ARS | Publication request: Predicting seed cotton moisture content from changes in drying air temperature

Submitted to: ASABE Annual International Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 31, 2012
Publication Date: July 31, 2012
Citation: Armijo, C.B., Hardin Iv, R.G., Funk, P.A., Gillum, M.N. 2012. Predicting seed cotton moisture content from changes in drying air temperature. ASABE Annual International Meeting. Presentation Only; Number 121336910.

Technical Abstract: Having an accurate measurement of seed-cotton moisture content in a cotton gin would help ginners determine how much heat to use to dry the cotton. A mathematical model was used to predict seed cotton moisture content in the overhead section of a gin. The model took into account the temperature, mass flow, and specific heat of both the air and seed cotton. Air temperatures and mass flows were obtained from a commercial gin in Mississippi during the 2011 season. Results showed high variations in the mass flow rate of both the air and seed cotton (7 and 18%, respectively), and a low drying air temperature (147 °F). The model requires a higher drying air temperature to improve the signal to noise ratio. Due to the low drying air temperature, predicted seed cotton moisture content did not correlate well with actual seed cotton moisture content from samples taken at the module feeder and dried in a laboratory oven according to a standard test method.