Solar kiln dryer for timber | |
| Author | Prasert Rerkkriangkrai |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no. ET-88-4 |
| Subject(s) | Timber--Drying Solar energy-- Research Kilns |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master in Engineering, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Timber to be used for most wood products requires drying be fore it can be manufactured into a stable finished product. Traditional air drying of s awn timber in stacks is slow and often involves degradation . The project was undertaken to design, construct and test a solar kiln for drying timber in the minimum time consistent with maintaining good quality, A mathematical model using experimental results was also developed for use in future designs. The prototype size was 13 .7 m x 7.0 m x 5.0 m. The solar collector area was 92 . 5 m2 and the capacity was 2 0 m3 of timber. The drying air was forced through the system by four fans , each 24-inch diameter, power by a 1 hp motor . Three drying experiments were made. The results indicated an average overall thermal efficiency of 15 . 6%. Solar dried Yang timber (Dipterocarpus spp.) 25 mm thick had moisture con tent reduced from 26% to 2 0% (dry basis ) in 5 days compared with 30 a nd 32 days for open air drying unsheltered from rain and open air drying sheltered from rain respectively. The results also indicated that, Takiensai timber (Hopea avellanea Heim. ) 30 mm thick had moisture content reduced from 30% to 16% in 1 2 days by solar drying compared with 24 days by open air drying sheltered from rain. Simple practical operating schedules are recommended for use with the solar kiln. The report concludes that the solar kiln for timber is technically viable , and gives high quality, minimize color change and few splits/cracks in the timber. |
| Year | 1988 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Energy Technology (ET) |
| Chairperson(s) | Exell, Robert H.B. |
| Examination Committee(s) | Mora, Jean-Claude ; Prida Wibulswas |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of Switzerland |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1988 |