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Gula Java - Concentrating the Juices |
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The clarified juice is now concentrated under an increasing vacuum in a set of evaporator vessels, this reduces the boiling point of the juice, minimises energy demands and also prevents the decomposition of the sucrose (sugar) which is heat sensitive. The resulting syrup following a sulphitation step (for bleaching) is processed in vacuum pans. This results in massecuite which is a mixture of sucrose crystals surrounded by a molasses film which is discharged in the 'kultrog' or crystallisers. Stationary engines are used as vacuum pumps with their extra cylinders ahead of the main steam cylinder, as water injection engines for pumps to cool the evaporated water, as pumps for the sugar liquors and condensate and as belt engines to power a driveshaft to churn the 'kultrog'. |
