The SeedMaster device - For on-line supersaturation measurement and automatic crystalliser seeding

Supersaturation is the most important parameter in sugar crystallisation co ntrol. Knowledge of supersaturation values is vital during the critical pha se of seeding, and in later process stages, if high-quality products are to be produced consistently at the lowest possible cost. Conventional control of sugar crystallisation, however, generally relies on sensors which provide information on some physical property of the sugar s yrup or massecuite, rather than on supersaturation itself. Thus, suggestion s found in the literature on the optimal values of supersaturation during a strike are often difficult to put into practice. Since its introduction in 1984, the completely digital K-Patents process re fractometer has become widely used in the sugar industry. In a new developm ent, it is now available with SeedMaster software running in the microcompu ter which monitors the refractometer, Thus, on-line measurement of supersat uration and control of automatic seeding in the crystallisers can now be ac hieved using a single instrument. This paper describes the use and main fea tures of the new system.