624results about "Wood drying" patented technology

A method for torrefaction of wood which includes providing a first endless conveyor belt; heating the first endless belt; and positioning a planar wood product on the first belt to heat the wood product by conduction to achieve torrefaction. Other forms provide a second endless belt that disposed in sandwich relation to wood to be torrefied. Some embodiments of the method provide a metal chamber having opposed planar sides dimensioned and configured for receiving a wood sheet with the respective opposed sides of the wood sheet in intimate thermal contact with respective opposed sides of the metal chamber. Other embodiments include the apparatus for torrefaction of an associated wood sheet.

An dual path kiln is provided that includes a kiln having one or more chambers and at least two lumber charge paths adapted to convey lumber through the kiln in opposite directions.

An apparatus and process including a heat sink exchanger (26) to cool and condense liquid out of a drying gas with a heat transfer surface arranged to exchange heat with a first sub-stream of the drying gas and a heat source heat exchanger (27) arranged to exchange heat with a second sub-stream of a drying gas and arranged in a functionally parallel configuration with said heat sink heat exchanger (26) so that each of said drying gas sub-streams exchanges heat with one of the two said heat transfer surface per cycle through the heat exchange system and a gas movement device (35) for propelling the drying gas through the heat exchanger system in either a forward or reverse flow path direction. The apparatus and process can also include controlling the amount of heat rejected from apparatus (26) based on maintaining the wet bulb of the drying gas nominally constant and controlling the amount of refrigerant in the heat exchanger circuit based on maintaining the dry bulb temperature of the drying gas within certain limits.

Contaminant laden gas streams from wood product dryer operations, and other sources, are purified. The gas stream first is saturated with moisture by contacting the gas stream with fine liquid droplets which entrain particulates. The gas stream then is subjected to a plurality of separate particulate and liquid droplet removal steps before a droplet-free gas stream having substantially reduced particulate contaminant levels is passed to a burner for removal of volatile organic compounds from the gas stream.

A continuous drying kiln (CDK) design, in which two sets of carriages carrying spaced stacks of lumber travel in opposite directions through a sequence of chambers in which green lumber is exposed to heated air to dry the lumber to desired conditions. The continuous drying kiln using fans in each chamber to circulate air across the stacked lumber on the two sets of carriages, orthogonal to the direction of carriage travel, in either a first circulation direction or in a second circulation direction. As a carriage moves from chamber to chamber, the circulation direction is reversed.

The present invention provides a depressurization type drying machine that is capable of repeatedly reducing the pressure, heating and humidifying during drying, uniformly drying a material to be dried, in a short time by applying vibrations to the material to be dried when reducing the pressure, and reducing consumption power without damaging the material to be dried, is excellent in reliability, productivity and energy-saving properties, brings about almost no flaws such as warping, internal cracking, breaking, shrinkage, bending, and surface cracking, especially when drying lumber, is also capable of leaving gloss on the surface of lumber after drying and scent without any discoloring, has high commercial value since the humidity in a building may be permanently controlled in response to the environment after being constructed, and is capable of extracting moisture contained in a material to be dried such as lumber without any waste and effectively utilizing the same as by-products. At least the ceiling portion and sidewall portions are formed roughly like a circular arc swelled outwardly, and reinforcement ribs are provided, which are disposed along the outer circumference of the inner wall parallel to and / or in orthogonal to the lengthwise direction of the drying chamber between the respective outer walls and inner walls of the ceiling portion, the sidewall portions and the floor portion.

A process for treating lignocellulosic material, such as wood for example, the process including the steps of: a) providing lignocellulosic material; b) evaluating parameters of the lignocellulosic material; c) preparing the lignocellulosic material; d) heating the lignocellulosic material in a treatment chamber following a given profile based on parameters of the lignocellulosic material; e) stabilizing the lignocellulosic material; and f) cooling down the lignocellulosic material. The process enables to improve the quality of the wood being treated, while ensuring a greater repeatability and uniformity of coloring results, and overcoming drawbacks associated with conventional torrefaction methods.

A system and method are provided for controllably drying moisture-containing work pieces. The system comprises a drying compartment defining an internal workspace for housing and drying the moisture-containing work pieces by introducing heat into the internal workspace and heating the moisture-containing work pieces located in the internal workspace by removing heated moisture from the work pieces and absorbing the heated moisture into the air in the workspace to produce heated humidified air. A multi-directional air flow heat exchanger is employed for receiving heated humidified air and atmospheric air and for recycling waste heat from exhaust air from the drying compartment, and for heating the atmospheric air in the heat exchanger using recovered heat extracted from the heated humidified air to a temperature higher than ambient temperature thereby reducing energy costs and drying time and preventing the loss of circulation air. First and second reversible variable speed fans are also included in the system. Each of the fans is independently controllable at respective intake and exhaust modes and at variable air flow rates, without employing a damper for controlling the flow of exhaust air and atmospheric air to and from the heat exchanger.

