Energy Monitoring In Gins

Energy costs account for 27% of cotton gins’ variable costs and are the second largest source of variable costs, after seasonal labor.  Energy use has typically not been considered in gin design, and previous studies of energy use have utilized instantaneous readings or aggregated season-long values.  Energy use was monitored throughout the entire season for several gins across the cotton belt.  Motor loads were recorded for gin stands, fans, cleaning machinery, module feeders, and bale presses.  Power consumption and power factor were recorded for the entire gin.  Additional variables, such as feed control speeds and seed cotton moisture content, were monitored when feasible.  This data was analyzed to identify variations in energy use within and between gins.  Opportunities for conserving energy were identified and discussed.