Effects of Processing Rate on the Performance of Seed Cotton Cleaning Equipment

Abstract

ABSTRACT INCREASES in seed cotton processing rate tended to reduce the cleaning performances of a cylinder cleaner and three types of bur and stick extractors. A 3,000- to 7,000-kg/m/h increase in processing rate through a cylinder cleaner and a 900- to 1,700-kg/m/h increase through a bur machine reduced the amount of trash ex-tracted by each machine by about 21 percent. Increases in processing rate from 2,900 to 5,700 kg/m/h reduced the amount of trash extracted by a stick machine and a combination bur and stick machine by about 7 percent. Increases in processing rate also significantly increased the amount of cotton fibers wasted by the stick machine by about 52 percent. Seed cotton processing rates within the range of 1,700 to 7,400 kg/m/h had only minor ef-fects on the overall performance of a complete seed cot-ton cleaning system and had no effect on final lint quali-ty. However, a 10,000 kg/m/h processing rate adversely affected cleaning system performance, increased cotton-seed foreign matter content, and lowered the grade index of lint.