A device for rapidly conditioning dry cotton samples to proper High Volume Instrument (HVI) testing moisture was designed, constructed and evaluated. The prototype device, known as the Rapid Conditioning Unit or RCU, was evaluated in the Visalia, California Classing Office using saw-ginned Upland cotton samples from the 1993 cotton crop. The Rapid Conditioning Unit conditions dry samples by drawing conditioned air through the samples for a period of a few minutes. The method currently utilized by classing offices requires unconditioned cotton samples to be exposed to relatively motionless conditioned air for forty-eight hours.

Sample moisture and HVI measurements from samples conditioned rapidly were compared with moisture and HVI measurements from samples conditioned by the current classing office method. The Rapid Conditioning Unit successfully demonstrated the ability to bring the moisture level of dry incoming cotton samples up to proper HVI testing moisture in a matter of minutes. Rapid conditioned samples produced HVI test results that were of consistent quality with samples conditioned using the forty-eight hour conditioning method.