Cooling and steam conditioning after high-temperature drying of Pinus radiata board: experimental investigation and mathematical modelling

 Steam conditioning of softwood boards after kiln drying is of critical importance for relief of residual drying stresses and to improve distribution of final moisture content. The conditioning practice in New Zealand includes two steps: immediately after high temperature (HT) drying the load is cooled until the core wood temperature is 75 to 90°C, and then the stack is steam conditioned for a period of 1 to 4 hours depending on the lumber thickness and moisture content after drying. In this work, experimental and theoretical studies were performed to better understand the conditioning process and to investigate factors which influence its effectiveness. In the experiment, 50 mm thick Pinus radiata sapwood boards were first dried at 120/70°C for 11, 12, 13, 16 and 18 hours, respectively, to varying moisture contents, and then cooled and steam conditioned for 1 hour. To assess the effectiveness of conditioning, moisture pick-up, moisture gradient, and transverse residual drying stress (indicated by cup and strain) were measured. It was found that drying wood to a low moisture content (below 6%) increased the conditioning effectiveness. A separate matched stack was conditioned for 4 hours after 13 hours drying which showed better results than 1 hour conditioning. A mathematical model for wood drying was extended to include both the cooling and conditioning phases. The model was numerically solved to examine the wood temperature and moisture content changes during the whole process of drying, cooling and final steam conditioning. Increase in wood temperature, moisture pickup and moisture gradient during steam conditioning were predicted and validated by the experimental data. This information is currently being used at the New Zealand Forest Research Institute in simulation of stress development and relief for drying of Pinus radiata lumber. Received 6 July 1998     

木材真空-过热蒸汽干燥的预热特性

在真空状态下，分别对过热蒸汽和空气为干燥介质时木材干燥预热阶段进行对比试验，探讨了木材在真空－过热蒸汽干燥中预阶段的工艺特性。结果表明：过热蒸汽干燥的预热阶段进行得非常迅速，同时其表面水分的凝结量也较以空气为介质时表面水分的凝结量大。     

Comparative study between full cell and passive impregnation method of wood preservation for laser incised Douglas fir lumber

In this study, the ability of passive impregnation of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii Franco) lumber was compared with a conventional full cell method. With an incising density of 10,000 holes/m² carried out by CO₂ laser, square Douglas fir lumber was treated by both passive impregnation and full cell method for 6 h and 50 min. Different incising densities were also used in passive impregnation to examine the optimum incising density. It was observed that there was no significant difference between these two methods regarding absorption of liquid, moisture content after dipping and penetrated area both at cross and longitudinal sections. However, the value was higher in case of full cell method. Regarding different incising densities, absorption and penetration of liquid was similar for 10,000 and 7,500 holes/m² but it was low for 5,000 holes/m². Therefore, it can be concluded that an incising density of 7,500 holes/m² is the optimum for passive impregnation. The absorption of liquid and its distribution in wood indicates that this non-pressure passive impregnation method can be a good preservation method for impermeable lumber and can be an alternative to full cell method.     

40mm厚杉木锯材高温干燥工艺研究

对40 mm厚杉木锯材制定两个高温干燥工艺并进行试验研究,检测和分析干燥周期、干燥速率、锯材干燥质量等指标。干燥工艺I采用高温湿空气进行干燥;干燥工艺II在干燥前期高含水率阶段采用过热蒸汽条件,干燥后期低含水率阶段采用高温湿空气进行干燥。结果显示:两个干燥工艺在各阶段的干燥速率差异明显,干燥前期工艺II的干燥速率为1.30%/h,较工艺I低约37.2%;但干燥后期工艺II的干燥速率为1.89%/h,较工艺I高约70.27%。干燥工艺II可以有效避免锯材内裂的发生,干燥质量满足GB/T 6491—2012《锯材干燥质量》二级材的指标要求,干燥效率提高。     

A microwave applicator for on line wood drying: Temperature and moisture distribution in wood

