ENGINEERING AND GINNING Cyclone Robber System Total Particulate Emission Factors and Rates for Cotton Gins: Method 17

ABSTRACT This report is part of a project to characterize cotton gin emissions from the standpoint of stack sampling. The impetus behind this project was the urgent need to collect additional cotton gin emissions data to address current regulatory issues. A key component of this study was focused on Environmental Proctection Agency (EPA) total particulate emission factors. EPA AP-42 emission factors generally are assigned a rating, from A (excellent) to E (poor), to assess the quality of the data being referenced. Current EPA total particulate emission factor ratings for cotton gins are extremely low. Cotton gin data received these low ratings because the data were collected almost exclusively from a single geographical region. The objective of this study was to collect additional total particulate emission factor data for cyclone robber systems from cotton gins located in regions across the cotton belt using EPA-approved stack sampling methodology. The project plan included sampling seven cotton gins. Key factors for selecting specific cotton gins included: 1) facility location, 2) production capacity, 3) processing systems, and 4) abatement technologies. Three gins with cyclone robber system exhausts were sampled. The average production rate during testing for the three gins was 27.5 bales/h. The average cyclone robber system total particulate emission factor based on the three gins (12 total test runs) was 0.020 kg/227-kg bale (0.045 lb/500-lb bale). This average total particulate emission factor was less than that currently published in 1996 EPA AP-42, which was 0.083 kg/bale (0.18 lb/bale). The cyclone robber system test average emission rates ranged from 0.31 to 0.67 kg/h (0.69-1.48 lb/h)

ENGINEERING AND GINNING Battery Condenser System PM 10 Emission Factors and Rates for Cotton Gins: Method 201A PM 10 Sizing Cyclones

ABSTRACT This report is part of a project to characterize cotton gin emissions from the standpoint of stack sampling. The impetus behind this project was the urgent need to collect additional cotton gin emissions data to address current regulatory issues. A key component of this study was focused on EPA emission factors for particulate matter with a particle diameter nominally less than or equal to 10 µm (PM 10 ). The 1996 EPA AP-42 emission factors were assigned quality ratings, from A (Excellent) to E (Poor), to assess the quality of the data being referenced. Emission factor quality ratings for cotton gins were extremely low. Cotton gin data received these low ratings because they were collected almost exclusively from a single geographical region. The objective of this study was to collect additional PM 10 emission factor data for battery condenser systems at cotton gins located in regions across the cotton belt based on EPAapproved stack sampling methodology, Method 201A. The project plan included sampling seven cotton gins across the cotton belt. Key factors for selecting specific cotton gins included: 1) facility location, 2) production capacity, 3) processing systems and 4) abatement technologies. Six of the seven gins were equipped with battery condensers with cyclones on the system exhausts. In terms of capacity, the six gins were typical of the industry, averaging 31.6 bales/h during testing. The battery condenser system average emission factors for PM 10 and total particulate were 0.017 kg/227-kg bale (0.036 lb/500-lb bale) and 0.034 kg/bale (0.075 lb/ bale), respectively. System average PM 10 and total particulate emission factors were higher than those currently published in EPA AP-42. The battery condenser system PM 10 emission rate test averages ranged from 0.17 to 1.16 kg/h (0.37-2.57 lb/h). The ratio of battery condenser system PM 10 to total particulate was 48.3%

ENGINEERING AND GINNING The Effects of Seed Cotton Cleaning on Seed Coat Fragments

AbSTRACT Processing problems in textile mills have been linked to seed coat fragments (SCF), and prevention of SCF during ginning is one important goal of cotton ginning research. The primary objective of this experiment was to determine if seed-cotton cleaners used prior to the extractor-feeder/gin stand change SCF levels in ginned lint. Several cottons were processed at different moisture contents with different seed cotton cleaners, and lint samples collected at the battery condenser were analyzed manually for SCF and motes. Samples were also analyzed with the Advanced Fiber Information System (AFIS) for seed coat neps (SCN) and neps. Analysis of lint samples revealed that SCF content for cotton processed with either a cylinder cleaner (14.4 SCF/g lint) or stick machine (13.7 SCF/g lint) before the extractor-feeder/gin stand was not found to differ statistically (p<0.05) from cotton processed with only the extractor-feeder/ gin stand (14.0 SCF/g lint). In most cases the same was true for the number of AFIS SCN, but AFIS neps were increased with the cylinder cleaner or stick machine. Also, the SCF content of 15.4 SCF/g lint for cotton processed with a standard machine sequence (cylinder cleaner, stick machine, cylinder cleaner, extractor-feeder/ gin stand, and two lint cleaners) was not found to be statistically higher than lint processed with only an extractor-feeder/gin stand and two lint cleaners (15.2 SCF/g lint). Again, this was generally true for the number of AFIS SCN, but AFIS neps were increased with the additional seed cotton cleaners. In conclusion, seed cotton cleaners were not found to increase SCF levels in comparison to the extractor-feeder/gin stand. Since the baseline treatment for comparison (the extractor-feeder/gin stand) included some seed cotton cleaning, the conclusion could not be made that seed cotton cleaners do not produce SCF, but the finding that additional seed cotton cleaners produced no additional SCF was important due to the importance of these machines in removing other unwanted material from seed cotton

