Two ambitious objectives were set for this project. The first objective was to design and build a moisture measuring sensor without the operational shortcomings of current sensors and the connection of this sensor with a moisture replenishing system. The second, unrelated to moisture management, but no less important in terms of fibre quality preservation, was to design and build a sensor to detect contamination in loose fibre linked with a system to remove detected contamination from transport ducting. Both objectives are aligned with the industry’s strategy of maintaining and improving fibre quality.

Moisture sensor

The moisture sensor was built and successfully tested in industry. Test results show the sensor gives stable, accurate results that can be used to manage heating and humidification in the gin. Results from the sensor were used to model a gin heating/humidifying control system. The model showed the system could improve fibre quality and return significant savings in energy to ginners. Applications for the moisture sensor patent in various countries are currently being made. Commercial interest in the sensor to date has been circumspect; Cotton Incorporated has indicated interest, along with Samuel Jackson (Lubbock TX). More representation to industry is needed to establish the benefits of this invention.

Contamination sensor

During this project a proof-of-concept contamination sensor was designed, built and tested at CSIRO. Components of the sensor include balanced illumination using visible light, a high speed colour line-scan camera and image analysis software. No extraction points for contaminants were developed as this is already a mature technology implemented in commercial systems for spinning mills. The components for this system were selected after review of a wide range of applicable technologies. Work is continuing with the Australian ginning industry and Loptex Italia on development and installation of contamination sensors for Australian gins.