INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF CLEANING RAW COTTON BY MEANS OF VIBRATION
EUREKA, Physics and Engineering, vol.2026, no.3, pp.85-94, 2026 (Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 2026 Issue: 3
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.21303/2461-4262.2026.004258
- Journal Name: EUREKA, Physics and Engineering
- Journal Indexes: Scopus, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Materials Science & Engineering Collection (ProQuest), Technology Collection (ProQuest)
- Page Numbers: pp.85-94
- Keywords: damageability vibration processes, lint motion, raw cotton cleaning, vibrating surfaces
- Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC) Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
The aim of this work is to identify non-typical technological processes to improve the efficiency of equipment used for cleaning raw cotton while reducing fiber and seed damage. Raw cotton consists of particles-called lint-with pronounced elastic-plastic properties. Theoretical analysis revealed that during the interaction between cotton lint and a vibrating surface, two motion modes of the lint are observed: adhesive (attached) and non-adhesive (detached). In the adhesive mode, the lint moves together with the vibrating surface, whereas in the non-adhesive mode, the connection between the lint and the vibrating surface breaks, and the lint moves freely during part of the vibration cycle. Upon re-establishing contact between the vibrating surface and the lint, an impact occurs that helps separate impurities attached to the lint surface. This paper theoretically establishes the conditions under which the detached motion mode of cotton lint occurs. An experimental setup was developed for investigating the process of raw cotton cleaning using vibration, allowing variation in both fre-quency and amplitude of the vibration process. Experiments conducted on raw cotton of the Tashkent-I selective variety, grade III, machine-picked, demonstrated the possibility of achieving a cleaning efficiency of 70–85%, while simultaneously reducing seed and fiber damage. It was found that the relationship between cleaning efficiency and processing time follows an exponential saturation pattern. The desired degree of cleaning is typically achieved within 1.5 to 2 minutes. Cleaning efficiency can be further improved by installing an agitator on the cleaning unit, which ensures mixing of the cotton layer being processed.