Feasibility study on the use of the upgraded unit to produce molasses
To increase the efficiency of the livestock industry one needs balanced feed, including all elements as well as sugar. Molasses is the most effective way to make up for the deficit of elements in the diet of livestock. The aim of the research is to provide a feasibility study and develop a unit to produce grain treacle, instead of commercially available UZHK-500 (УЖК-500). On the basis of the North-East Federal Agrarian Scientific Center named after N.V. Rudnitskiy is developed a structural and technological scheme to produce grain treacle. Natural and climatic conditions in the region, as well as the state of technology, are taken into account. This machine allows to make liquid molasses with sugar content up to 40% and enriched with necessary trace nutrients from pre-ground grain by means of high-temperature fermentation. The working cycle is 2.5-3.5 hours, the volume of produced molasses - 0.5-1.5 t/cycle with the optimal fermentation temperature of 60°С. It is conducted the feasibility study of the new unit, that proved its economic efficiency amounted to 13778,39 rubles (instead of series-produced UZHK-500). The economic effect is reached by decline of specific capital investments from 2570,9 rub/t to 1906,85 rub/t (26%), specific operational costs from 1209,18 rub/t to 931,3 rub/t (23%), specific energy consumption from 321,37 rub/t to 238,37 rub/t (27%). Design of the new unit determines its economic efficiency. Dispenser is replaced, which is up to 50% of the cost of the machine. It heats and grinds grain in the series-produced UZHK-500. In the new machine, the disperser is replaced with a cavitator, a more technologically reliable and less expensive mechanism.