dehumidification kiln drying schedules

How do I convert from the standard kiln schedules in the USDA's "Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods" and "Drying Hardwood Lumber" to an SDR-type schedule? Consider the weight of the lumber that will be placed in the structure and fortify the building accordingly. These are rough-saw red oak. Instead of using expensive electrically reversible fans designed for commercial kilns, I came up with a simple hardware solution. If the fans and dehumidifer generate enough heat to maintain a temperature of 100 to 120 F, then I won't use the auxiliary heater. This allows for a more gentle kiln schedule to fully dry the timber. For all kiln drying schedules, a heater should be used to sterilize the lumber and kill any insects that may be present. In the third column, write down the appropriate dry-bulb temperatures. Dehumidification kilns from Nyle Systems in Brewer, Maine. The order was 540 board feet (BF) of 5/4 white oak. Place a 1x6 board on the floor behind the stack, tilted to a 45 angle. Our approach was to build and operate a small dehumidification dry kiln. PDF FOR-131: A Checklist for Operators of Small Dry Kilns With a 130 F kiln temperature, sterilization will take 10 to 12 hours (Dry Kiln Operators Manual, 1991). Cost and operation of a Small dehumidification dry kiln - ResearchGate This helps keep the lumber straight during the drying cycle; in fact, improper placement of stickers can permanently deform lumber. In addition, weight on top of the stack can be helpful, but nothing replaces baffles for the best lumber yield. A better choice might be a solar kiln, as you can dry wood from "wet" to 6-8 percent MC in 6-8 weeks. Nyle Systems dehumidification kiln packages are our best known product with nearly unlimited drying capabilities. My number one priority was to build a kiln that was easy to load and easy to monitor. If required, look-up and write down the RH (sixth column) and EMC (seventh column) for each schedule step. 73. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. The problems with solar kilns include limited control over temperature and limited solar exposure, depending on your region and site location. Once the core readings are 6% to 8% on a fresh cut, the lumber is dry and ready for sterilization. The starter blocks should be as long as the stack is wide. 158 p. Dry kiln schedules for commercial woods : temperate and tropical. Adjust the baffles or fan direction to achieve good airflow. A heavy-duty 1,500-watt space heater works fine. Subtract the wet-bulb depression from the dry-bulb temperatures for each schedule step and enter the value in the fifth column. INDUSTRIAL DEHUMIDIFICATION DRYING OF SOFTWOODS - Oregon State University In addition, weight on top of the stack can be helpful, but nothing replaces baffles for the best lumber yield. Basically, you don't want all of the air rushing out under the stack, so find a way to redirect it. Items shipped directly from the manufacturer cannot be returned in store. To hang the baffles, simply attach hooks to the plywood frame. Vote. Be sure that all of the kiln equipment is working prop-erly before lumber is loaded into the kiln. "Safe Drying Rate" and a Dehumidifier Kiln - WOODWEB Kiln schedules are completely assembled and written out for easy use. Maderas. I often buy from sawyers or homeowners at 40% to 50% of retail price. There are two main reasons for drying wood: Woodworking When wood is used as a construction material, whether as a structural support in a building . Schedules for several thicknesses and specialty products (e.g. Each layer adds approximately .81 R value. These kilns will typically hold several thousand board foot of lumber. Kiln Drying Reclaimed Wood: A Key Step to Quality 3, a simplified transverse section of a kiln chamber with an energy recovery and dehumidification system is shown. The velocity through the load is assumed to be between 275 and . Kiln drying is the process of drying wood in a controlled environment, where temperature, air circulation and humidity are monitored and stabilized. Website Content Copyright 2023 Nyle Systems |. Dehumidification Kilns A 1.5-kW dehumidifier was installed in the solar dryer to determine the performance of a combined solar-dehumidification dryer. Drying lumber too quickly can lead to deep end checking, warping and case hardening. The dry kiln operator is fully in control, with the ability to make changes as the dry kiln schedule is executing. Staff. In vacuum kiln trials, logs were heated to 56C at 70 percent log radius depth and