The usual systems used today involve bulk
handling, transportation, and bulk
storage. The method of transportation
depends on the location of the pulp and
paper mill with respect to the sugar mill
or mills. Ideally, the pulp and paper
mill should be located adjacent to a
sugar mill large enough to supply all the
bagasse required. The moist depithed
bagasse can then be supplied to the pulp
and paper mill in aqueous suspension by
pipeline or flume, or by belt conveyor.
If the distance to the sugar mill is
considerable, the bulk density of bagasse
may be increased by passing the bagasse
through compactors, which are similar to
balers except that no tieing is involved.
The compacted bagasse is then loaded into
high—sided railway cars or trailer trucks
for transportation to the pulp and paper
mills. Such bulk transport is generally
economic for distances up to 100 km. The
trucks or railway cars are dumped at the
pulp and paper mill, and the bagasse is
stacked into piles mechanically,
pneumatically or hydraulically.
For the mechanical stacking of bagasse
onto moist or wet bulk storage piles, a
variety of drag—flight and belt conveyor
systems have been used to build up piles
to a height of 20-25 m. Drag-flight
conveyors are used for steep inclinations
and for relatively small storage piles.