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Estimating Heat Consumption in Kiln Drying Lumber: James E. Shottafer Craig E. Shuler
Estimating Heat Consumption in Kiln Drying Lumber: James E. Shottafer Craig E. Shuler
CONSUMPTION IN KILN
DRYING LUMBER
James E. Shottafer
Craig E. Shuler
PAGE
INTRODUCTION . 1
BACKGROUND • 2
A DRY KILN 6
DRY KILN 13
22
SUMMARY
23
SOME SUGGESTED REFERENCES
INTRODUCTION
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ment, known as the heat of desorption, drops off rapidly as
higher final moisture contents are desired.
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H 4 = H 4 (a) + H 4 (b) + H 4 (c) etc. for aJl the
schedule steps.
-•5-
The estimate of the heat consumption during a kiln run
is the sum of the heat requirements imposed by these six
elements.
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A. Calculate the amount of water re- w
maining in the wood at the final
moisture content in the kiln
W = ODW x final MC expressed as a decimal
and
H3 W x c H 2 Q x AT
and:
-ft-
Determine H 5 The heat required to raise the
temperature and humidify the incoming vent
air (Btu)
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Table 1. Procedure for Calculating Total H5 Element
(Heat Consumed in Heating and Humidifying Vent Air)
Note that the subscripts 1 and 2, etc. refer to stages 1 and 2 etc. in the kiln schedule.
C. If only the total heat consumption by
this element, H 5 , is needed it may be
calculated by following the procedure
in Table 1 .
If the heat consumption by this element,
H5, is needed for each stage, or set of
conditions, in the kiln schedule, the
calculations outlined in the following
steps of the procedure must be completed.
and:
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Total heat consumption may now be de-
termined, as indicated in the description
of the various elements.
H
total = H, + H 2 + H 3 + H 4 t H 5 + H 6
While the calculations appear complex,
they are actually quite simple, provided
one proceeds through them carefully, step-
by-step. An example illustrating the use
of the formulas may also prove helpful.
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Figure 1. Temperature and moisture content for drying 4/4
eastern white pine (Schedule T7-E6, modified)
Figure 2. Heat required to overcome hygroscopic forces
as related to final moisture content
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Figure 4. Weight of vapor per pound of dry air
at various combinations of temperature
and relative humidity. (From U.S. FPL
Report No. R1265, March, 1954)
2. Determine H2 - Heat required to overcome hygroscopic
forces. From Figure 2, the heat desorption at the final
moisture content in the Schedule (D) is 18.5 Btu/lb (Final
moisture content is 7%.)
H 2 = ODW x D - (44,200X18.5) = 817,700 Btu
H
42 (44,200)(.1)[(1)(105) + 1014]
4,945,980 at DB stage 2
Total H 4 = H 4 1 + H 4 2 + H43
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Table 2. Example Calculation of Total H5 Element
(Energy Required to Heat and Humidify Vent Air)
H5 = K Amcj (At,) + Amc2 (At2) ... etc. + A VMC] (S, x c H 0 + h,) + Amc2 (AS2 x C|_| 0 + n
2 5 ••• e+c
J
d d
_ 1 2
3
A = ODW x E = 44,200 x .05 = 2210.00
C = K 0
H20
H5 = 26,038,761 Btu
5. Determine H 5 - The heat required to raise the tem-
perature and humidify the incoming vent air
Schedu 1 e DBT AS At
Staqe (°F) <°P> (°F) (°F)
1 130 45 85 95
2 130 45 85 95
3 130 45 85 95
4 140 45 95 105
5 160 45 115 125
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6. Determine Hg - The heat required to replace any
losses from the system. The weighted average DBT for the
the entire kiln run must be calculated.
T
avg = DBT
1 (n
1 }+ DBT
2 (-n2) + DBT
3 (n
3 ) + ••• e+c
-
+ n e
n < + n2 3 "*"c•
Where n Is the time in hours
T =
avg 1 1 0 _ ( 9 5 ) + 1 4 0 ( 25) + 150 (90)
95 + 25 + 90
Tavg = H 4 o F
Btu Percent
Hj - Heat the wood substance 3,271,821 3.0
H 2 - Overcome hygroscopic 982,638 0.9
forces
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Btu Percent
H 3 •- Heat residual water 1,,055,455 1 .0
i n wood
H 4 -- Heat and evaporate water 48,,855,306 45.3
removed from wood
H5 •- Heat and humidify vent 17.,964,494 16.7
a ir
SUMMARY
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higher consumption.
-?*,-
Forest Products Research Society News-Digest
Process: Drying and Storage
December 1973
File: F-1.20
(3) Repair and caulk all leaks and holes in the kiln
structure to prevent unnecessary venting and loss of heat.
(5) For aluminum kilns ONLY, paint the exterior walls and
roof a dark color to increase the wall temperature by
solar heat and reduce heat loss from the kiln. This will
be disastrous for permeable walls like brick or cinder
block.
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