Water transport in wood particle material

An analogy between water flux and the field of temperature gradient in a column of wood fuel chips was discovered by these experiments. The heat—mass transfer coefficient was determined by least squares method. An equation relating water flux and temperature gradient was developed and it was demonstrated that the temperature gradient was the main driving force for water transport. The mechanism was evaporation—condensation of water vapor through natural convection in air phase. The study gives a theoretical explanation for analyzing the problem of water transport in wood particle material.     

Analysis of moisture diffusivity of larch timber during convective drying condition by using Crank＇s method and Dincer＇s method

Two analytical procedures （Crank＇s method and Dincer＇s method） for porous solid materials were reevaluated and used to determine moisture diffusion coefficients and moisture transfer coefficients for larch lumber subjected to drying. A diffusion-like equation was used to describe drying process data. The lumber was idealized in the modeling as infinite plates. The moisture transport process inside the board was assumed to be one-dimensional. The macroscopic drying kinetics curves of larch timber at particular conditions were determined experimentally. Based on these data, calculation for both the moisture diffusion coefficients and moisture transfer coefficients by the Dincer＇s analytical procedure were made. The dynamic moisture diffusion coefficients by the traditional Crank＇s method were calculated. In general, diffusion coefficients calculated by the Dincer＇s method were all higher than those by Crank＇s method. These results could be due to the differences between two analytical methods and also different characteristics between solid moisture diffusion process and heat transfer process. Therefore the analysis and solution procedures of moisture diffusion differential equations need to be adapted in the future. With drying temperature＇s increasing moisture diffusion coefficient （D） and moisture transfer coefficient （k） increases accordingly. Also the relationships between diffusion coefficients and temperature as well as material moisture contents were analyzed by using Arrhenius equation and bound water transport theory.     

Experimental determination of the convective heat and mass transfer coefficients for wood drying

The knowledge of the convective heat and mass transfer coefficients is required for the characterization of the boundary conditions of the heat and mass transfer equations of a wood drying model based on water potential. A new experimental method for the determination of the convective mass transfer coefficient is presented. This method is based on the measurement of the moisture content, and indirectly the water potential, at the surface of a wood specimen at different drying times. Drying experiments were performed on red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) sapwood from nearly saturated to dry conditions at 56 °C, 52% relative humidity and air velocities of 1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 m s⁻¹. The results show that the convective mass transfer coefficient is constant until the wood surface moisture content reaches about 80% and then decreases more or less gradually as the moisture content decreases further. The convective mass transfer coefficient increases with air velocity. A regression analysis shows that there is no significant improvement in considering the water potential gradient near the wood surface when the difference in water potential between the surface and the surrounding air (ψ_s − ψ_∞) is used to determine the convective mass flux at the surface. Also, ψ_s − ψ_∞ is more appropriate than the water vapour pressure difference (pv_s − pv_∞) as the responsible driving force of the moisture flux leaving the wood surface. The convective heat transfer coefficient was determined during the same experiments. A plateau is observed at high values of moisture content corresponding to the constant drying rate period. Received 27 February 1998     

木片散堆碎料水分迁移系数的研究

本文首次提出利用梯度转换法,实验测定动态传质控制方程中的质扩散系数及传质边界条件中的质交换系数,求算了表面以下蒸发界面深度及其对蒸发速率与相对蒸发深度的关系。实验表明,多孔物料表面下的相对蒸发深度在1%以下时,对质迁移率的影响极为显著。质交换系数也是蒸发界面深度的函数。质扩散系数是含水率的函数。本文采用变系数分段线性化的方法,利用质扩散方程的解析解验算了所求出的质扩散系数、质交换系数及蒸发界面深度的可靠性。理论验算表明,无量纲质迁移势的理论值与实验值之间的相对误差不大于6%,从而说明,利用梯度转换法测定木片料床的质迁移系数的方法是可行的。     

