System and method for manufacturing a policosanol-rich granulated sugar cane juice product

A method of crystallizing a volume of clarified sugar cane concentrate having a concentration of dissolved sugars within a range of 60° Brix to 70° Brix, the method comprising steps of:

• vacuum evaporating the volume of clarified sugar cane juice concentrate at a vacuum pressure within a range of 67.7 kPa to 84.66 kPa and at a temperature within a range of 100° C. to 110° C. until the volume of clarified sugar cane juice concentrate is converted to a volume of clarified sugar cane syrup having a concentration of dissolved sugars within a range of 90° Brix to 91° Brix;
• atmospherically evaporating the volume of clarified sugar cane syrup at a vacuum pressure within a range of 100 kPa to 102 kPa and at a temperature within a range of 128° C. to 130° C. until achieving a volume of clarified sugar cane syrup having a concentration of dissolved sugars within a range of 91° Brix to 95° Brix just preceding the onset of crystallization;
• providing a crystallization tank apparatus, comprising:
• a cylindrical tank body having a laterally-extending cylindrical primary sidewall disposed about a central axis of the cylindrical tank body and terminating at opposite end walls, together, defining a cylindrical tank body interior space, the cylindrical primary sidewall having a lower door opening extending therethrough;
• an arcuate tank door configured for sealing engagement with the lower door opening extending through the cylindrical primary sidewall of the tank body, the arcuate tank door moveable between a sealed, closed state and an unsealed, opened state enabling access to the tank body interior space;
• a secondary sidewall disposed about and spaced apart from an exterior surface area of the laterally-extending cylindrical primary sidewall to define a sidewall gap therebetween;
• an inlet extending through the secondary sidewall and in fluid communication with the sidewall gap, and an outlet extending through the secondary sidewall and in fluid communication with the sidewall gap;
• a motor-driven drive shaft extending along the central axis of the cylindrical tank body;
• a laterally-extending agitation component having a central rod disposed about the motor-driven drive shaft, the central rod having a plurality of spaced arms extending radially therefrom, each of the plurality of spaced arms terminating at an agitator paddle;
• and
• a vacuum pump mounted upon an exterior surface of the cylindrical primary sidewall in fluid communication with the cylindrical tank body interior space;
• introducing the volume of clarified sugar cane syrup into the cylindrical tank body interior space and subjecting the volume of clarified sugar cane syrup to a vacuum pressure within a range of 67.7 kPa to 84.66 kPa and at a temperature within a range of 100° C. to 110° C. while rotating the laterally-extending agitation component to agitate the volume of clarified sugar cane syrup, while simultaneously introducing a low pressure steam through the inlet into the sidewall gap, until the volume of clarified sugar cane syrup begins to crystallize;
• simultaneously releasing the vacuum pressure within the cylindrical tank body interior space and releasing the low pressure steam in the sidewall gap through the outlet until a visible exothermic reaction commences forming an increased-volume, crystallized mass of clarified sugar cane product;
• introducing chilled water in the sidewall gap, the chilled water having a temperature within a range of 3° C. to 6° C.;
• and
• gently blending the crystallized mass of clarified sugar cane juice product within the cylindrical tank body at a temperature within a range of 115° C. to 135° C. until the crystallized mass is converted to a volume of dry, granulated sugar cane juice having a humidity level of 1.5% or less.