Sugar Processing | SRI Jigger Tubes for Vacuum Pan Efficiency

Client: Australian Sugar Research Institute (SRI).
Application: Steam and gas injection Jigger Tubes for vacuum pans.
Industry: Sugar Processing

Poor circulation in natural circulation vacuum pans has long affected cane sugar mills. The problem is most severe when processing high-viscosity massecuite.

Traditional steam-injected Jigger systems are installed to improve circulation. However, they frequently block, quickly losing effectiveness.

The Australian Sugar Research Institute developed a new Jigger Tube concept. The aim was to improve circulation while eliminating the risk of blockages.

ActionLaser was selected to manufacture the tubes due to its ability to drill extremely fine, consistent holes along long tube lengths. Precision was critical to reliable operation.

ActionLaser worked with SRI on a solution that;

• Improves circulation & heat transfer in batch and continuous vacuum pans
• Has precision laser-drilled holes of 0.2mm
• Reduces batch pan cycle times’
• Improves throughput of continuous pans and reduces encrustation and boil-out times
• Can use steam
• Proven with 100+ installations worldwide
• Manufactured by ActionLaser to the licensed SRI design

High-viscosity massecuite restricts circulation in vacuum pans. Poor circulation reduces heat transfer and limits pan efficiency.

Conventional Jigger pipes inject steam to improve aeration. When blocked, massecuite enters the pipe and solidifies.

Blockages are common when the vacuum is broken in batch pans. Reversed pressure differentials draw massecuite into the tubes.

Once blocked, traditional Jigger systems lose function. The industry required a design that physically prevented backflow.

SRI developed the Jigger Tubes System using extremely fine injection holes. ActionLaser was selected to manufacture the tubes for the licensed SRI design.

The tubes feature laser-drilled holes of only 0.2 mm diameter. This size is small enough to exploit massecuite surface tension.

Even when the vacuum is broken, the massecuite cannot flow back into the tube. This prevents solidification and blockage.

ActionLaser manufactures the tubes with consistent hole geometry along long lengths.
This precision is essential for predictable performance.

The SRI Jigger Tubes delivered reliable improvements in circulation. Blockages associated with traditional Jigger systems were eliminated.

In batch pans, improved heat transfer reduced batch cycle times. In continuous pans, throughput increased.

Encrustation was reduced. Operating periods between boil-outs were extended, and boil-out times were reduced.

The system has been installed in more than 100 locations worldwide. Performance has been proven across multiple pan configurations.

Laser drilling enabled a consistent hole geometry of 0.2 mm. This prevented massecuite backflow under all operating conditions.

Surface tension effects were used as a functional design feature. Blockage was eliminated by geometry, not maintenance.

Uniform hole accuracy along long tubes ensured predictable gas injection. This delivered stable circulation and improved heat transfer.

Manufacturing of the licensed SRI design ensured repeatable performance

Vacuum pan efficiency improved without increasing maintenance burden. Circulation became reliable rather than variable.

Reduced batch times and boil-out frequency improved productivity. Lower encrustation reduced operational disruption.

The system enabled the use of low-value noxious gases from the calandria. This reduced reliance on steam as a motive gas.

With over 100 installations, the SRI Jigger Tubes System is now a proven industry solution.