木材导热系数的研究

本文运用非平衡态热力学线性理论分析了含水率在纤维饱和点以下木材的传热,结果表明木材中的水蒸汽和束缚水参与了传热,木材导热系数由传导导热系数与因水蒸汽和束缚水扩散产生的两个等效导热系数组成。推广Siau关于木材细胞的导热理论,依据水分吸附和扩散的原理,导出了木材弦向和径向导热系数计算公式,与已发表的36种气干材弦向实验值和23种气干材径向实验值符合较好。分析木材径向传热的方法也适用于木材纵向传热。     

On movement of water through wood — The diffusion coefficient

Summary It is demonstrated that there can be only one driving potential for the movement of water through wood and this will be a function of wood state. On the assumption that the driving potential is the partial pressure of water vapour, a theoretical expression is derived for the diffusion coefficient. Such expression is fitted to diffusion coefficients for Scots pine and a remarkably good fit is obtained.Symbols a reciprocal mean radius of curvature of a capillary meniscus; also taken to be the radius of the corresponding exposed liquid surface, m - b spacing between flow paths in the cell wall, m - D diffusion coefficient for water in wood with vapour pressure as the driving potential, kg/ms Pa - D_a diffusion coefficient for water vapour through air, kg/ms Pa - D diffusion coefficient for water in wood with the driving potential - D diffusion coefficient for water in wood with the driving potential - D₀ diffusion coefficient for water in wood with vapour pressure as the driving potential, which is associated with leakage paths through the wood, kg/ms Pa - D_f diffusion coefficient for water in wood with vapour pressure as the driving potential, corresponding to fibre saturation and with no leakage paths, kg/ms Pa - D_c diffusion coefficient for water in wood with vapour pressure as the driving potential, which is associated with the constriction of the vapour flow as it approaches the cell wall, kg/ms Pa - D diffusion coefficient for water in wood with moisture content as the driving potential, kg/ms - diffusivity for water vapour in air, m²/s - F flux of water, kg/m² s - p partial pressure of water vapour, Pa - R specific gas constant for water, J/kg K - r fractional relative humidity - T temperature, K - x length coordinate in direction of flow, m - the dimensionless ratio D_f/D_c evaluated at r=1/e - arbitrary driving potential for movement of water in wood - cell spacing in the direction of water flux, m - density of liquid water, kg/m³ - coefficient of surface tension, N/m - arbitrary driving potential for movement of water in wood - fractional moisture content     

Local water vapor diffusion coefficient when drying Norway spruce sapwood

In this article, a one-dimensional and a two-dimensional approach to the evaluation of local diffusion coefficients for Norway spruce sapwood from measured moisture content (MC) values are presented. A studied wood sample was dried from the initial green condition to about 15% mean MC, but here only the diffusive part of the drying process between approximately 25% and 15% mean MC was treated. Measured local MC values were based on nondestructive X-ray computed tomography data. Finite element calculations were performed with two alternative diffusion coefficients to test the appropriateness of the diffusion coefficients that were evaluated from the measured MC values. The evaluated diffusion coefficients show interesting dependence on MC and distance from the evaporation surface. The advantage of using the methods presented is that the diffusion coefficient is calculated on a local level without having to define a function for the diffusion coefficient’s dependency on other parameters.     

An irreversible thermodynamics model for unsteady-state nonisothermal moisture diffusion in wood

Summary A model that predicts heat and moisture transfer through wood in the hygroscopic range and which is based on the principles of irreversible thermodynamics, was evaluated with unsteady-state nonisothermal moisture desorption experimental data. The model predicted the phenomenon of thermal diffusion during the initial stages of desorption and results in a very good simulation of the desorption curve and the center's temperature change with time.Symbols C_p specific heat of air (= 0.24 cal/g K @ 70 °C) - C_T specific heat of wood, cal/g K - D transverse diffusion coefficient, cm²/s - E_b activation energy, cal/mol - E_o heat of vaporization, cal/mol - E_L differential heat of sorption, cal/mol - G specific gravity of wood - H relative humidity, % - h_T convective heat transfer coefficient, cal/cm² s K - h_c convective mass transfer coefficient based on the concentration of moisture in wood, cm/s - h_v convective mass transfer coefficient based on the concentration of moisture in the air in equilibrium with the wood surface, cm/s - K_M coefficient for diffusion due to moisture gradient, g/cm s % - K_T transverse thermal conductivity coefficient, cal/cm K s - M moisture content, % - P_o saturated vapor pressure, atm - R universal gas constant, cal/mol K (= 82.056 cm³ atm/mol K) - t time, s - T temperature, K - x distance, cm Greek Letters evaporation or condensation criterion - wood density, g/cm³ - _W water density (=1), g/cm³ - _a air density, g/cm³ Department of Wood Science and Forest Products Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blackburg, Virginia 24061-0503     

