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Research Project: ENHANCING QUALITY, UTILITY, SUSTAINABILITY, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF COTTON AND ITS BYPRODUCTS THROUGH IMPROVEMENT IN HARVEST/GIN PROCESSING

Location: Cotton Ginning Research

Title: Monitoring agricultural processing electrical energy use and efficiency

Authors

Submitted to: ASABE Annual International Meeting
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: July 31, 2012
Publication Date: July 31, 2012
Citation: Funk, P.A., Hardin Iv, R.G. 2012. Monitoring agricultural processing electrical energy use and efficiency. ASABE Annual International Meeting. PRESENTATION - Paper No. 121338018.

Interpretive Summary: Energy costs have become proportionately larger as cotton post-harvest processing facilities have utilized other inputs more efficiently. A discrepancy in energy consumption per unit processed between facilities suggests that energy could be utilized more efficiently. Cotton gin facilities were instrumented to monitor electricity use throughout the post-harvest season. Cleaning, ginning and packaging energy consumptions were comparable; large differences were observed in materials handling. In some cases motors were oversized. Energy consumption per unit processed was decreased with increasing processing rate. Energy savings can be realized by: 1) designing gins to minimize materials-handling; 2) selecting efficient motors that are closely matched to their loads; 3) maintaining equipment to minimize down-time; and 4) operating at the maximum processing rate.

Technical Abstract: Energy costs have become proportionately larger as cotton post-harvest processing facilities have utilized other inputs more efficiently. A discrepancy in energy consumption per unit processed between facilities suggests that energy could be utilized more efficiently. Cotton gin facilities were instrumented to monitor electricity use throughout the post-harvest season. Cleaning, ginning and packaging energy consumptions were comparable; large differences were observed in materials handling. In some cases motors were oversized. Energy consumption per unit processed was inversely proportional to processing rate. Energy savings can be realized by: 1) designing gins to minimize materials-handling; 2) selecting efficient motors that are closely matched to their loads; 3) maintaining equipment to minimize down-time; and 4) operating at the maximum processing rate.

   

 
Project Team
Whitelock, Derek
Armijo, Carlos
Baker, Kevin
Funk, Paul
Hughs, Sidney - Hughs Ed
 
Publications
   Publications
 
Related National Programs
  Climate Change, Soils, and Emissions (212)
  Quality and Utilization of Agricultural Products (306)
 
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   EXAMINING GIN STANDS AND LINT CLEANERS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF UPLAND COTTON
   INVESTIGATING SEED COTTON RECLAIMERS TO IMPROVE THE PRODUCTIVITY OF ROLLER GINNING PLANTS
   Removing Seed Coat Fragments During Lint Cleaning
 
 
Last Modified: 05/19/2013
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