An In-Line, Non-Invasive Cotton Moisture Measurement Device for Gin Ducts

The management of moisture in cotton during ginning remains one of the most important factors in determining final quality. Resistance plates are typically used to measure moisture in seed-cotton and lint as it is processed through the gin, but these are limited by inaccuracies that arise from the small proportion of cotton tested, contamination of the sensor, and by the non-linear response to low and high moisture levels. In this article, we present a new sensing device that has potential for measuring the moisture of lint while it is being processed in the gin. The device combines large-area capacitance plates with light detectors to measure the mass and moisture of material traveling quickly under pneumatic pressure or gravity through gin ducts. Industrial trials showed significant correlations between moisture values given by the device and values measured off-line. This was despite only a narrow range of moisture contents (4.9% to 6.1%) occurring during the trial period. Further trials are necessary to evaluate the device over a wider range of conditions and to examine its potential to control ginning processes.