Precision Ginning – Preserving Product Quality

Richard Byler

USDA Cotton Gin Lab, Stoneville MS

Discussion primarily: Saw ginned Picked Upland cotton

Cotton ginning nomenclature

Cotton gin plant – the entire system Cotton gin stand – the machine which

separates lint from seed

Cotton gin functions

Control moisture content of lint Remove non-lint Separate lint from seed

Moisture sub-system

Application of warm dry air ‘Open’ the seed cotton With seed cotton cleaners

Moisture addition (before gin stand)

Moisture content ‘disturbances’

Moisture content of seed cotton Trash levels in seed cotton

Moisture content above or below ideal

Moisture content disturbances

Traditional control Keep heat high Manual adjustment of heat

Current control Measure seed cotton moisture content Measure lint moisture content

Future

Equipment - removal of non-lint

Seed cotton cleaning Cylinder cleaners Extractor cleaners

Lint cleaning Air-jet Saw-type

Removal of non-lint disturbances

Hairy vs. smooth leaf cotton Moisture content Defoliation level before harvest Trash levels Trash type – cotton or weeds

Cotton plant hairs R² = 0.9512

R² = 0.9438

1

2

3

4

5

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

HVI l

eaf g

rade

Leaf Trichomes/cm2

2010

2011

Removal of non-lint disturbances

Traditional control ‘Worst case’ design Manual machine bypass More drying

Current control Drying and machine bypass control

Future

Lint-seed separation equipment

Gin stand – saw primarily

Lint-seed separation disturbances

Fiber-seed attachment force Level of linters Cultivar Moisture content

Lint-seed separation disturbances

Traditional control Gin stand design Ginning rate

Current control Automated ginning rate

Future

Gin Energy Use Continued monitoring of

commercial gins Measure and analyze fuel

use Design of

systems to reduce energy use

Thank you