A multichamber timber drying kiln in which different conditions are maintained in each chamber and methods of drying timber using such a kiln. In one aspect timber is rapidly heated within a first chamber (2; 202; 207) and then transferred to a further chamber (3; 203; 208) for further drying. Timber may be transferred from the first chamber (2; 202; 207) when the moisture content of the timber approaches the fibre saturation point A preheating chamber (1; 201; 206) may be provided to preheat the timber before passing to the first chamber (2; 202; 207). A conditioning chamber (4; 204; 209) may be provided after the further chamber (3; 203; 208) to condition the timber. Energy transfer means (49–53; 54–58) may be provided to transfer energy between chambers.

A dual path kiln is provided that includes a kiln having one or more chambers and at least two lumber charge paths adapted to convey lumber through the kiln in opposite directions by means of a track having two rails in which a pusher device pushes the lumber through the kiln and comprises a variable output electric motor to effect a high degree of accurate control of the movement speed of the pusher device and the lumber it's pushing and wherein the pusher device includes a faceplate having two side walls extending from said faceplate to engage the side of the lumber in order to greatly enhance stability of the lumber while it is being transported and minimize the risk of spillage.

A lumber drying kiln employs outside air pressure uses a flexible collapsing bag or cover alone or in combination with walls. The collapsing bag seals against a base to maintain the vacuum. The air pressure against the flexible top keeps the lumber layers from warping or cupping during drying. The lumber stack has alternating layers of hot plates or stickers separating layers of lumber. A bag having an open bottom and made of nylon-reinforced rubber or other strong flexible material is placed over the wood and sealed to the stainless steel platform. A vacuum pump is connected with the bag by means of a manifold and operated to remove air from the enclosed lumber stack, the vacuum strengthening the seal between the base and the bottom of the bag. This chamber design is easily scaled up or down to provide a desired drying capacity.

In application of the green-house effect, under such a concept as to collect passively solar energy into the house and to exhaust passively moist air from the house H, this invention is related to a fully passive-type solar lumber drying house H which is fully surrounded by a triple transparent film 1 and a carbon fiber sheet 1′ and is available to be used through all year in which the stacked lumber 15 can be dried due to solar energy being assisted by auxiliary heat for one or two weeks under leaving the dry process controlled automatically, and besides moist air inside the house H is exhausted through an insulated cylinder 10. The fully passive-type solar lumber drying house H in this invention is classified into two models, one of which is an east-west model (A) like a half Quonset hut that lumber's axis loaded is parallel to the east-west direction, and another is a north-south model (B) like a Quonset hut that lumber's axis loaded is parallel to the north-south direction.

A method of drying comprises placing a moist material inside a substantially enclosed solar greenhouse. The greenhouse comprises at least one light transmission roof and / or wall panel that is substantially transparent to solar radiation, but resistant to convective and conductive heat transfer. The interior temperature and humidity of the greenhouse are maintained within their pre-determined ranges while the interior moisture of the greenhouse is effectively reduced to allow a controlled drying of the material. A solar greenhouse for the drying process is also disclosed.

The proposed invention relates to a method for fluid treatment of wood comprising the steps of placing the wood in an airtight tank, evacuating the airtight tank to establish a vacuum environment for the wood, applying a fluid to the wood. Additionally, the method may further comprise the subsequent step of pressurizing the airtight tank to establish a pressurized environment for the wood. The method may further comprise the subsequent step of subjecting the wood to a subsequent heating, and / or the prior step of subjecting the wood to a prior heating by electromagnetic radiation through one or more electrodes.

A method of microwave treatment of wood with a moisture content (based on dry weight) of at least 12% for rapid drying and stress relief which includes determining an area of the wood that is not to be treated, selectively subjecting a surface of the wood outside said determined area to microwave radiation at a frequency (f) in the range of from about 0.1 to about 24 GHz to provide a modified wood zone having increased permeability relative to the untreated wood, wherein said zone is located in an exterior shell of the wood and has wooden rays directed from the core of the wood to the irradiated surface.

The invention belongs to the technical field of wood processing technology, and particularly discloses a wood drying and anticorrosive treatment method. The wood drying and anticorrosive treatment method comprises the following steps: S1, wood loading; S2, prefreezing of a wood; S3, vacuum freeze drying; S4, heating; S5, soaking in a preservative; S6, extraction of the redundant preservative; S7, prefreezing of the wood; S8, vacuum freeze drying; and S9, heating. The wood drying and anticorrosive treatment method has the advantages that the wood is treated by the vacuum freeze drying method, so that corrugation of the wood due to the surface tension caused by liquid water is avoided, and the original tissue structure of wood fibers is retained. In the later anticorrosive treatment process, as the microstructure of the freeze-dried wood is not changed, and the effect of absorbing liquid is good, preservative liquid can be also quickly absorbed without injecting the preservative by pressure, and the leaching resistance is high; furthermore, energy required for injecting the preservative by pressure is saved; and meanwhile, worms and worm eggs in the wood can be killed in the vacuum freeze drying process.

