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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Cotton Ginning Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #324492
Research Project: Enhancing the Quality, Utility, Sustainability and Environmental Impact of Western and Long-Staple Cotton through Improvements in Harvesting, Processing, and Utilization

Location: Cotton Ginning Research

Title: Removing seed coat fragments with a lint cleaner grid bar air knife

Author
item Armijo, Carlos
item Whitelock, Derek
item Hughs, Sidney
item GILLUM, MARVIS - Retired ARS Employee

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/6/2016
Publication Date: 5/20/2016
Citation: Armijo, C.B., Whitelock, D.P., Hughs, S.E., Gillum, M.N. 2016. Removing seed coat fragments with a lint cleaner grid bar air knife. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference, January 5-7, 2016, New Orleans, LA. p. 163-164. 2016 CD ROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Seed coat fragments (SCF) in ginned lint cause spinning problems at the textile mill and undesirable defects in finished goods. Work continued on developing an air knife that may help remove SCF from ginned lint. The air knife is mounted on the 1st lint cleaner grid bar of a saw-type lint cleaner, and is powered by a high volume (90 to 120 cfm), low pressure (50 to 150 inches water) 6-hp industrial blower. The air knife emits a high intensity sheet of air that exerts a force large enough to remove SCF that are being dragged on the grid bar. A deflector mounted on the air knife directs air to the grid bar. The air knife is currently being tested on a bench. Testing showed that the pattern of air flow was easily influenced by the position of the deflector in relation to the grid bar. Air velocity exiting the knife was not uniform along the grid and varied considerably (0 to 4,700 ft/min); velocity profiles indicated that air did not attach to the surfaces of the deflector or grid bar. In addition, velocities were only about one-half of what was expected. Possible solutions that will control the air exiting the air knife and boost the air velocity include installing a second deflector, or designing a new plenum that would release the air closer to the juncture of the grid bar and lint cleaner saw. After satisfactory results have been obtained on the bench, the air knife will be installed on the lint cleaner for formal testing.