Sugar Scalping and Grading

The bulk density of sugar ranges from 600 - 800 kg/m³. Sugar must be scalped in order to remove lumps and foreign materials prior to grading or packaging.

SUGAR SCALPING

Sugar scalping is generally classified into two categories:

• Rough scalping - through approximately 4M (4,75 mm). Very high rates are possible
      for these applications.
   
• Close scalping - from 12 to 18M (1,7 to 1,0 mm). Close scalping is performed in
      refineries or beet sugar factories, and food plants where sugar is used as an
      ingredient. Capacities range from 3000 to 7000 PPH/sq ft (14-35 TPH/mz) on 18M to
      12M respectively. However, these are sharply reduced when near size crystals are in
      the feed.

SUGAR GRADING 

After Scalping, Grading is performed in two stages:

1. Primary Screening

   The primary screeners normally produce three grades:

• Fine granulated (-14+30M / -1,4+0,6 mm)
• Extra fine (-30+80M / -0,6+0,18 mm)
• Powdered (-80M / -0,18 mm)

2. Speciality Screening

   This is most often accomplished with a second set of screeners having two or more 
   decks, and are fed from the primary screeners. Final product specifications vary widely
   among processors.

Sugar is graded from 14 to 80M and is typically concentrated in the 50M (0,3 mm) range. Synthetic or stainless steel screens are normally used.