Summary An especially designed open microwave applicator was analysed using wood as the material to be heated and dried. The idea was to develop an on line microwave construction consisting of several small open applicators, each fed by a small standard magnetron (for example 1.4 kW main power). The process was analysed by measuring the wood temperature during heating using an IR-camera and detecting the moisture distribution during drying by CT-scanning. Pine and birch wood samples were used in the experiments, mainly 40 mm in thickness. The experiments show that the power distribution differs between dry wood and moist wood. The analysis of the temperature fields captured by the IR-camera during the first minutes allows a rather accurate determination of the MW power. Consequently, the drying proceeds unevenly in the wood specimens, especially in the longitudinal direction. The dimensions of the applicator and its relation to the wood dimension are very important. However, the wood was not destroyed, the temperature and moisture gradients did not affect the wood in terms of checks or deformations. The drying rate in different positions of the specimen varied between 0.30 and 0.80 percentage moisture content/min. The uneven energy, meaning temperature and field distribution, is to be compensated in the future by a moving wood load and by alternating the position of each applicator in a larger scale microwave pilot plant. Received 25 February 1997     

小型除湿干燥机干燥乐器用材的实践

本研究使用小型除湿干燥机对提琴用材进行了干燥工艺生产性试验。结果表明，干燥过程中试材未产生内裂和表裂；干燥后板材的含水率在材堆内分布均匀，在板材厚度方向分布有一定差异，平衡后可以使用；干燥成本在100元/m^3左右；干燥后的木材质量符合乐器制作的要求。本试验确定的干燥工艺可适用楔形不规则乐器用材，还可进行不同规格乐器用材的混合干燥。     

蒸汽爆破预处理对柞木地板坯料干燥速率的影响

对柞木地板坯料进行了压力为0.25、0.4和0.55 MPa的蒸汽爆破预处理,并与未处理的对照材进行对比.结果认为:前者干燥速度分别提高了13.6%、27.3%和36.4%.蒸汽爆破预处理的压力越大,干燥速度提高的越多;在设定的试验压力范围内,柞木试材的力学强度未受影响.     

Predicting oven-dry density of Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and its effect on performance of wood moisture meter

We propose a non-destructive method to predict the oven-dry density of Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy so as to calibrate a commercial moisture meter. A prediction model for oven-dry density was developed using NIR spectra obtained from Sugi samples with a known density. The density of air-dried Sugi boards was predicted with the developed model. Then, the moisture content (MC) of the boards was measured by a hand-held capacitance-type and an in-line microwave moisture meters. For each board, the moisture meters were calibrated by the predicted density. The predicted density was correlated with the measured one with an R ² of 0.81 and a standard error of prediction (SEP) of 15.3 kg/m³ within the measured density of 279.2–436.4 kg/m³, indicating that the developed model was applicable for predicting oven-dry density of Sugi. The MC readings of both moisture meters showed a good correlation with the oven-dry MC that ranged from 12.1 to 28.9 %. For both moisture meters, the density calibration with the NIR-predicted density gave a higher R ² and a lower SEP than with the conventional calibration with the mean density. These results demonstrate that the present density calibration using NIR spectroscopy could improve the performance of the moisture meters for the air-dried Sugi boards with varying densities.     

Application of the wood properties of large-diameter Sugi (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptomeria japonica</Emphasis>) logs to sorting logs and sawing patterns

The purposes of this study were to accumulate fundamental data on wood properties within large Sugi logs and to take applicable variations in wood properties into consideration for sorting logs and sawing patterns. The characteristics of basic density, moisture content, growth ring width, and microfibril angle (MFA) were measured and the relationship with log and lumber quality was examined. It was considered reasonable to estimate the lumber moisture content based on the moisture content of heartwood rather than that of whole logs, especially when producing large-sized lumber. The MFA reached a constant value before the 15th ring, and within a distance of 10 cm or less from the pith. Since the E _fr of lumber correlated with that of the log affected by MFA, it would be possible to produce lumber with a higher E _fr from the outer position of the log, based on selecting a log above the E _fr . Since the MFA would also affect the lumber warp, a sawing pattern avoiding the area around the pith or enlarging the rough sawn size when a large warp was expected could be effective in improving the lumber quality. To improve the lumber quality, not only one but also multiple wood properties must be applied to the sawing pattern.     

Changes of major chemical components in larch wood through combined treatment of drying and heat treatment using superheated steam

The effects of the combined treatment of drying and heat treatment using superheated steam (SHS) were studied relative to the changes of the major chemical components in larch wood. The green lumber was dried and heat-treated in SHS conditions of 250 °C and 0.5 MPa for 18 h, and the relative percentage contents of sugars, lignin, and extractives were investigated and compared with the relative percentage contents in the lumber heat-treated in hot air conditions of 250 °C and atmospheric pressure for 18 h. After both heat treatment methods, the relative percentage contents of xylan, mannan, galactan, and arabinan were greatly decreased, whereas that of the Klason lignin was increased, additionally that of glucan and extractives remained almost unchanged. Lignin may bind with furan compounds decomposed from hemicellulose following heat treatment, thus contributing to the increase in the apparent relative percentage contents of the Klason lignin. In addition, the condensate collected in the condenser after combined drying and heat treatment using SHS was investigated qualitatively and quantitatively by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A large amount of furfural and acetic acid decomposed from hemicellulose was detected and some sugar components composed of cellulose and hemicellulose were detected in the liquid condensate.     

