A log drying model and its application to the simulation of the impact of bark loss

A log drying model describing heat and mass transfer in logs during drying is presented. The model is based on the water potential concept. The moisture content-water potential relationship and effective water conductivity were determined through independent experiments. The resistance of bark to moisture flow was estimated by fitting the theoretical drying curve to the experimental one. The set of equations describing heat and mass transfer during the drying was then solved by the finite element method. The model accurately simulates the drying of aspen logs and shows that bark removal significantly affects log drying rate. Under the simulation conditions selected, the average drying rate of aspen logs with debarked areas of 25, 50, 75, and 100 percent was roughly 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3 times greater, respectively, than for logs with 0 percent bark loss.

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