Online methods for the detection of sugar contamination in condensate systems

Many sugar mills struggle with contamination in condensate given that sugar can cause major disruptions in the boiler(s) producing steam for production. The sugar decreases the surface tension of the boiler water, allowing a property called ?foaming? whereby the boiler water can move from a boiler drum into the steam space and, hence, into the production steam system. This phenomenon in turn causes contamination of product, safety risks to personnel, and damage to expensive production. The effect of the contamination is also typically a full plant shutdown, time loss from cleaning boilers, chemical cost, labour cost, product loss, and alike.