Finally he succeeded in gaining the ear of the manager of a large refinery, who, after listening attentively to his earnest argument, at length became convinced by it. As a result of the interview, it was arranged between them that the machines rejected by the beet-sugar factory should be installed in the refinery and operated for a period of thirty days, under the direct supervision of the inventor. The test was successful in every particular and conclusively proved the efficiency of the discharger.
The refiner was gratified because on account of the saving in time the capacity of the centrifugals was materially increased; the men operating the centrifugals were hugely pleased, as the arduous work of emptying by hand was entirely eliminated, and the inventor was happy, for he had vindicated himself.
An order for a large number of the machines was placed at once and every centrifugal in the refinery was equipped with one. Today they are installed in nearly every refinery and factory in the United States, and in many raw-sugar plantation mills as well.
MELTING
CHANGING THE SOLID RAW SUGAR INTO LIQUID FORM
From the centrifugals the washed sugar drops to the melter pan on the floor below. This is a cylindrical tank in the center of which is a revolving vertical shaft, to which are attached horizontal paddles that serve to facilitate the dissolving of the sugar with the hot water that is now added. Only enough water is added to bring the resultant liquor to a density of 58.6 per cent of solid matter.
The raw sugar having been washed and, to use a technical term, melted, leaves the melt house at this point.
DEFECATION
PRECIPITATION OF SUSPENDED AND INSOLUBLE IMPURITIES
From the “melt” the liquor is pumped to the top floor of the char house, which is usually a structure of from twelve to fourteen stories high. The reason for building to such a height is the advantage gained by utilizing the force of gravity and by this means handling the liquors and bone-char from floor to floor without mechanical aid.