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New Developments from Industry

New Developments from Industry. Dennis Steele Research and Development Continental Eagle Corp. COTTON SEED VARIETIES. Today there are many different cotton seed varieties. Each variety has its own set of characteristics. Some are easy to gin—some are difficult.

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New Developments from Industry

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  1. New Developments from Industry Dennis Steele Research and Development Continental Eagle Corp.

  2. COTTON SEED VARIETIES Today there are many different cotton seed varieties. Each variety has its own set of characteristics. Some are easy to gin—some are difficult. Some yield high fiber qualities—some not. Some yield high turnouts—some not so high. • All have different seed weights when compared • on a per bale basis.

  3. COTTON SEED VARIETIES • These different varieties present a challenge to today’s • gin manager. • How does the gin manager know how much seed is in • the storage area? • How does the gin manager determine how much seed • to credit to one grower versus another?

  4. CURRENT OPTIONS TO ESTIMATE SEED WEIGHT • The “formula” or “factoring”. • This works if you have a long history of records • and the growing season is the same every year. • What if you have a different type of growing • season, or what if you get a new variety? • Seed scales. • These are very good estimates of seed weight. However, • they are typically of two types: the balance beam type • or the load cell type. These consist of many mechanical • parts, require attention for maintenance and cleanliness • and require a lot of space and equipment • modification to install.

  5. Continental Eagle Corp. has a third option for estimating seed weight

  6. Continental Eagle Corp. together with Ohmart/Vega Corp. has developed a new method of weighing cotton seed at the cotton gin. It requires minimal (if any) modifications to existing equipment to install. It has no moving parts. It requires minimal maintenance during the ginning season.

  7. The system uses radiation-based technology • designed to measure the weight of cotton seed • continuously as it travels in an auger box. • Information is sent to two totalizer displays. • One display can be used to accumulate the • weight for the year. • One display can be used to accumulate the • weight since the meter was “zeroed”.

  8. WEIGHMAX NUCLEAR SEED SCALE

  9. OLD TECHNOLOGY NEW APPLICATION • Ohmart/Vega has been producing radiation-based measuring • equipment since 1950. • A few of the products currently being weighed using • Ohmart/Vega systems include: Coal Potatoes Gold Wood chips Gypsum board • Now Continental Eagle Corp. is applying Ohmart/Vega’s • technology and expertise to weigh: cotton seed

  10. PRINCIPLES of OPERATION Sealed Emitter (radioactive source in a holder) Beam of low level radiation Detector 4-20 ma signal to remote display

  11. PRINCIPLES of OPERATION • Sealed Emitter (source) • Contains 1 mCi of Cs-137 inside a lead free, all welded, 304 stainless steel, fireproof housing.

  12. PRINCIPLES of OPERATION • Radiation beam • A fan shaped (collimated) • beam passes perpendicular • to and thru the flow of cotton • seed to the detector. The • greater the amount of seed • passing thru the beam, the • less the amount of radiation • reaching the detector.

  13. PRINCIPLES of OPERATION • Detector • Consists of an ion chamber • and electronics. The radiation • passes thru the cotton seed • and strikes the ion chamber • producing an electrical signal • proportional to the amount • of radiation detected. Using this • and the RPM of the auger, the • electronics convert this • information into a 4-20 ma signal • to be used by the display. Ion chamber Electronics Nema 4X enclosure

  14. ADVANTAGES OF NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY • Radiation emitted from the source is stable and • predictable over time. • Absorption of radiation by materials is constant • and predictable. • Technology for collecting radiation and converting this • information into a useable signal is reliable and • proven. • Not affected by external surroundings such as dust, • humidity, and abrasion. NO MOVING PARTS

  15. RADIATION • The source in this application is Cs-137. • The radiation it gives off consists of Gamma rays. • Gamma rays are penetrating, but in general do not have • the ability to make things radioactive. • The amount of radiation is about 1.00 mRem/h at 12” • from the source. (It decreases as distance increases). COMPARISONS Americans receive about 300 mRem a year just walking around. Passengers in an airplane at 39,000 ft. receive about .8mRem/h. A chest x-ray is about 10 mRem.

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