ENGINEERING AND GINNING The Effects of Narrow-Row and Twin-Row Cotton on Fiber Properties

ABSTRACT Planting crops in alternative row patterns such as skip row, twin-row, or narrow-row, in comparison to a conventional 102-cm single row pattern, has been shown to increase root spacing, canopy closure, and yields. Two studies were conducted to assess the effect of alternative row patterns on fiber properties. The objective of the first study was to compare fiber properties for cotton in narrowrow (38-cm solid) and twin-row (25-cm paired on 102-cm beds) at different plant populations to conventional 102-cm solid rows at standard plant population. The objective of the second study was to compare fiber properties for cotton in twin-row (38-cm paired on 102-cm beds) to conventional 102-cm solid rows. In the first study, cotton was planted two years in both non-irrigated and irrigated fields near Stoneville, MS. Each field included the same eleven treatments: 38-cm solid and 25-cm paired rows at five plant populations and 102-cm rows at standard plant population. In the second study, two varieties were each planted two years in an irrigated field near Stoneville, MS. Lint quality samples in both studies were hand-picked from plots, ginned on a 10-saw gin stand, and analyzed by High Volume Instrument (HVI) and Advanced Fiber Information System (AFIS). In the first study, plant populations in the non-irrigated experiment ranged from 106,000 to 215,000 plants/ ha in 38-cm rows; 99,000 to 217,000 plants/ha in 25-cm paired rows; and 126,000 plants/ha in 102-cm rows. Plant populations in the irrigated experiment ranged from 93,000 to 220,000 plants/ha in 38-cm rows; 90,000 to 194,000 plants/ha in 25-cm paired rows; and 127,000 plants/ha in 102-cm rows. No meaningful significant differences were found for HVI fiber properties (length, micronaire, strength, uniformity, reflectance, yellowness, or trash) or AFIS fiber properties (upper quartile length, short fiber content, nep count, seed coat nep count, fineness, immature fiber content, or maturity ratio) in comparing 38-cm solid or 25-cm paired rows to 102-cm solid rows in either non-irrigated or irrigated experiments. In the second study, fiber quality analysis showed fewer neps in the 38-cm twin rows. Other properties were favorable for 38-cm twin rows but not consistent for the two years or two varieties tested. The results of fiber quality demonstrate that cotton produced in 38-cm solid and 38-cm twin rows on 102-cm beds was equal to or better than cotton produced in conventional 102-cm rows

ENGINEERING AND GINNING Unloading System PM 10 Emission Factors and Rates for Cotton Gins: Method 201A PM 10 Sizing Cyclones

ABSTRACT This report is part of a project to characterize cotton gin emissions from the standpoint of stack sampling. The impetus behind this project was the urgent need to collect additional cotton gin emissions data to address current regulatory issues. A key component of this study was focused on EPA emission factors for particulate matter with a particle diameter nominally less than or equal to 10 µm (PM 10 ). The 1996 EPA AP-42 emission factors were assigned quality ratings, from A (Excellent) to E (Poor), to assess the quality of the data being referenced. Emission factor quality ratings for cotton gins were extremely low. Cotton gin data received these low ratings because they were collected almost exclusively from a single geographical region. The objective of this study was to collect additional PM 10 emission factor data for unloading systems at cotton gins located in regions across the cotton belt based on EPA-approved stack sampling methodology, Method 201A. The project plan included sampling seven cotton gins across the cotton belt. Key factors for selecting specific cotton gins included: 1) facility location, 2) production capacity, 3) processing systems and 4) abatement technologies. Three of the seven gins had unloading systems that used pneumatic conveyance and had exhaust airstreams that were not combined with another system. In terms of capacity, the three gins were typical of the industry, averaging 26.1 bales/h during testing. Some test runs were excluded from the test averages because they failed to meet EPA Method 201A test criteria. Also, other test runs, included in the analyses, had cotton lint fibers that collected in the ≤ 10 µm samples. This larger lint material can affect the reported emissions data, but EPA Method 201A does not suggest methods to account for these anomalies. The unloading system average emission factors for PM 10 and total particulate were 0.107 kg/227-kg bale (0.237 lb/500-lb bale) and 0.131 kg/ bale (0.289 lb/bale), respectively. The system average PM 10 emission factor was higher and the system average total particulate emission factor was about the same as those currently published in EPA AP-42. Unloading system PM 10 emission rate test averages ranged from 1.16 to 3.99 kg/h (2.57-8.79 lb/h). The ratio of unloading system PM 10 to total particulate was 81.9%

ENGINEERING AND GINNING Effect of Machine-Fiber Interaction on Cotton Fiber Quality and Foreign-Matter Particle Attachment to Fiber

