System for the removal of water vapor from molasses or other high sugar concentrate substances and method for operating same

A system for removal of water vapor in a high sugar concentrate substance comprising:

• a preheater;
• a heater in fluid connection with said preheater;
• a plurality of evaporator chambers in fluid connection with said heater;
• a plurality of augers within said heater and said plurality of evaporator chambers, each auger in said plurality of augers comprising:
• a cylinder;
• a ribbon auger in a spiral configuration about said cylinder and traversing the length of said cylinder within said heater and said plurality of evaporators chambers;
• a plurality of stabilizers axially mounted along the length of said cylinder and spaced at a predetermined distance therebetween and attached to said ribbon auger;
• and
• a close clearance vacuum isolation device in fluid connection with said heater and said plurality of evaporator chambers, said close clearance vacuum isolation device providing and maintaining internal vacuum pressure isolation of each of said preheater, said heater, and said plurality of evaporator chambers while simultaneously passing said high sugar concentrate substance in a continuous flow into and out of said preheater, said heater, and said plurality of evaporator chambers;
• wherein said close clearance vacuum device comprises two teethed rotating components within a housing, including a driven rotor and a driving rotor, wherein both rotating components are fixed on both axial ends by ball bearings mounted in the housing and wherein the teeth of the driven rotor engage with the teeth of the driving rotor such that the rotating components spin together at the same rotational speed, but in opposite directions;
• and
• wherein said high sugar concentrate substance has a moisture content of up to 40% by weight.