微波和对流联合干燥的试验研究

试验以速生杨树和马尾松为干燥对象,研究了传统的对流干燥、微波干燥及微波和对流联合干燥三种不同供热方式的干燥动力学规律。结果表明:在整个干燥过程中,微波和对流联合干燥能使木材的内、外层含水率分布保持一致;与传统的对流干燥相比,联合干燥可以改善木材质量,提高干燥速度,降低干燥能耗。     

Wood drying process: impact on Scots pine lumber durability

There are indications that the drying process may have negative effects on the natural durability of wood. The impact of various drying processes on the durability of Scots pine lumber has been evaluated with mass loss in a decay test with brown rot fungus, Coniophora puteana, as measure of the decay resistance of sapwood and inner and outer heartwood. Drying with or without steam conditioning was performed in six different series: air drying, kiln drying at temperature ranges commonly used in Swedish sawmills at 70°C and 90°C with two different regulation principles, and one high-temperature drying at 110°C. Durability varied considerably both between and within boards. Sapwood showed considerable less durability than heartwood. No difference in durability was found between inner heartwood and outer heartwood. Air-dried heartwood showed the highest durability compared to other drying series. The lowest durability in sapwood and heartwood was found for series dried at the 90°C temperature level with high material temperature early in drying. The interpretation is that the duration of high material temperature at high moisture content (MC) is the critical combination for decay resistance in heartwood. Steam conditioning after drying decreased durability in sapwood.     

辐射松与杉木在高温干燥中萜烯类释放浓度研究

以40 mm厚的辐射松(Pinus radiata)和人工林杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolat)锯材为对象,研究高温干燥过程中干燥温度和锯材含水率对萜烯类产物释放浓度的影响,并与辐射松常规干燥中的萜烯类释放浓度作比较。高温和常规干燥过程中采抽气样次数均为5次,抽气速度为1.0 L/min,采样时间为30 min,采用Tenax管收集干燥过程中萜烯类产物,用气相色谱仪分析其成分及浓度。结果表明:高温干燥辐射松萜烯类释放浓度高于常规干燥辐射松与高温干燥人工林杉木,但萜烯类挥发物的组分有所差别。常规干燥辐射松锯材萜烯类释放浓度对环境是安全的,然而在高温干燥过程中,尤其在干燥中后期,当萜烯类挥发物浓度大于1.5 mg/m3时,对辐射松和人工林杉木释放萜烯类挥发物应采取回收措施,以确保对环境的安全。     

Moisture content target optimization in lumber drying

Abstract

A Lumber Quality Model developed to predict lumber grade after drying was applied and validated in industry. The model was calibrated with a 198-piece lumber package that was dried at a local sawmill in British Columbia, Canada, and 30 sawmill grade reports were recorded from 2008 to 2010. The calibrated model was then used to predict the target moisture content that would result in the maximum lumber value. It was predicted that lumber value should increase by approximately 17 CAD (Canadian dollars) m^?3 if the target moisture content were reduced from the historic 17% to an optimum of approximate 13%. The sawmill implemented the recommendations and the predictions were validated with another seven industrial drying runs.     

金檀干燥工艺的研究

文章采用百度试验法对金檀木材进行干燥特性研究,提出金檀家具用料板材的干燥基准,并进行了工艺试验研究。结果表明,金檀木材初期开裂为5级;内裂为2级;截面变形为3级,干燥速度为4级。初期开裂较严重,干燥速度慢,故金檀为难干燥木材。采用给出的干燥工艺,42 mm厚铁线子地板坯料从初含水率30.66%干燥到12.8%的干燥周期为43d,干燥质量满足家具用料的加工要求。     

高温水供热干燥速生杉木方材

运用高温水供热系统干燥速生杉木方材。生产性试验表明，6天内初含水率为55．5％的杉木方材干至始含水率5．4％，干燥质量符合细木工板生产的要求（少数高含水率木材除外）。此干燥法集中供热，具有热效率高、运行安全和经济可行等特点。     

