Probabilistic Analysis of Timber Drying Schedules

Abstract

Timber drying schedules are primarily chosen to achieve a certain final moisture content accompanied by a minimum amount of board degrade. However the schedule adopted also influences the dispersion in moisture content between boards at the end of drying. A simple double set point schedule consisting of two distinct and sequential equilibrium moisture contents is selected to illustrate the concept. Theoretical expressions that predict mean and standard deviation in board moisture content vs. time are developed. The predictions of these equations are compared with the output of a Monte Carlo model of timber drying and with experimental measurements from a laboratory kiln. The advantages of a double set point over a single set point schedule are explained and an optimum double set point schedule is determined. The behavior of a commercial drying schedule is analyzed and its performance with respect to the optimum schedule is quantified. Finally some inherent characteristics of the variability in timber drying systems are outlined.     

Probabilistic Analysis of Timber Drying Schedules

Timber drying schedules are primarily chosen to achieve a certain final moisture content accompanied by a minimum amount of board degrade. However the schedule adopted also influences the dispersion in moisture content between boards at the end of drying. A simple double set point schedule consisting of two distinct and sequential equilibrium moisture contents is selected to illustrate the concept. Theoretical expressions that predict mean and standard deviation in board moisture content vs. time are developed. The predictions of these equations are compared with the output of a Monte Carlo model of timber drying and with experimental measurements from a laboratory kiln. The advantages of a double set point over a single set point schedule are explained and an optimum double set point schedule is determined. The behavior of a commercial drying schedule is analyzed and its performance with respect to the optimum schedule is quantified. Finally some inherent characteristics of the variability in timber drying systems are outlined.     

Comparing Continuous and Cyclic Drying Schedules for Processing Hardwood Timber: The Importance of Mechanosorptive Strain

This work compares a conventional continuous drying schedule with a solar cyclic drying schedule for the seasoning of an Australian hardwood timber, Eucalyptus grandis, focusing on the simulated stresses and strains developed during drying as a measure of timber quality. The cyclic drying schedule has been found to give lower instantaneous strains, due to the effect of mechanosorptive strains in relieving stresses both in the initial stages of drying and over the entire drying period. The gentler initial drying conditions during cyclic drying are also beneficial compared to the harsher and unmodulated nature of conventional drying schedules. Without the modulation of the external drying conditions in intermittent or cyclic drying, the mechanosorptive strains are unable to relax or mitigate the stresses that are caused naturally by timber drying. There is some support for these conclusions by comparison with industrial experience and previous laboratory practice for intermittent and cyclic drying.     

Drying Schedules for Canelo Wood

Canelo wood is a highly valued native species in Chile that shows delicate marbling patterns with a pinkish soft silver luster. Due to its decorative qualities, canelo wood is dried for the manufacture of furniture and musical instruments. However, canelo wood lacks vessels cells that typically transport the water in hardwoods. Per its drying behavior, canelo wood is considered a transition species between hardwoods and softwoods. Therefore, this article reports drying schedules that were developed for drying 25-mm and 50-mm canelo lumber. In addition, this article reports experimental overall mass transfer coefficients, so that drying times for each of the drying stages can be easily estimated.     

Assessment of the Actual Performance of an Industrial Solar Kiln for Drying Timber

The aim of this study was to assess the actual performance of an instrumented industrial solar kiln for drying Australian hardwood timber (Eucalyptus pilularis) boards (270 × 43 mm). Ambient temperature and humidity, air temperature and humidity in the kiln, and wood moisture contents were recorded on site (Heron's Creek, NSW, Australia) using sensors and an electronic data acquisition and logging system. The average increases in air temperatures in the kiln compared with ambient conditions were 17.3°C (May-June), 13.8°C (July-August), 10°C (September-October), 8.2°C (November-March), and 7.5°C (March-May) for five runs monitored. Drying times were 2-4 months from initial moisture contents of 43 to 62% (dry-basis) to final moisture contents of 12 to 22%. Overall, the solar kiln has been shown to be an acceptable alternative to air-drying for pre-drying of Australian hardwood timber.     