the temperature maintained for . Dont even think of powering your kiln with an extension cord. Understand how kiln performance must be modified to permit the use of custom schedules for specific product applications; Be able to modify existing conventional kiln schedules to dry products in dehumidifier kilns; Recognize degrades common to various species, including hardwoods, and modify handling practices to minimize these /ColorSpace /DeviceGray In larger kilns, the heater may be needed in the latter part of the drying cycle. I selected a 36 outswing exterior door. This shed will be essentially unheated for much of the year and very hot during the kiln-drying cycles. A maximum 45 F depression often produces better lumber. My kiln schedule starts with running all fans and the dehumidifier for two days, measuring and removing water as it accumulates. Remote operation and networking is optional. This makes lightweight baffles that can be easily moved and repositioned. Go to the first number designation (the temperature designation) and find the corresponding temperatures in the table below. The first charge of mixed air-dried 4/4 hardwoods and softwoods was kiln-dried from 18.4% to 7.3% moisture content (MC) in 15 days with no . Farm Forestry timbers - Drying (Seasoning) Timber Module 6 - Advanced Schedule Development - Centre for Advanced Wood In this research, a drying restraint system was evaluated as a means of warp reduction in 8- and 16-foot-long SYP lumber. During the conditioning process, the only equipment operating are the fans, heater and the steam generator no dehumidifier. (Dry Kiln Operator's Manual. If the temperature is below this range, I start the heater and adjust the thermostat accordingly. Dehumidifier suggestion: http://amzn.to/2iYZqVZThis is the first in a series of videos showing how I built a kiln for drying lumber. Formulating a Kiln Schedule I cannot stress the importance of baffles enough. This air space is absolutely critical for even airflow, so count on the extra floor space right from the design phase. Its a nice use of technology and adds a measure of safety as well.) This will allow the DH to drain automatically without you needing to enter the kiln. For a single-stack kiln I recommend a minimum shed size of 8 x 12. I either use some cedar 3 x 5, or 4 x 4 stock. 0000001208 00000 n When that is the case, I know Ill have usable lumber in just a few weeks. Dehumidification Opportunities for Dehumidification Drying Of Hardwood Lumber Dimension Kiln Drying Hardwood Dimension Parts Discoloration Preventing Discolorations in Hardwood and Softwood Logs . For the sterilization phase, air temperature needs to be around 140 F, for three to five hours. Kiln Drying In The Lake States - What Happens Inside A Lumber Dry Kiln This returns some moisture to the very dry exterior of the lumber, while not affecting the core moisture level. A discussion of how to apply "safe drying rate" calibrations with a home-built dehumidifying kiln. Air speed of 350 feet per minute is appropriate for common hardwoods such as oak and maple. Additionally, I have been underwhelmed by the performance of solar-operated fans. After two days operating only the fans and DH, I take note of the temperature. Kiln dried wood typically sells for a third more than green lumber and eliminates the need for customers to incur costs associated with drying lumber . 0000002827 00000 n My question focuses on the initial relative humidity featured in the Safe Drying Rate table. This problem is magnified if the lumber is thin or flatsawn. Rep. FPL-GTR-57. Then align each subsequent layer of stickers over the last. Hardwood lumber kiln drying schedules typically keep the dry bulb temperature below 180 F (82 C). Please refer to Appendix A which shows the Lumber Dry Kiln Bill of Materials. It should be double-pane, well-insulated with low emissivity (low-E). These well-known dehumidification kiln packages have been among our bestselling products for the past 30 years. The air flow rate through your stacks should be about 350FPM. Over 40 years experience building kilns. Basically the idea seems to be to maintain a constant temperature, and to keep lowering the humidistat to maintain the SDR until the moisture content gets to the desired level. Heres a classic project that both steps up and provides overflow seating. Blue&White Ginger Jar - L - Dyag East Dehumidification dry kiln construction plans A.gov website belongs to an official government /Filter /JBIG2Decode Drying Wood With A Home Dehumidifier - LumberJocks I have constructed a kiln using these