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 distribution is described and applied to solve the flow distribution in a kiln. The influence of the plenum geometry, the sticker thickness, and the roof design on the velocity distribution in the wood packages is investigated numerically. Results provide useful information for the selection of sticker thickness and the determination of possible plenum and roof designs. This paper is the first part of a larger effort to develop computer models for predicting the airflow, heat transfer, and drying rate in wood kilns. The model will constitute a powerful tool to optimize kiln design and to help operators improve kiln operations without entailing major new costs.

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