Abstract:
Wood drying is a process for removal of water out of wood until wood moisture
content reaches the value which is in equilibrium with the service environment. Drying is
the most energy and time consuming process within parawood lumber industries. The
aim of this study was to develop a high efficiency drying schedule for parawood lumber
of thicknesses 1 inch and 2 inch by accelerating the moisture movement out of lumber
without degrading the lumber during drying.
It was found that kiln residence time for drying the lumbers of thickness 1 inch
using drying schedule at high temperature of 90°C dry bulb and 65°C wet bulb with air
velocity of 4m/s was 60 hours. The drying time was quicker than one of drying at lower
temperatures of 60°C dry bulb and 45°C wet bulb by 50%. Energy consumption during
the high temperature drying was however increased by 20%. There were no differences
in bow, crook and twist of lumbers after drying between the two treatments. Top load of
about 300 kg/m2 slightly decreased twist and steaming at the beginning of drying
process reduced end checking. Colors of lumbers both at the surface and the core
between the two treatments were similar. Drying at higher temperature produced more
casehardening within lumbers. It was found however that conditioning at higher
temperature was more effective in releasing this residue stress caused by drying. For
the lumber of thickness 2 inch, drying at temperature of 90°C dry bulb and 50°C wet
bulb reduced kiln residence time and energy consumption by 47% and 20%,
respectively, in comparison with drying at lower temperature of 70°C dry bulb and 50°C
wet bulb with air velocity of 4m/s. There was no difference in the quality of lumbers
(warp, color, checking) after drying using the two treatments of temperature.
Drying schedule at higher temperature of 90°C is therefore an interesting
alternative to implement with the existing drying kilns used within parawood lumber
industries without a need to modify the kiln and the drying system.