Assessment of the Actual Performance of an Industrial Solar Kiln for Drying Timber

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the actual performance of an instrumented industrial solar kiln for drying Australian hardwood timber (Eucalyptus pilularis) boards (270 × 43 mm). Ambient temperature and humidity, air temperature and humidity in the kiln, and wood moisture contents were recorded on site (Heron's Creek, NSW, Australia) using sensors and an electronic data acquisition and logging system. The average increases in air temperatures in the kiln compared with ambient conditions were 17.3°C (May–June), 13.8°C (July–August), 10°C (September–October), 8.2°C (November–March), and 7.5°C (March–May) for five runs monitored. Drying times were 2–4 months from initial moisture contents of 43 to 62% (dry-basis) to final moisture contents of 12 to 22%. Overall, the solar kiln has been shown to be an acceptable alternative to air-drying for pre-drying of Australian hardwood timber.     

Prediction of Timber Kiln Drying Rates by Neural Networks

The purpose of this exploratory work was to apply artificial neural network (ANN) modeling to the prediction of timber kiln drying rates based on species and basic density information for the hem-fir mix that grows along the local coastal areas. The ANN models with three inputs (initial moisture content, basic density, and drying time) were developed to predict one output, namely, average final moisture content. The back-propagation algorithm, the most common neural network learning method, was implemented for testing, training, and validation. Optimal configuration of the network model was obtained by varying its main parameters, such as transfer function, learning rule, number of neurons and layers, and learning runs. Accurate prediction of the experimental drying rate data by the ANN model was achieved with a mean absolute relative error less than 2%, thus supporting the powerful predictive capacity of this modeling method.     

Prediction of Timber Kiln Drying Rates by Neural Networks

The purpose of this exploratory work was to apply artificial neural network (ANN) modeling to the prediction of timber kiln drying rates based on species and basic density information for the hem-fir mix that grows along the local coastal areas. The ANN models with three inputs (initial moisture content, basic density, and drying time) were developed to predict one output, namely, average final moisture content. The back-propagation algorithm, the most common neural network learning method, was implemented for testing, training, and validation. Optimal configuration of the network model was obtained by varying its main parameters, such as transfer function, learning rule, number of neurons and layers, and learning runs. Accurate prediction of the experimental drying rate data by the ANN model was achieved with a mean absolute relative error less than 2%, thus supporting the powerful predictive capacity of this modeling method.     

木材干燥基准的研究现状及展望

木材干燥基准是控制木材干燥过程中干燥介质的参数表。介绍了木材干燥基准的重要意义、类别、制定方法、研究现状等方面内容，指出了未来干燥基准的研究方向。     

A Comparison of Drying Time and Timber Quality in the Contihuous and Cyclic Drying of Australian Turpentine Timber

ABSTRACT

Continuous- and cyclic-dryins experiments have been carried out on an Australian hardwood timber; tuipentine. to compare the drying timesand the final quality of the timberproduced by these techniques. More severe drying conditions have been used in the the active drying Periods for cvclic drvins than for continuous drvins in order to hchieve similar drying Cimis. Fourteen boards of approximate original dimension 45 mm wide by 25 mm thick by 750 mm long, sealed at each end using an epoxy mastic coating, have been dried in each experiment. with end-matched samples being used to reduce the effect of different growing locations. The two cyclic-drying experiments differed in the use of high-humidity conditions in the relaxation period for the first experiment and ambient conditions in the relaxation period for the second experiment.

The total drying time for the second cyclic-drying experiment was equal to that for continuous drying, while the drying time for the first cyclic-drying experiment was 20% less than that for continuous drying. There were no significant differences at the 95% confidence level inbow, spring, shrinkageor surfacechecking between end-matched samples for continuous or cyclic drying. mist was significantly greater for the first cyclic-drying experiment. Collapse was virtually eliminated in both cyclic-drying experiments, while the internal checkina produced bv cyclic drvino was finer than that produced by continuous drying. the ; total number of internal checks observed in the first cyclic-drying experiment 1138) was 80% greater than that produced by continuous djing (761, while the number of checks found from the second cyclic-drying experiment (69) was 10% less than the number from continuous drvino. The imoroved performance of the second cyclic-drying experiment was not expected, since the use of high-humidity conditions would be expected to give higher diffusion coefficients and therefore more even moistu- re-content gradients, as well as less thermal shock at the start of are also due to Mr W. Mc Phee of Australian Heavy Hardwoods Pty Ltd for supplying the timber. This work has also been supported by the Australian Research Council, the Ian Potter and George Alexander Foundations, and The University of Sydney Research Grant Scheme.     

