Greg Holt, USDA-ARS, Lubbock, TX J. Weldon Laird, USDA-ARS (Retired)

1. Modifying Rib Rail Placement for the Powered Roll Gin Stand: Results from Studies Conducted on a Retrofitted Lummus Gin Stand Greg Holt, USDA-ARS, Lubbock, TX J. Weldon Laird, USDA-ARS (Retired) Tom Wedegaertner, Cotton Inc., Cary, NC

2. Background • PRGS initially developed to remove residual lint from cottonseed for the EasiFlo process. • Due to lint properties obtained from reginning seed, the stand was modified for seed cotton. • Initial prototype and field model(s) were on Continental Eagle gin stands

3. Background (cont.) • Success retrofitting other makes of gin stands inconsistent. • Led to speculations that the technology was only applicable to Cont. Eagle gin stands. • Investigation into performance problems found rib angle and gin point as primary differences.

4. Objectives • Evaluate if other gin rib configurations in a retrofitted Lummus-116 improved performance (Study 1). • If 1st study promising, conduct optimization study to determine optimal gin rib configuration(s) (Study 2).

5. Procedures – Studies 1 & 2 • Evaluate retrofitted Lummus-116 • Single variety of cotton (PM2326) • Modify rib angle and gin point • Collect moisture, lint, and seed samples and recorded production data • Set PRGS controls for constant speeds and load.

6. Paddle Roll Gin Saw Seed Finger Roll Schematic of Powered Roll Gin Stand

7. Procedures – Studies 1 & 2 • Evaluate retrofitted Lummus-116 • Single variety of cotton (PM2326) • Modify rib angle and gin point • Collect moisture, lint, and seed samples and recorded production data • Set PRGS controls for constant speeds and load.

8. Procedures – Studies 1 & 2 • Evaluate retrofitted Lummus-116 • Single variety of cotton (PM2326) • Modify rib angle and gin point • Collect moisture, lint, and seed samples and recorded production data • Set PRGS controls for constant speeds and load.

9. Powered Roll Gin Front Rib Rail & Spacer Initial Gin Stand Frame Guide Roller

10. Setup 1 (original)

11. Setup 2

12. Procedures – Studies 1 & 2 • Evaluate retrofitted Lummus-116 • Single variety of cotton (PM2326) • Modify rib angle and gin point • Collect moisture, lint, and seed samples and recorded production data • Set PRGS controls for constant speeds and load.

13. Data Collected • Moisture samples – Feeder apron • Lint Samples (AFIS & HVI) – BLC & ALC • Seed Samples – Below gin stand • Control system data – kW & amps • Gin rate and Turnout

14. Procedures – Studies 1 & 2 • Evaluate retrofitted Lummus-116 • Single variety of cotton (PM2326) • Modify rib angle and gin point • Collect moisture, lint, and seed samples and record production data • Set PRGS controls for constant speeds and load.

15. Powered Roll Gin Control Settings • Paddle Roll Speed = 208 rpm • Saw Speed = 830 rpm • Seed Finger Speed = 26 rpm • Paddle Roll Load = 17.5 amps

16. Experimental Design • Study 1 • 6 treatments * 3 reps = 18 runs • Completely Randomized - ANOVA • Study 2 • 9 treatments - 22 runs • Face-Centered Central Composite Design

17. Results – Study 1

18. Results – Study 2

19. Results – Study 2 1.04 Lint (%) 0.84 0.64 Residual 0.44 1.656 1.688 1.563 1.516 1.469 1.344 Spacers (in) Roller Diameter (in) 1.375 1.172 1.281 1.000

20. Results – Study 2

21. Conclusions • Initial theory of installing PRGS on existing gin stands involved only a new front was in error. • The retrofitted Lummus-116 needed to have the rib angle reduced by 4 deg. & gin point moved up 0.5 in. • Additional studies needed to refine design space as much as possible.

22. Conclusions (cont.) • Evaluate using more varieties and differing load settings. • Additional items such as rib curvature, roll box dimensions, and paddle and seed finger roll placement warrant further investigation.

23. Thank You