Combined Empirical Model of Lint-Cleaner Effects on Fiber Quality

Lint cleaning is a critical step in cotton ginning that improves the color and grade of cotton lint and increases its market value.  On the other hand, lint cleaning reduces net bale weight, decreases fiber length characteristics, and increases short fiber content and nep counts, both of which present significant problems at the textile mill.  Therefore, it is important to optimize how lint cleaners are used and how they are designed.  Several empirical models of lint cleaners have been developed, but all were limited to somewhat narrow circumstances.  There is not a systematic tool that allows researchers and ginners to assess the influence of machine-element configurations and operation parameters on bale weight, lint quality, and market value.  The objective of this study is to develop a simulation program that attempts to span the existing knowledge on lint-cleaner empirical modeling.  The program as currently devised requires the input of incoming lint quality (such as moisture content and length characteristics) and machine parameters (e.g., number of lint cleaner stages, feed rate, combing ratio, and saw speed), and it outputs fiber-quality parameters such as fiber loss, color grade, loan rate, partial revenue, nep counts and short fiber content.  This program may be used by ginners to vary lint-cleaning parameters in order to maximize profits, or by lint-cleaner manufacturers in order to design lint cleaners that cause less fiber damage and preserve fiber quality.