Industrial Use of Solar Heat in Lumber Drying: A Long-Term Performance Report

In a technical note appearing in the Forest Products Journal (February 1979), construction progress and engineering details of two liquid-transfer solar dry kilns were reported. The kilns were pre-existing, 50 MBF, commercially-operated units which were retrofitted with a supplemental solar heating and heat storage system. The kilns have been operated successfully in an industrial environment for the past 5 years. Operator satisfaction with the solar heating system has been excellent. However, the financial aspects of such an installation are questionable considering the unacceptably long payback period associated with such an installation.

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