Non-Invasive Cotton Moisture Measurement for Gin Ducts and Its Impact On Cotton Fiber and Gin Performance

The management of moisture in cotton during ginning is important in determining final fiber 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 used in the test, contamination of the sensor and by the non-linear response to low and high moisture levels.  In this paper, we present results of measurements using a new non invasive capacitor-based cotton moisture measurement system that was used to meter moisture onto cotton before ginning.  The effect of moisture on fiber properties is shown, and the energy used to generate humidified and dry air is measured against impacts on fiber quality.