A General Collector Sizing Method for Solar Kilns

Even though solar kilns can be cost effective, one reason they are not currently being built and utilized is because a simple manual design method is not available to the forest products industry. This paper uses readily available information to present a method to calculate the optimum size of a solar collector considering the following variables: wood species, wood thickness, drying rate, kiln location, kiln type, and solar collector type. This method can be used for any site location and wood species within the United States as long as the solar collector is tilted at an angle approximately equal to the latitude. Good correlation is shown between the sizing method and experimental solar-drying data for yellow poplar lumber in southern Illinois.

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