AbstRACt Changes in cotton fiber quality and attachment forces between foreign-matter particles and fibers were studied at different stages from the time of harvest through lint cleaning to develop new and less damaging methods for removing foreign-matter particles from cotton fiber. The study involved 75 samples collected from five field locations near College station, texas, including three replications and five harvesting and processing treatments: (1) hand picked and hand ginned, (2) machine picked and hand ginned, (3) machine picked, seed-cotton cleaned, and hand ginned, (4) machine picked, seed-cotton cleaned, and machine ginned, and (5) machine picked, seed-cotton cleaned, machine ginned, and onestage lint-cleaned. A microscope was used to identify foreign-matter particles in each sample. Physical characteristics of the particles and their attachment to fibers were investigated and classified. Results indicated that each machine-fiber interaction during the harvesting through ginning process had the net effect of decreasing the size of foreign-matter particles. The particles had no obvious difference in shape across the processing stages. The tightness of particle-fiber attachment, the number of neps, and the short-fiber content differed significantly as a function of mechanical interactions: they increased as the number of mechanical interactions increased. Processing through the gin stand was a major contributor to the increase in short fiber content. The majority of the foreign-matter particles were leaves, but proportions of the particle categories changed with stages of processing. With an increased number of mechanical interactions the proportion of leaf particles decreased and the proportion of seedcoat fragments and stems increased

ENGINEERING AND GINNING Master Trash System PM 10 Emission Factors and Rates for Cotton Gins: Method 201A PM 10 Sizing Cyclones

ABSTRACT This report is part of a project to characterize cotton gin emissions from the standpoint of stack sampling. The impetus behind this project was the urgent need to collect additional cotton gin emissions data to address current regulatory issues. A key component of this study was focused on EPA emission factors for particulate matter with a particle diameter nominally less than or equal to 10 µm (PM 10 ). The 1996 EPA AP-42 emission factors were assigned quality ratings, from A (Excellent) to E (Poor), to assess the quality of the data being referenced. Emission factor quality ratings for cotton gins were extremely low. Cotton gin data received these low ratings because they were collected almost exclusively from a single geographical region. The objective of this study was to collect additional PM 10 emission factor data for master trash systems at cotton gins located in regions across the cotton belt based on EPA-approved stack sampling methodology, Method 201A. The project plan included sampling seven cotton gins across the cotton belt. Key factors for selecting specific cotton gins included: 1) facility location, 2) production capacity, 3) processing systems, and 4) abatement technologies. Five of the seven gins had master trash systems. In terms of capacity, the five gins were typical of the industry, averaging 36.2 bales/h during testing. Some test runs were excluded from the test averages because they failed to meet EPA Method 201A test criteria. Also, other test runs, included in the analyses, had cotton lint fibers that collected in the ≤ 10 µm samples. This larger lint material can affect the reported emissions data, but EPA Method 201A does not suggest methods to account for these anomalies. The master trash system average emission factors for PM 10 and total particulate were 0.056 kg/227-kg bale (0.123 lb/500-lb bale) and 0.152 kg/bale (0.335 lb/bale), respectively. The system average PM 10 emission factor was higher and the system average total particulate emission factor was lower than those currently published in EPA AP-42. Master trash system PM 10 emission rate test averages ranged from 1.39 to 4.18 kg/h (3.06-9.21 lb/h). The ratio of master trash system PM 10 to total particulate was 36.9%

ENGINEERING AND GINNING Mote Trash System PM 10 Emission Factors and Rates for Cotton Gins: Method 201A PM 10 Sizing Cyclones

ABSTRACT This report is part of a project to characterize cotton gin emissions from the standpoint of stack sampling. The impetus behind this project was the urgent need to collect additional cotton gin emissions data to address current regulatory issues. A key component of this study was focused on EPA emission factors for particulate matter with a particle diameter nominally less than or equal to 10 µm (PM 10 ). The 1996 EPA AP-42 emission factors were assigned quality ratings, from A (Excellent) to E (Poor), to assess the quality of the data being referenced. Emission factor quality ratings for cotton gins were extremely low. Cotton gin data received these low ratings because they were collected almost exclusively from a single geographical region. The objective of this study was to collect additional PM 10 emission factor data for mote trash systems at cotton gins located in regions across the cotton belt based on EPAapproved stack sampling methodology, Method 201A. The project plan included sampling seven cotton gins across the cotton belt. Key factors for selecting specific cotton gins included: 1) facility location, 2) production capacity, 3) processing systems, and 4) abatement technologies. Two of the seven gins had mote trash systems where the exhaust airstreams were not combined with other major systems. In terms of capacity, the two gins were typical of the industry, averaging 32.4 bales/h during testing. The mote trash system average emission factors for PM 10 and total particulate were 0.011 kg/227-kg bale (0.025 lb/500-lb bale) and 0.021 kg/bale (0.046 lb/bale), respectively. The system average PM 10 emission factor was higher and the system average total particulate emission factor was lower than those currently published in EPA AP-42. Mote trash system PM 10 emission rate test averages ranged from 0.32 to 0.37 kg/h (0.72-0.81 lb/h). The ratio of mote trash system PM 10 to total particulate was 53.2%