SIMULATION OF DRYING IN A BATCH LUMBER KILN FROM SINGLE-BOARD TESTS

A deterministic model was developed to perform a board-by-board simula tion of a forced convective batch lumber kiln. Individual board proper ties may be input and dryer operating parameters varied. The drying ra tes are empirical correlations based on single-board laboratory tests. The model incorporates the thermodynamic properties of the wood and g as, as well as mass and energy balances within the lumber stack. It al so accounts for differences in heat and mass transfer resulting from p osition and changing gas properties throughout the dryer. The rate of drying predicted by the model and the final moisture content distribut ion were verified by weighing boards in a batch kiln before, during, a nd after drying. The application of the model is illustrated by simula ting four common scenarios.