Modelling of airflow in wood kilns

The uniformity of drying and the quality of the wood in a kiln are strongly influenced by the airflow. A numerical model that simulates the airflow di stribution is described and applied to solve the flow distribution in a kin . The influence of the plenum geometry, the sticker thickness, and the roof design on the velocity distribution in the wood packages is investigated n umerically Results provide useful information for the selection of sticker thickness and the determination of possible plenum and roof designs. This p aper is the first part of a larger effort to develop computer models for pr edicting the airflow, heat transfer, and drying rate in wood kilns. The mod el will constitute a powerful tool to optimize kiln design and to help oper ators improve kin operations without entailing major new costs.