Development of a Ginning Model for Stripper Harvested Cotton -- A Progress Report

G.L. Barker and R.V. Baker


 
ABSTRACT

Good progress has been made in the development of GINQUAL, a digital simulation model for cotton quality as it passes through the various sequences of gin machinery used to process stripper harvested cotton. Currently we have developed equations for cotton quality as the cotton passes through an airline cleaner, a towerdryer, up to four passes through a combination incline cleaner and stick machine, the ginstand and four stages of lint cleaning (Barker and Baker, 1984, Baker and Barker, 1986).

In developing this model, we assumed that each machine in the ginning process was a "black box" with certain operating and performance characteristics. The model requires the input cotton quality characteristics and machine operating parameters and uses these values to predict the changes that occurred in foreign matter content and the cotton quantity and quality as the cotton passes through each machine. The predicted output from each gin machine is then used as the input for the next machine in the sequence (Fig. 1).

The simulated output from the model compares very favorably with the observed data used to create the model. Final output of the model is an estimate of classers grade and staple length. The classers grade values are based on calorimeter reflectance and degree of yellowness. The model is strongest in its ability to simulate cotton quality factors and weakest in its ability to simulate cotton losses and cotton moisture content. Future work will concentrate on the development of models for each of the overhead ginning machines such as the bur machine, stick machine, the incline cleaner and the extractor-feeder-cleaner. The current model uses equations for a combination incline cleaner and stick machine to simulate the extractor-feeder-cleaner. Data exists in the literature for a single pass through each of the overhead cleaning machines, however, it does not allow for multiple passes and in many cases, is not "sequenced" in the proper order after other machines for adequate generation of model parameters. Examination of the data indicates that the cleaning efficiency for each of the machines in the gin is dependent upon the prior cleaning to which the cotton has been subjected.



Reprinted from 1986 Proceedings: Beltwide Cotton Production Research Conferences pg. 450
©National Cotton Council, Memphis TN

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Document last modified Sunday, Dec 6 1998