were fully integrated into the market by the 1970s before the introduction of cane diffusion technology. Currently there is a trend in the industry worldwide towards bagasse diffusion, due to the higher throughput required and the recent expansions throughout the sugar industry.
This is the first Bosch Projects chainless diffuser designed specifically for the bagasse diffusion process and is currently the widest diffuser in the world. This bagasse diffuser also includes some specialised equipment, such as two sand removal systems, direct contact scalding juice heating incorporated into the diffuser trays and relocation of the rotary screens.
Because of changes and innovative upgrades to the design, all parties involved are eagerly anticipating the results of the first season of operations.