Kiln drying of timber is an important process in primary wood processing, since it improves mechanical properties and makes it durable. Advantage of kiln drying is high control over quality of wood products, downside being high consumption of specific heat per unit when compared to other operations in field of primary wood working. In this work the whole drying process is split into phases as is done in literature. Each of them is analyzed and then modeled, models being based od 45 experimental drying cycles on industrial system. Further, three potential improvements (heat recovery unit, vented solar heated facade and heat pump) in kiln drying process are introduced and their effect assessed, based on set up models. Finally, the initial process and potential improvements are assesed, based on environmental pointers.
|