Impact of High-Temperature Schedules on Drying of Spruce and Pine

The impact of high-temperature drying (HTD) for spruce and pine lumber of 5 × 10 × 244 cm was investigated in this study. Four drying schedules with dry-bulb temperatures from 60 to 110°C were evaluated including Control 1 (conservative), Control 2 (accelerated), HTD1 (104°C) and HTD2 (110°C). In each of HTD1 and HTD2 schedules, two runs were performed, one humidified with steam and the other applied without steam. Drying rates, internal stresses (prong test), warp (bow, crook, and twist), modulus of elasticity (MOE), and modulus of rupture (MOR) were assessed for the dried lumber.

Six drying runs were carried out in a laboratory kiln and the results of this research indicated: (1) The drying rates in HTD1 and HTD2 increased by 2.2 to 3.5 times in comparison to the conservative schedule. (2) Both HTD1 and HTD2 schedules with steam resulted in greater internal stresses in the dried lumber compared to Control 1, but these stresses were smaller than those in Control 2. The standard deviations of final moisture content from HTD1 and HTD2 with steam were higher than those of Control 1 but similar to the values obtained for Control 2. (3) Warp was, in general, reduced by using the HTD schedules except for HTD2 without steam. Less crook was observed for HTD1 and HTD2. (4) Reductions in MOE and MOR were found for both HTD1 and HTD2 schedules but were not statistically significant.     

A Simulation Tool for the Optimization of Lumber Drying Schedules

Abstract

A two-dimensional wood drying model based on the water potential concept is used to simulate the convection batch drying of lumber at conventional temperature. The model computes the average drying curve, the internal temperature and moisture content profiles, and the maximum effective moisture content gradient through board thickness. Various scenarios of conventional kiln-drying schedules are tested and their effects on drying time, maximum effective moisture content gradient, final moisture content distribution within and between boards, and energy consumption are analyzed. Simulations are performed for two softwood species, black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.). The simulation results indicate that the predictive model can be a very useful tool to optimize kiln schedules in terms of drying time, energy consumption, and wood quality. Such a model could be readily combined with intelligent adaptive kiln controllers for on-line optimization of the drying schedules.     

A Simulation Tool for the Optimization of Lumber Drying Schedules

A two-dimensional wood drying model based on the water potential concept is used to simulate the convection batch drying of lumber at conventional temperature. The model computes the average drying curve, the internal temperature and moisture content profiles, and the maximum effective moisture content gradient through board thickness. Various scenarios of conventional kiln-drying schedules are tested and their effects on drying time, maximum effective moisture content gradient, final moisture content distribution within and between boards, and energy consumption are analyzed. Simulations are performed for two softwood species, black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.). The simulation results indicate that the predictive model can be a very useful tool to optimize kiln schedules in terms of drying time, energy consumption, and wood quality. Such a model could be readily combined with intelligent adaptive kiln controllers for on-line optimization of the drying schedules.     

Density and Moisture Profile Evolution during Timber Drying by CT Scanning Measurements

Timbers of 105 × 105 mm² in cross section and 1000 mm long were computed tomography (CT) scanned with a commercial unit in equal time steps during a drying cycle. The study aimed to convert the scanning numbers into wood density values, observe the changes that occur during the dehydration process, and, from these, differentiate moisture content as a function of time and space. The reference for calculating the moisture content of each image pixel was the oven-dry wood scan. Analysis of the results allowed visualizing the water distribution, the mechanism of water removal, as well as check formation. Although only a single drying run was analyzed and a limited number of timbers were scanned, the results revealed trends and thus show promise, so further research is urged because it may lead to a better understanding of water movement and check formation in wood during kiln drying.     