Diffusion and the drying of wood

Summary Fick's laws, stating that diffusion rate is proportional to the concentration gradient, have traditionally been used to describe the drying of wood. The author contends that they have been used inappropriately, since according to Fick's laws the rate varies as the concentration gradient of diffusing molecules, whereas many wood scientists use the concentration gradient of non-diffusing molecules —the bound water. When the temperature-dependent component of the diffusion coefficient is combined with the concentration gradient of diffusing molecules, the resulting driving force is proportional to the vapour pressure, and the diffusion coefficient is independent of temperature.     

非等温条件下木片碎料中的水分迁移特性

实验表明,木片碎料中的水分迁移量与温度梯度场相似。从而应用最小二乘法拟合求算了两物理量场的相似倍数,建立了质流率与温度梯度间的通量关系式,揭示了温度梯度是水分迁移的主要推动力。其机理是通过湿空气在气相的自然对流和相伴产生的蒸发-凝结过程进行的。本文建立的水迁移通量关系式简化了现有的理论模型,为分析非等温条件下木片碎料中的水分迁移提供了新的理论思路,简化的理论模型可为实际应用带来方便。     

Moisture diffusion coefficient of reaction woods: compression wood of Picea abies L. and tension wood of Fagus sylvatica L.

The moisture diffusion coefficient of compression wood in spruce (P. abies) and tension wood in beech (F. sylvatica) was examined. The results indicated that the diffusion coefficient measured under steady-state condition (cup method) could well characterize the drying kinetics of the reaction woods. The compression wood offered more resistance to the moisture diffusivity when compared with the corresponding normal wood. The thick cell wall rich in lignin explains the small mass diffusivity in compression wood. In contrast, the mass diffusivity in beech is almost always higher in tension wood than in normal wood, in spite of similar density values. The high moisture diffusion in tension wood can be explained by the ease of bound water diffusion in the gelatinous layers (G-layers).     

Numerical and experimental analysis of a wood drying process

 Experimental investigation and computational analysis were performed to evaluate the influence of the ambient air parameters during the drying process on the temperature, moisture and resulting deformations and stresses in wood samples. The numerical procedure uses the Finite Volume Method to discretise the equations governing heat, mass and momentum balance and takes into account the anisotropic nature of wood. The comparison of the numerical and experimental results shows very good agreements, implying that the proposed numerical algorithm can be used as a useful tool in designing wood drying schedules. Received 31 March 1999     

On the activation energy of diffusion of water in wood

Summary The diffusion equation for water in wood is expanded in terms of temperature and moisture gradient on the assumption that the driving force for the diffusion of water in wood is the partial pressure of water vapour. An analytic expression is then developed for the activation energy of diffusion in terms of enthalpy and entropy changes associated with the sorption process. The expression is compared with another published curve and some similarity was observed.Symbols C water concentration, kg/m³ - D diffusion coefficient for water vapour in wood with vapour pressure as the driving potential, kg/ms Pa - D_c diffusion coefficient for water vapour in wood with water concentration as the driving potential, m²/s - D_c a constant value of D_c, m²/s - E activation energy of diffusion, J/kg - F flow density, kg/m² s - f h/l - h specific enthalpy, J/kg - L l/R T - l latent heat of vapourization of free water, J/kg - l_s latent heat of vapourization of sorbed water, J/kg - p partial pressure of water vapour, Pa - p_s pressure of water vapour at saturation, Pa - R specifc gas constant for water, J/kg K - r relative humidity - s specific entropy, J/kg K - w dry basis moisture content - x length coordinate, m - a constant temperature equal to 6,800 K - -/ln r - _w density of wood (dry mass/moisture volume) at a given moisture content, kg/m³ - s/R - L style as 2 lines above - free water relative to sorbed water The author is grateful to the Editorial Board in relation to the use of (4)     

