Progress 05/15/03 to 12/31/07
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) The objectives of this cooperative research project will be: 1) develop various prototype gin stand fronts that can be easily retrofitted to various makes and models of existing saw-type gin stands, 2) determine optimum operational settings for the various components of the powered roll gin stand in regards to maximizing fiber properties, lint turnout, and processing rate, and 3) perform a cost/benefit analysis of upgrading existing gin stands to utilize the powered roll technology. The primary emphasis of fulfilling the objectives will be to promote commercialization of the powered roll technology for successful implementation into existing cotton gins. Approach (from AD-416) Based on previous work, four studies will be conducted. Three of the studies will be conducted at commercial cotton gins and one at the USDA- ARS, Cotton Production and Processing Research Unit's cotton gin at Lubbock, TX. The three studies at the commercial gins will entail retrofitting the existing gin stands with the Powered Roll technology and optimizing their operational settings for maximum economic gain from the perspective of lint turnout and fiber properties. The study at the Lubbock gin lab will focus on design configurations that are robust to changes in cotton varieties and moisture content. Experiments will be conducted using response surface methodologies to maximize performance of the various components of the powered roll gin stand in order to enhance the economic gain of implementing the technology. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations This will serve as the final report for research conducted under this agreement. Tests were completed and presentations made on the influence of rib rail angle and vertical placement in regards to performance of the powered roll gin stand technology on other makes of gin stands. Results dispelled some industry beliefs that the technology only worked on one make of gin stand and revealed rationale as to why retrofits on other makes of gin stands in the past had encountered problems. Currently there are 26 powered roll gin stands operating in 12 cotton gins.
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Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) The objectives of this cooperative research project will be: 1) develop various prototype gin stand fronts that can be easily retrofitted to various makes and models of existing saw-type gin stands, 2) determine optimum operational settings for the various components of the powered roll gin stand in regards to maximizing fiber properties, lint turnout, and processing rate, and 3) perform a cost/benefit analysis of upgrading existing gin stands to utilize the powered roll technology. The primary emphasis of fulfilling the objectives will be to promote commercialization of the powered roll technology for successful implementation into existing cotton gins. Approach (from AD-416) Based on previous work, four studies will be conducted. Three of the studies will be conducted at commercial cotton gins and one at the USDA- ARS, Cotton Production and Processing Research Unit's cotton gin at Lubbock, TX. The three studies at the commercial gins will entail retrofitting the existing gin stands with the powered roll technology and optimizing their operational settings for maximum economic gain from the perspective of lint turnout and fiber properties. The study at the Lubbock gin lab will focus on design configurations that are robust to changes in cotton varieties and moisture content. Experiments will be conducted using response surface methodologies to maximize performance of the various components of the powered roll gin stand in order to enhance the economic gain of implementing the technology. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations This report documents research conducted under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (#58-3K95-3-0997) between USDA-ARS, Cropping Systems Research Laboratory, Cotton Production and Processing Research Unit, Lubbock, TX, and PRT Marketing, LLC. Additional details can be found in the report for the in-house associated project 6208-21410-005- 00D, Harvesting and Ginning Processes to Enhance the Profitability of Stripper Cotton. The ADODR monitored activities via email and phone calls at least once every quarter. Reports were finalized on optimization studies conducted to determine optimal operational parameters for the powered roll gin stand. Optimization parameters were based on processing rate and fiber quality and revealed the potential for dynamically controlling the gin stand to custom gin seed cotton. A gin stand that could vary operational speeds and motor loading based on the condition of the seed cotton being processed is a revolutionary approach to ginning. Currently, there are 26 powered roll gin stands operating in 12 cotton gins.
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Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06
Outputs
Progress Report 4d Progress report. This report serves to document research conducted under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between USDA-ARS, Cropping Systems Research Laboratory, Cotton Production and Processing Research Unit, Lubbock, TX, and PRT Marketing, LLC. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent CRIS, 6208-21410-005-00D, Harvesting and Ginning Processes to Enhance the Profitability of Stripper Cotton. Two field tests in commercial cotton gins and two lab tests in the gin lab in Lubbock, TX, were performed. Results from the testing revealed a critical design element that allows for the technology to work in models of gin stands that previously had mixed performance (i.e., Consolidated and Lummus models). The first lab test revealed the optimal design configuration varied significantly from configurations previously evaluated in past field tests. A central composite design response surface test was performed (2nd
lab test) in order to fine tune and validate the findings in the first test. A field evaluation is planned for this ginning season (2006-07). Results from the initial study were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers in Portland, Oregon. Results from the studies are currently being prepared for publication.
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Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05
Outputs
4d Progress report. This report serves to document research conducted under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between USDA-ARS, Cropping Systems Research Laboratory, Cotton Production and Processing Research Unit, Lubbock, TX, and PRT Marketing, LLC. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent CRIS, 6208-21410-005-00D, Harvesting and Ginning Processes to Enhance the Profitability of Stripper Cotton. Four field tests in commercial cotton gins and two lab tests in the gin lab in Lubbock, TX, were performed. Results from the testing revealed optimal solutions for two makes of gin stands and revealed design and manufacturing issues that needed to be addressed in three other makes and models of gin stands currently in use. The results obtained from the studies are being used to set the operational speeds for a Continental gin stand being retrofitted with the powered roll gin stand technology in commercial cotton gins. Results
from the testing are also being used to improve past designs on Murray, Lummus, and Consolidated gin stands retrofitted with the new technology. The improvements revealed in the testing for the Murray, Lummus, and Consolidated gin stands should be in place and ready for evaluation in FY 06. Some of the results obtained were published in the incumbents dissertation, "Optimization of Fiber Quality, Production Rate, and Lint Turnout for the Powered Roll Gin Stand Utilizing Response Surface Methodology and Desirability Functions." Results from the other studies are being prepared for publication.
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Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04
Outputs
4. What were the most significant accomplishments this past year? D. Progress Report: This report serves to document research conducted under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (#59-3K95-3-997) between USDA-ARS, Cropping Systems Research Laboratory, Cotton Production and Processing Research Unit, Lubbock, TX, and PRT Marketing, LLC. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent CRIS, 6208-21410-004- 00D, Harvesting and Ginning Processes to Enhance the Textile Utility of Stripper Cotton. Two different makes of gin stands were retrofitted with the power roll gin stand technology. One was a prototype model in the USDA-ARS Lubbock, TX, ginning laboratory and the other was a conventional gin stand in a commercial cotton gin in Courtland, AL. Tests were conducted to determine the optimal operational settings for the various powered roll gin stand components in regards to increased production rate, lint turnout, and enhancing fiber
properties. In addition to the optimization testing, validation and comparison tests were also performed using three to four different varieties of cotton. Results were analyzed and are currently being reviewed for publication.
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