Effects of Wood Drying Schedules on Fluid Flow in Paulownia Wood

Effects of three drying schedules on fluid flow were studied in the sapwood and heartwood of Paulownia wood (Paulownia fortunei). Boards with a commercial thickness of 5 cm were randomly dried to a final moisture content of 8 ± 2% using a mild (T₆E₃), a moderate (T₆E₄), and a severe (T₇E₄) drying schedule. Permeability measurement was carried out when specimens reached the final moisture content. Results showed a significant difference in the specific gas permeability as well as liquid permeability of the boards dried under the three drying schedules. Furthermore, a significant difference was observed in the gas permeability of sapwood and heartwood, dried under the different schedules, but not much significant difference was seen in the liquid permeability between sapwood and heartwood. T₆E₃ had the highest liquid permeability; furthermore, it was reported to have resulted in the lowest warping and most homogeneous moisture profile. This mild schedule is therefore recommended for commercial drying of Paulownia wood when further preservation and impregnation processes are planned for the dried boards. In the meantime, it is concluded that the age and drying schedule have significant effects on the formation of tyloses, significantly affecting gas and liquid permeability in Paulownia wood.     

Predicting Thermal Efficiency in Timber Radio Frequency Vacuum Drying

In this work, the efficiency of transforming dielectric energy into evaporated water is analyzed for the case of timber radio frequency vacuum drying. Based on well-known heat and mass transfer equations, a simplified mathematical model is proposed that estimates the drying efficacy in regards to the thermo-physical properties of wood. Although not exact, the theoretical results are close to the experimental observations and elucidate some phenomena like the tendency of the timber to dry from inside to outside, and the drying rate increase with the rise of the timber gas permeability. The theoretical efficiency model also predicts a range of wood permeability values for which the drying efficiency changes from 100 to 0%, thus providing a quantitative scale for classifying the spectrum of “difficult-to-dry” all the way to “easy-to-dry” wood species when using radio frequency vacuum technology.     

Development of Drying Schedules for One-Side-Heating Drying of Refractory Concrete Slabs Based on a Finite Element Model

A finite element model is presented for drying of refractory concrete pieces cast into various shapes. Simulations are carried out for one-side-heating drying of refractory concrete slabs. The effects of permeability, heating rate, and slab thickness on pore pressure and moisture removal rate are investigated. Different drying schedules are modeled and analyzed. New schedules are proposed to provide guidelines for on-site drying operations.     

Predicting Thermal Efficiency in Timber Radio Frequency Vacuum Drying

Abstract

In this work, the efficiency of transforming dielectric energy into evaporated water is analyzed for the case of timber radio frequency vacuum drying. Based on well-known heat and mass transfer equations, a simplified mathematical model is proposed that estimates the drying efficacy in regards to the thermo-physical properties of wood. Although not exact, the theoretical results are close to the experimental observations and elucidate some phenomena like the tendency of the timber to dry from inside to outside, and the drying rate increase with the rise of the timber gas permeability. The theoretical efficiency model also predicts a range of wood permeability values for which the drying efficiency changes from 100 to 0%, thus providing a quantitative scale for classifying the spectrum of “difficult-to-dry” all the way to “easy-to-dry” wood species when using radio frequency vacuum technology.     

Determination of Drying Characteristics of Timber by Using Artificial Neural Networks and Mathematical Models

In this research, poplar and pine timbers have been dried in heat pump dryer functioning on the basis of 24-h operation. The change in weight in all of the timbers was followed in the drying chamber and drying stopped when the desired weight was achieved. Initial moisture content of the poplar timbers was 1.28 kg water/kg dry matter, and the moisture content was reduced to 0.15 kg water/kg dry matter moisture content in 70 h; the moisture content of the pine timbers, which was 0.60 kg water/kg dry matter, was reduced to the same amount in 50 h. Drying air temperature, relative humidity, and stack weight were measured and collected during drying and saved on a computer and analyzed afterwards. The moisture ratios were analyzed with Statgraphic computer program by using semitheoretical models and empirical values. Correlation and standard error of estimation (SEE) and R ² values were achieved.