Moisture transfer rates for cotton trash components
1995
Barker, G.L. | Laird, J.W. | Wieck, B.J.
Moisture control during the harvesting, storage, and processing phases of cotton production is essential for producing a quality product. Basic information relating environmental parameters to equilibrium moisture content and the moisture transfer rates for cotton and its component parts will lead to better understanding of the processes involved and to better design and control criteria for cotton conditioning equipment. This report depicts the moisture absorption and desorption rates for cotton trash components at temperatures ranging from 5 degrees to 80 degrees C (41 degrees to 176 degrees F). The moisture data were transformed and found to fit a theoretical, falling rate curve. Nonlinear regression analysis was used to fit the value of the coefficients in the theoretical equation to the experimental data. Results indicate that both temperature and air type (dry or humid) significantly affect the coefficient "D" in the nonlinear equations. As expected, moisture transfer rates increased as temperature increased from 5 degrees to 80 degrees C and the drying rate was higher than the moisture absorption rate for each cotton trash component at each temperature. Leaves had the highest moisture transfer rates followed by burs and then sticks.
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