ENGINEERING & GINNING Relative Velocity, Density, and Temperature Effects on Cotton Moisture Transfer Rates

Moisture control during cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) harvesting, storage, and processing is essential for producing a quality product. The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of relative air velocity, air temperature, and lint density on moisture transfer rates for cotton burs, cottonseed, and cotton lint during the drying or moisturerestoration process. The volumetric flow rate of air, passing over, through, and around a sample, was varied from 104 to 944 cm s -1 (0.22 to 2.0 ft 3 min -1 ). Air relative velocities varying from 4.45 to 50 cm s -1 (9 to 98 ft min -1 ), depending on the sample holder used, were achieved in this way. The density of cotton lint was varied from .005 to .03 g cm -3 (0.31 to 1.87 lb ft -3 ). A 40(C temperature was used for all samples. In