Optimization of energy consumption and costs of wood drying with use of different drying techniques

Gorišek, Željko (author), Straže, Aleš (author)

The time and energy required for wood drying and therefore drying costs are among the highest in wood products manufacturing. Analysis of the drying process costs is very complex and needs to evaluate the cost of investments, energy, labour as well as defects of lumber or added value. In the present research work, we upgraded the computer aided engineering (CAE) model of wood drying processes with the economic evaluation of different drying techniques. By analyzing and comparing the costs of different drying processes, the model is able to predict the transition wood moisture content (MCt) at which the alteration from one to another drying technique would get the best results. The model was verified on data from several air- and kiln-drying experiments on 38 mm thick beech wood (Fagus sylvatica L.) boards. Computer simulation predicted advantages of combined dying beech wood with air predrying and continued and finished with kiln drying. The MCt in the winter period was at about 40% MC and decreased to 23% in favourable climate conditions in spring and summer months. The model can be also used for optimising the combination of other drying techniques.

• Language: English
• Keywords: kiln wood drying, air drying, beech wood, energy consumption, drying costs, drying simulation
• Work type: Scientific work
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Year: 2010
• Number of pages: Str. 57-66
• Numbering: Št. 92
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-28766
• UDC: 630*84
• ISSN on article: 0351-3114
• COBISS.SI-ID: 3048358
• Publication date in RUL: 11.07.2014

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Zbornik gozdarstva in lesarstva. forest and wood science & technology
• Shortened title: Zb. gozd. lesar.
• Publisher: Gozdarski inštitut Slovenije, Biotehniška fakulteta, Oddelek za gozdarstvo in obnovljive gozdne vire, Biotehniška fakulteta, Oddelek za lesarstvo
• ISSN: 0351-3114
• COBISS.SI-ID: 6206978

Secondary language

• Language: Unknown

Abstract

Dolgotrajnost in energijska potratnost sušenja lesa povečuje tudi stroške, ki so med največjimi med lesnopredelovalnimi postopki. Analiza stroškov zahteva vsestransko obravnavo z vrednotenjem stroškov investicije, energije in dela kot tudi upoštevanje razvrednotenja zaradi napak ali dodane vrednosti kakovostnega osušenega lesa. V raziskavi smo nadgradili računalniški model sušilnega procesa z ekonomskim vrednotenjem različnih sušilnih tehnik. S primerjavo stroškov različnih sušilnih postopkov smo predpostaviti prehodno vlažnost lesa, pri kateri bi s kombinacijo več načinov sušenja dosegli najboljše ekonomske rezultate. Metoda je bila preverjena na sušenju bukovine debeline 38 mm s kombinacijo sušenja na prostem in komorskega sušenja. V zimskih mesecih je sušenje na prostem smotrno do vlažnosti 40 %, v najugodnejših klimatskih razmerah pa je optimalna vlažnost prehoda iz sušenja na prostem v komorsko sušenje 23 %. Predstavljeno metodo je mogoče uporabiti tudi za optimizacijo različnih tehničnih postopkov sušenja lesa.

• Keywords: komorsko sušenje lesa, sušenje na prostem, bukev, poraba energije, stroški sušenja