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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Cotton Ginning Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #120025
Title: POTENTIAL METHODS OF MEASURING BALE MOISTURE CONTENT AT THE GIN

Author
item Byler, Richard
item Anthony, William
item GALYON, M - ZELLWEGER USTER, INC.

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/9/2001
Publication Date: 6/1/2001
Citation: Byler, R.K., Anthony, W.S., Galyon, M.E. 2001. Potential methods of measuring bale moisture content at the gin. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference. Volume 2:1374-1376

Interpretive Summary: Cotton is typically harvested with less than the desired final moisture content and gins may dry the cotton further to enhance cleaning. Many cotton gins add moisture to lint near the end of processing just before it is packaged in order to reduce compression force requirements. Because of recent improvements in the equipment used to add moisture to lint, the need to control moisture addition has increased. The purpose of this project was to explore several methods of measuring the moisture content of cotton lint after the moisture was added, and to develop an understanding of the difficulties associated with making this measurement. Results using several moisture measurement devices installed in the bale press area of three commercial gins and operated for portions of the 2000- ginning season indicate that technology can be developed to measure the moisture content of the bale. Implementation of the technology will prevent damage to the cotton and also increase farmer profit.

Technical Abstract: Interest has grown in the past few years in controlling the amount of moisture added to lint in a cotton gin after it has been ginned. Accurate and reliable measurement is necessary in order to control a process. Several experimental installations were made in three gins and operated during the 2000-ginning season that measured the moisture content of fiber after moisture addition. Four methods of measuring moisture content were examined. Resistance-type moisture measurements were made at the lint charger, tramper, and bale pusher near the bale press. Bale weight and force measurements were made during bale compression. Further work is required with each method before field implementation.