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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Cotton Production and Processing Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #88378
Title: SUMMARY OF AIR QUALITY RESEARCH

Author
item Baker, Roy
item Hughs, Sidney
item PARNELL, C. - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/9/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: U.S. cotton gins are required to comply with strict dust and lint fly emission standards established by state and federal air quality control agencies. Cyclone collectors are playing an increasingly important role in bringing cotton gins into compliance with the required standards. Although present cyclone technology will meet current air quality standards in most areas, out industry continues to pursue research and technology transfer efforts that will anticipate and provide for further air quality needs. To meet these needs, several research groups continue to pursue objectives related to cotton gin air quality. A part of this ongoing program includes attempts to improve the cyclone collector, and to extend its range of application. This report summarizes basic research on new and improved cyclone designs and trash collection methods conducted at Texas A&M and the USDA-ARS Ginning Laboratories during the past five years.

Technical Abstract: Cost effective control of particulate emissions has become a major objective of must U.S. cotton ginners. An effective trash handling and emission control system has also become an essential element in modern high-production ginning. As a result, a lot of research has been conducted during the past few years to improve operational effectiveness of modern trash and particulate collection systems at U.S. cotton gins, and to further reduce particulate emissions to the atmosphere. A summary of numerous studies conducted during the past 5 years at Texas A&M and at the USDA-ARS ginning laboratories on pre-separators for cyclones, various modifications and improvements to the conventional cyclone collector, several new cyclone designs, and the physical and chemical properties of cyclone emissions are reviewed in this paper.