The sugar industry relies on efficient fluid handling at every stage of production—from cane juice extraction and clarification to crystallization, molasses recovery, and wastewater treatment. These processes involve fluids ranging from low-viscosity juice to highly viscous massecuite, magma, molasses, sludge, and press mud slurry.
India is the world’s second-largest sugar producer, crushing cane across more than 500 mills every season. The Middle East is home to the world’s largest standalone sugar refinery, in Dubai.
In both regions, Hydro Prokav Progressive Cavity Pumps handle these demanding applications with smooth, non-pulsating flow, high suction capability, low-shear operation, and exceptional reliability—helping mills and refineries maximize recovery, protect product quality, and reduce maintenance costs.
Sugar production involves fluids that are:
Traditional centrifugal pumps often struggle with these characteristics, especially as viscosity increases during concentration and crystallization. Progressive cavity pumps maintain a consistent flow rate regardless of viscosity variations while preserving fluid integrity.
Sugar plants across major producing regions—from Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra to the GCC’s import-refining hubs—face several recurring fluid-transfer challenges:
Freshly extracted juice is transferred from the milling section to clarification equipment through dedicated cane juice transfer pumps. Since the juice contains suspended solids and fibrous particles, the pumping system must provide smooth, non-pulsating flow while maintaining product integrity.
Fluid characteristics
Progressive cavity pumps are frequently selected for sugar juice transfer because they maintain stable flow rates, handle suspended solids effectively, and minimize shear that can impact downstream clarification efficiency.
Clarification requires accurate dosing of lime slurry to control pH and facilitate impurity removal. Since lime slurry is abrasive and contains solid particles, a reliable lime slurry dosing pump is essential for continuous operation.
Fluid characteristics
Progressive cavity technology provides accurate metering and dependable performance, making it a preferred solution for lime slurry handling in sugar mills.
The clarification process generates sludge composed of precipitated impurities, mud, and suspended solids. Continuous sludge removal is necessary to ensure efficient clarifier operation and avoid process interruptions.
Fluid characteristics
A well-designed clarifier sludge pump can continuously transfer sludge without clogging, even when solids concentrations change during operation.
The production of raw sugar, liquid sugar, sugar syrup and refined sugar requires hygienic fluid handling solutions that prevent contamination while maintaining process efficiency.
Hydro Prokav food-grade progressive cavity pumps are designed with stainless steel wetted parts, FDA-compliant elastomers and hygienic sealing arrangements suitable for food processing environments.
Key features
Series | Flow | Pressure | Viscosity | Temperature | Primary Sugar-Industry Use |
KX-F | Up to 120 m³/hr | Up to 36 bar | Up to 1,000,000 cP | Up to 200°C | Sugar syrup, liquid sugar, glucose, hygienic transfer |
KX-A | Up to 175 m³/hr | Up to 48 bar | Up to 100,000 cP | Up to 200°C | Massecuite, abrasive slurries, high-pressure duties |
KX-B | Up to 375 m³/hr | Up to 6 bar | Up to 100,000 cP | Up to 200°C | Molasses transfer, effluent handling, bulk process liquids |
KX-W | Up to 275 m³/hr | Up to 36 bar | Up to 1,000,000 cP | Up to 200°C | Press mud slurry, filter cake, non-Newtonian by-products |
KYM | Up to 125 m³/hr | Up to 12 bar | Up to 100,000 cP | Up to 200°C | Molasses, massecuite, effluent sludge, process by-products |