Simulation-based analysis for operational decision support on scheduling in sugar crystallization considering quality of molasses and syrup

Abstract Although a three-boiling system has been commonly chosen as a procedure for sugar crystallization in sugar mills, its operation parameters such as the dividing and the mixing ratio of syrup and molasses have empirically decided on the equipment capacity and the quality of syrup. In this study, the relationship among the quality of syrup, the utilization network of molasses and seed crystals, and the process performance such as the sugar yield, the energy consumption and the crystallization pan load were analysed based on a computer-aided approach. Through a case study, it was revealed that the drop of the sugar yield due to the changes in syrup can be compensated by an adequate modification in operations with tight scheduling. Such computer-aided approach will help the operators to make decisions against scheduling problems that have not been sufficiently coped with under their empirical knowledge.