The application of pilot scale high electric field pulses (300 -1000kg/h capacity) for sugar yield increase and energy saving during sugar cane extraction was studied. Yield increase:
1) Sugar yield
In Figure is the positive effect of first pressing and then HELP treatment (with electrical energy consume of about 4KJ/Kg or 1.1 KWh/ton sugarcane) on sugar yield demonstrated. First pressing the sample and subsequent then high electric field pulse treatment (in dry chamber) followed by 4 soaking at 50 °C, with 4 intermediate and final pressing resulted up to 3.2% more sugar yield compare to conventional thermal extraction (5 pressing with 4 intermediate soaking at 45, 60, 75, an 90 °C respectively). In addition, was the heat energy in the case of HELP treated and subsequent at low temperature extracted samples (80 KJ/kg) up to 3 times lower compare to conventional thermal treatment (240 KJ/kg) (Fig. 1).