plans. %PDF-1.6 % Culm parts with 2.0 and 2.2 m length after pressure treatment were dried in industrial kilns using three schedules with mild, severe and highly severe drying intensity. PDF Authored By: Scott Bowe, Patrick Molzahn, Brian Bond, Sign In Upload. For all kiln drying schedules, a heater should be used to sterilize the lumber and kill any insects that may be present. Taking moisture away at the rate the board will "safely" part with it . HT systems use 40-60% less energy than gas-fired or steam dry kilns. For 4/4 hard maple, with an initial temperature of 90F and an initial relative humidity of 81%, the SDR was given as .0061 pints per hour per board foot. The DH is not needed at this time, as the lumber is already bone-dry. At the end of the cycle I have the opposite problem. So, if you have 100 bf in the kiln, every 12 hours you would extract (12 hours *100bf * .0061 SDR) = 7.3 pints of water. A lower RH setting will call for the DH to run more often. My baffles hang from T-bar assemblies mounted to the ceiling. 0000006297 00000 n Analysis of the chemical constituents of dry-kiln condensate and its Another common sticker size is 1" x 2", and these work fine as well. Kiln drying lumber is a simple, cost effective method recommended for anyone who wants to increase profits by selling dried lumber. Hardwood kiln drying schedules typically keep the dry bulb temperature below 80 C (176 F). This is because it needs to be dried to a lower moisture content than wood will air dry to outdoors. Kiln Systems. Consider not only the space for the lumber stacks, but extra floor space to easily load and monitor the charge of lumber. A low temperature heat treatment chamber and/or dehumidification kiln is identified as operating between approximately 43C (110F) and 56C (133F) for an extended period during the kiln drying cycle. Insulate the floor with 2 rigid foam for convenience and durability. Check out More On the Web for my complete calculations to figure savings. I then manually rotate the fan boxes halfway through the drying cycle. Hardwood lumber kiln drying schedules typically keep the dry bulb temperature below 180 F (82 C). Appendix B . Gen. Tech. Add up the amp draw on all the equipment you plan to use in the kiln, including a heater, dehumidifier, fans and steam generator. For more capacity, consider a two stack kiln (12 x 12), or a three-stack kiln (12 x 16). Low Temperature Kiln Drying Systems (120F), High Temperature Kiln Drying Systems (160F), Very High Temperature Kiln Drying Systems (220F), Website Content Copyright 2023 Nyle Systems |, Affordable and easy method to accomplish top quality lumber drying, Designed specifically for any sized operation, Modular based systems for unlimited capacity, No boiler or steam required with gas furnace, Can be installed along side existing kilns, Chambers are sized with our DH systems to meet your lumber drying requirements. I'm thinking I could vent it manually, but with the RH so high externally I am not sure if that is the right thing to do. Leave an air space between the rigid foam and subfloor for additional insulating properties. Your order will come with a return form with convenient instructions, or you may send your returns directly to Returns Department, Rockler Woodworking and Hardware, 4365 Willow Drive, Medina, MN 55340. I have sensors in the kiln for moisture levels & probes in the center of the wood attached to a lignomat moisture meter. I modified one of the Radio Shack combo units so it could measure the RH remotely as well as the temp. Select a heater with an adjustable thermostat and a tip-over shutoff. Operates at a temperature range from 80F - 160F (26 - 71C). This can create internal stress in the lumber that is released when sawing. Drying Wood at Home | The Wood Database I recommend a 2 x 3 sliding window with bug screen. A kiln schedule is a set of temperatures and humidities that are used during kiln operation. When the operating conditions of this option are followed the material will meet the requirements of being kiln dried (KD) and heat treated . The baffles direct airflow over and through the stack and prevent the top layers from drying too quickly. Wood-Mizer dehumidification and solar wood kilns range from 300 to 35,000 board feet capacity for drying lumber. . %PDF-1.5 You won't ever have the fastest kiln in town, but it can still work. The kiln process involves the drying of wood in a chamber where air circulation, relative humidity and temperature can be controlled so that the moisture content of wood can be reduced to a target . As a result, the