Alternative Configurations in a Cylinder-Type Cleaner for Seed Cotton
2006
Ray, S.J.
The cleaning performance of a six-cylinder cleaner was evaluated on seed cotton based on varying grid-bar configuration, cylinder speed, and cylinder configuration. The experiment was conducted in two parts -- cylinders equipped with (Part 1) and without (Part 2) propulsion paddles. Each part was composed of eight combinations of grid-bar shapes and cylinder speeds. Pre-cleaned and non pre-cleaned seed cotton was used to simulate the first and second stages of cleaning. The study also included an evaluation of the first three and second three grid sections of the cleaner by capturing the wastes from each separately. In Part 1, the treatment with 9.5-mm flat-square grid bars and cylinder speed of 980 rpm outperformed the conventionally operated cylinder cleaner (9.5-mm diameter grid bars with 480-rpm cylinder speed) in all aspects of the analysis, considering both cleaning efficiency and fiber wastage. Overall, the 9.5-mm flat-square bar/980-rpm treatment had a cleaning efficiency of 28% and wasted virtually no fiber, while the conventional configuration had a 24% cleaning efficiency and had 0.08 kg/bale of fiber loss. In Part 2, essentially no differences occurred between the 9.5-mm flat-square bar/980 rpm treatment and the conventional configuration in all analyses, each with an overall cleaning efficiency of 26% and nearly no loss of fiber. All other treatments either had reduced efficiencies or significantly higher fiber loss. Results indicate that cylinders equipped with paddles may offer potential for optimizing seed-cotton cleaning performance when used with certain grid-bar configurations.
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