USING CONVEYING AIR TEMPERATURE TO PREDICT SEED COTTON MOISTURE CONTENT
Cotton Ginning Research
2011 Annual Report
1a.Objectives (from AD-416)
The objective is to develop and test a non-contract, online method of predicting the moisture content of seed cotton in the overhead section of the ginning plant. Having an accurate measure of seed cotton moisture content would greatly aid the ginning plant in managing dryer temperatures.
1b.Approach (from AD-416)
Knowing the moisture content of the seed cotton as it comes off the trailer or module would help the ginner manage dryer temperatures more efficiently. Using insufficent heat may not adequately dry the seed cotton, resulting in poor cleaning and ginning in the worst case, may cause choke-ups and possibly damage the machinery. Using too much heat can cause static problems that also may cause choke-ups, and it can make pressing a bale more difficult. But more importantly, too much heat damages the fiber, making it brittle and more prone to breakage. The aim is to use only enough heat to obtain a seed cotton moisture content of 6-7% prior to ginning.
A modeling system that predicts seed-cotton moisture content was previously installed at the Glenbar Gin in Pima, AZ. The prediction model uses temperature and mass flow of seed cotton and conveying air to determine the relationship between temperature drop of the conveying air caused by drying the seed cotton over time, and the moisture content of seed cotton. The modeling system at the Glenbar Gin was not calibrated properly because of a lack of wet seed cotton due to the recent drought. A laboratory test that may give suitable wet calibration coefficients for use in the modeling system at the Glenbar Gin has not yet been run due to time constraints. However, instrumentation was installed in FY11 at the Silver Creek Gin, Holly Bluff, MS, to monitor air temperature and mass flow in the unloading section of the gin. The Silver Creek Gin typically receives seed cotton of high moisture content. Seed cotton samples will be taken during the 2011-2012 ginning season at Silver Creek. The research in Mississippi may help determine calibration coefficients that can be used at the Glenbar Gin. Although the modeling system at the Glenbar Gin has not been properly calibrated and therefore not accurate over the entire range of expected levels of seed cotton moisture content, the Glenbar Gin continued to use the system in FY11 because the system did alert personnel to extremely high levels of seed cotton moisture content. This research will be the basis for a future journal publication.
Communication between the Glenbar Gin and the ADODR occurred at industry functions such as the Beltwide Cotton Conferences, the Western Cotton Ginners School, and various state ginners meetings.