Automatic Moisture Sensor for Measurement and Control of Cotton Ginning Processes

Cotton fiber moisture content is one of the most important factors that affects the operation of the cotton ginning process. A system has been developed that measures cotton’s dielectric constant and density with sufficient accuracy to indicate moisture content of the fiber during processing. An electronic capacitor and a pneumatic density sensor supply measurements to a microprocessor which combines them into a predicted moisture content. Tests showed that these predicted readings are more precise than conventional oven-moisture determinations and that they can be used for process control in the ranges from 6.5- to 12-percent moisture content.