Closed Water Circulation Systems

In order to mitigate the Company’s adverse effect on the environment, all five of Südzucker Polska S.A. factories operate closed water circulation systems. This makes it possible to achieve a significant reduction of water consumption which is one of the key elements of sustainable environmental corporate management.

There are two water circulation types used in production processes:

1. Beet flume water circulation

The first stage of the technological process at most sugar factories is beet washing. Water is used both as a washing agent and a transportation medium at the time of unloading and transport of beet to the wash station. Water used for these processes flows in a closed system. Before the start of the campaign, beet flume water tanks are filled with wastewater treated in a biological treatment plant or with pre-treated industrial wastewater from storage tanks. Water is re-circulated between the beet washing station and settling tanks for flume mud. At the end of beet washing, ammonium hydroxide is supplied from outside the closed circuit.

 2. Water condensate circulation

Water condensate also circulates in a closed system. After it has cooled, it is used for the cooling, and, as a result, condensation of hot vapour. Hot water is taken from condensers by discharge pipes to the water condensate container from which it is pumped to the cooling station, which completes the system. The amount of water condensate is variable. As a result of vapour condensation, an additional amount of water condensate is formed. Excess condensate is fed into the flume water circulation system.