Preliminary study on the characteristics of tactility of wood by physiological index HRV

We used heart rate variability (HRV), an electrophysiological index, to investigate the changes of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems of people when they were in contact with wood and other materials, in a time-domain, a frequency-domain, and by means of nonlinear dynamics. Our aim was to discover the relations among thermal parameters of different kinds of material, human physiological feedbacks, and psychological perceptions. It shows that the activity of the sympathetic nervous system when in contact with wood increased no more than when in contact with metal and ceramic materials, while the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system weakened less than when in contact with these materials. The time taken by the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems to revert to their normal state after contact with cloth and wood was shorter than that after contact with metal and ceramic. A subjective survey, by SD method, showed that the tactility of wood was favorable and people preferred wood to other kinds of material. Correlation analysis’ results showed that there was a close correlation among the HRV indices, human psychological emotion ratings, and thermal parameters of the different kinds of materials. The experiment proves that the effect of wood on our autonomous nervous system is slightly better than that of other materials except for cloth. Wood does not damage people’s health. __________ Translated from Journal of Northeast Forestry University, 2005, 33(2): 29–31 [译自: 东北林业大学学报, 2005, 33(2): 29–31]     

A vapour phase preservative treatment of manufactured wood based board materials

Summary The preservative treatment of four different wood based board materials using an esterified borate applied in the vapour phase was investigated. Under optimum conditions complete impregnation via the board faces was achieved in all boards treated. Board moisture content and treatment time had a major influence on retention and depth of penetration of the borate vapour.     

Internal mass transfer coefficient during drying of softwood (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) boards

A drying experiment with 36 mm thick softwood boards having an average initial moisture content of approximately 1.2 (dry basis) was performed. Drying temperatures of 40, 60 and 80°C were used. Relative humidity and superficial air velocity were maintained at 40% and 3.0 m s^?1, respectively. Internal moisture content was monitored along the process in the single direction of the internal flux of water. Loss in mass of the entire timber board was also determined. An effective coefficient of mass transfer was tuned to internal experimental profiles of moisture content by involving the Fick’s second law. An explicit finite difference method for the numerical solution of the mass balance represented by the Fick’s equation was combined with the simplex method of optimization to obtain a mass transport parameter in the magnitude of 1.5–3.5 × 10^?9 m² s^?1. A positive and significant effect of temperature on the effective diffusion coefficient, which was well described by an Arrhenius type expression, was deduced from this investigation. Although a negative effect of the average moisture content on the internal resistance to mass transfer was also observed, it was much less evident; mainly above the wood fiber saturation point. A negligible influence of the local moisture content on the investigated transport parameter was noticed when either a linear or a nonlinear model correlating these variables was adopted.     

Water vapour diffusion and adsorption characteristics of sugar maple (Acer saccharum,Marsh.) wood polymer composites

Summary Water vapour diffusion characteristics and adsorption isotherms were determined for cell-lumen and cell-wall treated wood polymer composites (WPC). The diffusion coefficients of the cell-lumen WPC were lower than untreated wood and the cell-wall WPC coefficients were lower than cell-lumen. Using the Hailwood and Horrobin sorption model, it was found that the unimolecular layer is formed at lower moisture contents in WPC than in wood. The amount of free dissolved water was reduced only in the cell-wall WPC. The polymer reduces the water vapour accessibility in both types of WPC.     

Effect of combinations of wood and counterface materials on three-body abrasive wear

The abrasion characteristics of various combinations of wood and counterface materials in three-body abrasive wear were investigated. Various wood samples were examined in combination with wood, plastic, and metal counterface materials. The wear coefficient in the wood samples was calculated as the wear volume of the friction surface divided by the sliding distance and the applied load. The results showed that the wear coefficient was smaller in cases where the wood samples had greater yield stress. The wear coefficient increased as the yield stress of the various counterface materials increased, reaching a maximum value and then decreased as the yield stress increased. This result indicated that a peak value existed for the wear coefficient in combination with the counterface material.Part of this report was presented at the 51st Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Tokyo, April 2001