Cotton Gin Simulation/Management

Abstract

A subroutine involving utility rate structures has been added to ESIM, an energy-based cotton gin sumulator (Williams, 1982). This addition provides an enhanced tool for energy management in cotton gins. In 1970, gins were paying about $.02 per kilowatt-hour for electricity. The cost has risen to over $.10 per kilowatt-hour in 1985. With such a drastic increase, gins must be as efficient as possible to survive. ESIM, in its modified form, has a lot of potential to improve that efficiency. The modified version will allow a gin operator to analyze various options to make better energy management decisions. Such analysis include comparison of utility rate schedules of different power companies, planning of a ginning season before it starts; thus avoiding an unnecessary demand charge, and a dollar savings from reducing energy comsumption.