Improving the Thermal Efficiency of Dry Kilns

Vent air measurements show that compartment-type kilns without vent air controls may consume twice as much steam as well maintained kilns with automatic vent dampers. The individual kiln operator must determine the feasibility of installing automatic vent dampers. Some kilns are not well suited to vent damper controls because of design features. The kiln manufacturer or a qualified kiln engineer should be consulted before such an installation is made. If the cost of heat is 0.0005 dollar per thousand BTU, the installation of vent damper controls would bear investigation. The amount of heat recoverable from the vented air of well-designed kilns with accurate vent damper controls is small compared to the effective savings obtainable by use of a good system of vent air control. In improving the thermal efficiency of kilns, attention should first be given to providing good vent control. Attention to reducing heat losses by insulation of the kiln would yield sizeable savings. Attention to heat recovery could also yield some savings.

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