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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Cotton Ginning Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #145299
Title: LINT CLEANER LOUVERS AT A COMMERCIAL GIN

Author
item Anthony, William
item CLARK, FRANK - CONTINENTAL EAGLE GIN CO.
item STEELE, DENNIS - CONTINENTAL EAGLE GIN CO.
item EDWARDS, EARNEST - CONTINENTAL EAGLE GIN CO.
item PATE, GREG - MILSTEAD FARM GROUP
item McAlister Iii, David

Submitted to: Cotton Gin and Oil Mill Press
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/17/2003
Publication Date: 5/17/2003
Citation: ANTHONY, W.S., CLARK, F., STEELE, D., EDWARDS, E., PATE, G., MCALISTER III, D.D. LINT CLEANER LOUVERS AT A COMMERCIAL GIN. COTTON GIN AND OIL MILL PRESS. 2003. 104(10):6-8.

Interpretive Summary: The cotton ginning industry is rapidly adopting technology to optimize drying and cleaning at the gin. Over 10% of the U.S. cotton crop now uses ARS-developed optimization technology marketed as IntelliGin as compared to none in 1997. Further expansion of that type technology is now available with ARS-patented prescription control of saw-type lint cleaners. Since this technology had not been adequately studied in commercial operations, this study evaluated the new technology in a commercial gin and in a cotton-spinning mill. Results indicated that bales increased about 6 pounds in weight or over $3.00 in value. Spinning performance either remained the same or was improved. This technology is applicable to over 50% of the cotton produced in the United States and offers potential savings of over $30 million annually.

Technical Abstract: The ARS-developed louvers for saw-type lint cleaners were evaluated in a commercial gin plant to determine the subsequent impact on fiber quality at the gin and mill levels. The study was conducted without regard as to whether the cotton was sufficiently clean after the gin stand to warrant a reduced number of grid bars. Sixteen bales of cotton, eight from each of two varieties, were processed through a Continental Eagle Model 24D lint cleaner equipped with eight automated louvers to allow from one to eight grid bars to be used; however, the two treatments used in this experiment were two and eight grid bars. Samples from each replication were analyzed for moisture, market classification, fiber length distribution, neps, trash, dust, foreign matter, and other factors. The fiber was spun at the Cotton Quality Research Station, Clemson, SC. The test cotton contained about 10% foreign matter before gin processing and was Low Middling color after gin processing. Mote weight at the gin averaged 6.0 and 11.5 pounds per bale for the two and eight grid bar treatments respectively, for a savings 5.5 pounds per bale or over $3.00. Spinning performance did not differ except for the impact of different trash levels in the bale. Thus the number of grid bars used at the gin should be selected based on the trash level in the ginned lint in order to assure optimum mill performance. In general, the number of grid bars significantly impacted only the trash-related variables at both the gin and mill.