Low-Temperature Kiln-Drying of Yellow Birch Lumber

The effects of two drying temperatures, 80?F and 100?F, and two air velocities, 200 and 600 fpm, on drying time and development of degrade in 1-inch yellow birch lumber are reported. The value loss per thousand board feet was $11 less than for conventional drying, but the drying time was 6 to 21 days longer. The initial phase of the study involved low-temperature predrying from green to 20 percent moisture content. The dry bulb temperature and air velocity were constant for each schedule. One group of four charges was dried at a constant equilibrium moisture content of 14.6 percent which was maintained by supplementary steam spray. A second group of four charges was dried using the same dry bulb temperature and air velocities but with no supplementary humidification. The second phase of the study concerned the feasibility of low-temperature drying from green to 8 percent moisture content. In the third phase, the combination of low-temperature predrying with final drying at conventional and high-temperature schedules was investigated.

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