Mechanisms governing the packing of bagasse into grooves during uniaxial compression

The use of various V-groove roller configurations in the milling of sugar cane dates back over 150 years. One phenomenon that remains poorly understood is the deformation state of the blanket during compression between grooved rolls, and more specifically the mechanisnls that govern the packing of bagasse into roll grooves. Improved understanding of such fundamental issues will turn build knowledge with regard tothe influence of varying groove geometry on the milling of prepared cane and bagasse. This paper reports on the results of an experimental program to assess the key mechanisms controlling the penetration of prepared cane into V-grooved platens. Uniaxial compression tests were conducted using several blanket depths, including deep blankets. and four varied groove geometries. including two phlaten sets with a 50 mm pitch. The results identified two particular groove penetration mechanisms: I) the folding of a lightly consolidated blanket into the grooves: 2) the shearing of a heavily consolidated blanket at the tips of the grooves. Each of these blanket 'failure' modes results in a different form of groove packing with the potential to influence dewatering behaviour. A non-dimensional factor that identifies the approximate point of transition between the two failure modes is defined.