kiln schedules were too severe. I dont think the same could be said for an old reefer truck converted into a kiln (no matter how well it dries lumber). My four main baffles consist of sheets of 1 Styrofoam insulation. Any info or advice on using dehumidification equipment to dry out chainsaw milled lumber. Only the fans need electricity. An anemometer confirms that your effort constructing baffles was worthwhile. Lay down the bead of caulking before raising the walls. Dr. Gene Wengert provides schedules for kiln drying hardwood lumber. noun: kiln; plural noun: kilns. I know mixed loads are taboo, but this one worked well, other than the horse chestnut. Once the lumber is sterilized, it is ready for the conditioning phase. Without baffles, the top layers of lumber experience potato chipping with cupping, twisting or warping. KD150 Series dehumidifier pdf manual download. 14-foot Kiln dried red oak beams - timbers - lumber- Many other Staggering the seams between the sheathing and siding layers helps avoid air infiltration. I don't remember how the air flow was arranged in the kiln in the magazine, but it sounds like that could be a problem for you. I find that unplugging the DH is helpful during the sterilization phase so I can add a second heater, without overwhelming my electrical circuit. << This would allow a stack of lumber four feet wide and 10 feet long. Dehumidification kiln schedules 145 Sterilizing, equalizing, and conditioning treatments 145 Sterilizing treatments 145 Mold 145 Fungal stain and decay 146 . Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. This publication outlines the basic construction of a small scale dehumidification dry kiln. of this publication is to make available to dry kiln operators and others interested in kiln-drying wood, kiln schedules that are completely assembled and written out for ready reference and easy use. Most species of hardwood lumber can be safely dried this way, once the moisture content is 20% to 25% or less. The kiln schedule information in the tables below has been assembled from many different sources, including drying texts and industrial contacts. (Note: This letter designation is related to the green MC of the species. This prevents dead spots inside the chamber that experience limited airflow. . At what temperature is wood kiln dried? Q,kjifT33P[! After seven to 10 days, I reverse the fan direction to make sure all stacks of lumber dry evenly. Dehumidification: This kiln-drying process requires the use of a heat pump system to remove water from the wood. 10. Job Opportunities and Woodworking Services, Dust Collection, Safety and Plant Operation. Particularly, important investment has taken place in lumber drying capacity. Difficult-to-dry species might not exceed 140 degrees F. Dehumidification kilns are very . This limits the amount of energy needed to bring lumber to the desired 6% to 8% moisture content. In Fig. Detailed design and custom manufacture of dehumidification and chiller systems for food processing, lumber drying and industrial applications. Looking at the cost-benefit analysis of a shed kiln can be enlightening. I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction or share experience. Typical dehumidification kiln (FPL 1999 p. 12-10). In smaller kilns, the heat generated by the fans and DH motor is sufficient to maintain temperatures in excess of 100 degrees. Using a Small Scale Dehumidification Kiln - Rockler Woodworking And Omitting the sterilization phase can lead to costly losses from insect damage, so dont skip it. Without baffles, the top layers of lumber experience "potato chipping" with cupping, twisting or warping. Case hardening is a defect caused by the outer portion of a board drying quickly, while the inner portion dries more slowly. Kiln dried wood typically sells for a third more than green lumber and eliminates the need for . It is a meaningless exercise to try to convert those schedules for the kiln you built. A household dehumidifier (DH) removes moisture from the kiln chamber. The delicate blue and white color scheme c Share. Select a heater with an adjustable thermostat and a tip-over shutoff. /BitsPerComponent 1 I find that unplugging the DH is helpful during the sterilization phase so I can add a second heater, without overwhelming my electrical circuit. For international returns, please click here. 293 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<87A322ACC143C740A97F712BC6C2FBCD>]/Index[282 20]/Info 281 0 R/Length 68/Prev 378162/Root 283 0 R/Size 302/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream