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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Cotton Ginning Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #67545
Title: PHYSICAL EVALUATION OF CYCLONE EMISSION CHARACTERISTICS

Author
item Hughs, Sidney
item WAKELYN, PHILLIP - NATIONAL COTTON COUNCIL

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/10/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Particulate emission tests were made during the 1994 ginning season on cotton gins in New Mexico and California. Analysis of the particulate collected was done to determine particle-size distribution, particularly the percentage of particles less than 10 and less than 2.5 microns in diameter. The relationship of emission plume opacity and total particulate eemitted was also investigated. No significant statistical relationship between opacity readings and particulate emission was found. A Hand-held Aerosol Monitor (HAM) was also evaluated as a possible method of making rapid field determinations of particulate concentrations in gin exhausts. The HAM correlated well with the concentrations of particles in the range of 10 microns or less in diameter

Technical Abstract: A series of particulate emission tests were conducted on cotton gins in New Mexico and California. All exhausts measured used high- efficiency cyclones as emission-control devices. Total suspended particulate (TSP) for all gins averaged between 0.03 and 0.04 grains per dry standard cubic foot (gr/dscf) of air emitted. The PM10 fraction of the TSP ranged between n35 and 69% depending on the method of determination. Levels of PM2.5 were determined to be between 0.4 and 2.5% of TSP. Opacity readings taken both during these tests and in earlier tests did not correlate with TSP and cannot be used to estimate TSP concentrations. The Hand-held Aerosol Monitor (HAM) correlates well with PM10 levels determined by the Coulter Counter and may be used by gin management for quick evaluation of emission- control systems.