Solex Thermal Science > Solex Products > SIGMA 400 Cooler > How It Works > Sugar

Sigma400 Series Bulk Solids Cooler

1 SLOW & CONTROLLED PRODUCT FLOW
Sugar passes slowly downward between a series of vertical hollow heat exchange plates.
Why It's Better

2 INDIRECT PLATE COOLING
Cooling water flows through plates to cool the material by conduction.
Why It's Better

3 MASS FLOW TECHNOLOGY
The mass flow discharge feeder creates uniform product velocity through the cooler and regulates the product flow rate.
Why It's Better

4 VERTICAL CONFIGURATION 
Sugar passes through the vertical cooler by gravity.
Why It's Better

Sigma 400: How It Works

Why It's Better

The slow and controlled movement of the sugar through the heat exchanger produces a superior final product. It prevents product abrasion and degradation ensuring that the crystal shape, size and brightness is not changed in the cooling process.

Why It's Better

Sugar Energy Chart The unique indirect plate cooling design means air is not used in the cooling process. This design is superior resulting in many important benefits for cooling sugar.

  • It is ultra efficient, using up to 90% less energy than technologies such as fluid bed or rotary drum that require the use of air.
  • Installed capital costs are reduced due to the elimination of costly and unnecessary air handling equipment such as large diameter air ducting, motors, fans, scrubbers or chillers, which are necessary with drum and fluid bed type coolers.
  • A superior final sugar product is produced. Since air is not in contact with the product, risk of bacterial contamination, odor contamination and product moisture content changes, are eliminated.
  • Controlled cooling water temperatures mean sugar can be cooled to a specific temperature allowing for constant storing or packing temperatures year round, independent of weather conditions. 
  • The plates are configured to enable easy access for inspection and cleaning. The design makes it possible for single plates to be isolated or replaced

Why It's Better

Mass flow design means the sugar moves with uniform velocity through the heat exchanger. This feature, combined with long residence times (typically 5-10 minutes), enables even temperature distribution as the sugar passes through the heat exchanger, producing remarkably stable and uniform final sugar temperatures.

Why It's Better

Solex FootprintThe vertical configuration makes this design both compact and modular.  

  • The compact installation footprint makes this design easy to integrate into existing plants and can conveniently be installed in conjunction with drum dryers.
  • The clever modular design means that additional heat exchanger plate banks can be stacked if increased cooling capacity is required in the future.