Sugar

Granular sugar is free-flowing, mildly abrasive, hygroscopic, and friable, requiring gentle handling to prevent degradation. Powdered sugar shares its hygroscopic nature but differs in being non-free-flowing, heat-sensitive, and aeratable. It often requires flow-aid devices to maintain consistent movement. Both forms are susceptible to moisture absorption, which can lead to clumping and reduced handling efficiency. Improper conveying of sugar can result in downtime, product loss, and safety risks. Sugar dust suspended in the air is highly explosive, making dust control and proper equipment design essential for safe operation. When sugar is pneumatically conveyed into a processing system, the blower must be appropriately sized to meet system demands. Because sugar absorbs moisture from the air, excessive clumping may occur, requiring humidity control or moisture-removal devices before the sugar enters the conveyor. Temperature regulation through air cooling or heating may also be necessary during conveying.

When sugar arrives in large bulk bags, discharge frames often need additional accessories to fully empty the bags and prevent fine sugar dust from escaping into the surrounding environment. For smaller bags (under 50 lb), a bag-emptying station equipped with a dust hood, filtration system, and pneumatic pulse cleaner can support manual unloading. Some powdered sugars tend to agglomerate, “rat hole,” or bridge in hoppers, disrupting material flow. To prevent this, feed hoppers should be designed with appropriate geometry and may require flow-promoting devices such as air fluidizers, vibrators, or mechanical agitators. If sugar is manually dumped into a hopper with agitation equipment, a hopper screen above the receiving vessel can help protect operators. When using a flexible screw conveyor, it’s important to select a screw design that matches the sugar’s properties and application needs—typically one with a wider, flatter surface for conveying sugar up an incline.