An dual path kiln is provided that includes a kiln having one or more chambers and at least two lumber charge paths adapted to convey lumber through the kiln in opposite directions.

A drier with a curvalinear chamber having a heat transfer surface at one end and baffles at the other end. A fan is provided to circulate air within the chamber. In the process for drying, the product to be dried is positioned within the chamber and air circulated across the heat transfer surface, toward the baffle, past the product, and back to the heat transfer surface.

In a monitoring system for a wood drying kiln having a housing with an interior area for placement of a charge of wood for drying the charge of wood, the interior area having a floor, environment devices for adjusting heat and humidity in the interior area of the kiln, and a control unit for controlling the environment devices, the improvement is a support in the interior area for supporting a representative sample of the charge of wood, a sensor mounted to the support for sensing the weight of the sample which is a function of moisture content in the sample and a proportioning mechanism connected between the sensor and the sample for suspending the sample and for applying a proportioned force resulting from the weight of the sample to the sensor. The sensor is connected to the control unit for generating a signal which is proportional to the weight, and thus, to the moisture content of the sample. A stand on the kiln floor has a member for carrying the support at a location which is spaced from the wood charge without requiring and kiln wall space. The invention also includes the possibility of supporting the sensor from the ceiling and at any location in the kiln whether the sensor is supported from the ceiling or the floor. The invention is also useful in kilns for drying other materials than wood.

High-temperature method for the treatment of lumber, the method comprising the steps of providing stacks (10) of lumber, restraining those stacks, subjecting the stacks to a first conditioning phase, drying the stacks in an air stream at a temperature of not less than 120° C., cooling the stacks and subsequently subjecting the stacks to a second conditioning phase, and further cooling the dried stacks in ambient temperature air stream. A kiln for use in the high-temperature lumber treatment method of this invention, comprises a chamber (30) for receiving stacks of lumber, heat supply means to produce and supply heated air and steam for drying and conditioning the stacks, heat exchange means (35) to provide and maintain a stable and sustained temperature environment within the chamber, humidification means to provide and maintain a predetermined equilibrium moisture content within the chamber, air stream generation means (33, 34) to provide a sustained and uniform flow of air within the chamber, and control means for monitoring and controlling various drying parameters within the chamber.

An RF timber drying apparatus comprises a pair of capacitor plates within the chamber and spaced from each other across the chamber such that a timber load can be contained into the chamber between the capacitor plates, a resonator circuit, and an RF generating circuit with adjustable power output for adjusting the voltage output from the RF generator to compensate for changes in moisture content as the timber dries.

The invention relates to drying equipment and can be used in wood and wood treatment industries, etc., whenever parameters and procedures necessary to dry materials such as wood are used. The invention allows the drying process to achieve a higher degree of environmental protection, a larger product output and power saving features on the account of the following design of the plant: the drying chamber (1) which contains the material to be dried includes a bottom (4) which has two cavities (5,6); hot combustion products are injected into one of these cavities (5) from the flue pipe (9) of the furnace (3) which is used to burn wood waste; hot air is supplied into the other cavity (6), whereby said air is heated in pipes which are located in the flue (9), and is used as a drying agent. The hot drying agent is supplied from the cavity (6) in the bottom and circulates through air distribution channels in the lower part of the drying chamber (1) where it passes through the material to be dried and rises in the top portion of the internal open space of the drying chamber (1). From that point, one part of the drying agent is fed into a closed circuit in the flue (9) of the furnace and is heated therein, and the other part of said drying agent is directed into a condensate cleaning unit (11) where it is mixed with furnace gases and purifies these gases by condensation.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and processing method for drying lumber, for example two-by-four studs in an environment in a kiln in a manner to avoid warping, including crook, bow, cup and twist. The lumber pieces are stacked in a normal manner with stickers for providing air flow between courses of the lumber pieces, and the stack is dried while a horizontal force is provided to the respective courses of lumber in the stack to hold the individual pieces of lumber in edge to edge contact throughout the drying, equalizing, conditioning and cooling process for first drying of lumber, redrying of lumber or in a treatment process for removing warp from previously dried lumber. A vertical force comprising a weight or other force generating device can be also applied to the stack of lumber to augment the overall reduction in warpage if so evidenced.

There is provided a method for treating preservative-treated wood such that the preservative is substantially prevented from leaching. The treatment comprises drying of the preservative-treated wood until the moisture content of the wood is below a level capable of supporting the diffusion of the preservative.

A pollution abatement apparatus comprises an electrified filter bed preceded by a cyclonic mix chamber to remove wood fines and fly ash in a flue gas stream from a wood chip dryer heated by hot gas from an energy system that includes a wood waste combustor. The cyclonic mix chamber has dual inlets, one supplied with flue gas from the dryer and the other supplied with hot gas from the energy system.