Investigation of wood properties that influence the final moisture content of air-dried sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) using principal component regression analysis

Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) lumber is known to have a large variability in final moisture content (MC_f) and is difficult to dry. This study investigated the variability in MC_f of sugi in relation to wood properties. The wood property variables included initial moisture content (MC_i), basic density (BD), annual ring orientation (ARO), annual ring width (ARW), heartwood ratio (HR) and CIE L ^* color (L ^*). Sugi samples were cut from flat-sawn lumbers and air-dried; a principal component regression (PCR) model for predicting MC_f was developed with the wood property variables. The wood properties that contributed to the prediction of MC_f were evaluated by PCR analysis. Significant positive regression coefficients of the PCR model were observed in the MC_i, BD, ARO and HR, whereas negative ones in the L ^*. There were no significant regression coefficients in the ARW. These results suggest that the MC_i, BD, ARO and HR had a positive influence, the L ^* had a negative influence, and the ARW had little influence on the MC_f of air-dried sugi wood. This finding is in line with the general view on the drying characteristics in relation to these wood properties.     

Effect of steam explosion treatments on drying rates and moisture distributions during radio-frequency/vacuum drying of larch pillar combined with a longitudinal kerf

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of steam explosion treatment on drying rates, moisture distribution, shrinking, and checking during radio-frequency/vacuum drying of Korean larch pillar combined with a longitudinal kerf. All the pillars except the nonkerf/control with high initial moisture content (MC) could be dried within 89 h from the green condition to about 15% MC. In pillars with high initial moistures or in the early stage of drying, the drying rates were sharply accelerated by steam explosion treatments. The final moisture gradients along the transverse direction were gentler for the steamexploded pillars and for pillars with a longitudinal kerf, respectively, than for the unexploded pillars and for pillars without a longitudinal kerf. The moisture gradients along the longitudinal direction on all the layers were gentler for the pillars with a longitudinal kerf than for those without the kerf. Formation of checking was significantly controlled in the pillars with a longitudinal kerf. All the steam-exploded pillars except the kerf/1-cycle, however, were more severely damaged by checks than the unexploded pillars. A prong test revealed an extremely low level of residual stress for all the dried pillars.     

Prediction of the optimum veneer drying temperature for good bonding in plywood manufacturing by means of artificial neural network

Veneer drying is one of the most important stages in the manufacturing of veneer-based composites such as plywood and laminated veneer lumber. Due to the high drying costs, increased temperatures are being used commonly in plywood industry to reduce the overall drying time and increase capacity. However, high drying temperatures can alter some physical, mechanical and chemical characteristics of wood and cause some drying-related defects. In this study, it was attempted to predict the optimum drying temperature for beech and spruce veneers via artificial neural network modeling for optimum bonding. Therefore, bonding shear strength values of plywood panels manufactured from beech and spruce veneers dried at temperatures of 20, 110, 150 and 180 °C were obtained experimentally. Then, the intermediate bond strength values based on veneer drying temperatures were predicted by artificial neural network modeling, and the values not measured experimentally were evaluated. The optimum drying temperature values that yielded the highest bonding strength were obtained as 169 °C for urea formaldehyde and 125 °C for phenol formaldehyde adhesive in beech plywood panels, while 162 °C for urea formaldehyde and 151 °C for phenol formaldehyde in spruce plywood panels.     

Nondestructive evaluation of drying stress level on wood surface using near-infrared spectroscopy

A nondestructive technique for swiftly measuring the stress level of the surface of wood is proposed, which is important for process control in timber drying. Partial least squares (PLS) regression models for predicting surface-released strain (ε) were developed using NIR spectra obtained from Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) samples during drying. The predictive ability of the models was evaluated by PLS analysis and by comparing NIR-predicted ε with laboratory-measured values. The PLS regression model using the NIR spectra pre-processed by MSC and second derivatives with a wavelength range of 2,000–2,220 nm showed good agreement with the measurement (R ² = 0.72). PLS analysis identified the wavelengths around 2,035 nm as making significant contributions to the prediction of ε. Orthogonal signal correction (OSC) was an effective pre-processing technique to reduce the number of factors required for the model using the wavelength range 1,300–2,500 nm. However, the predictive ability of the OSC-corrected model was not improved. Elapsed times to reach the maximum tensile stress (T _max) and the stress reversal point (T _rev) at the wood surface during drying were detected correctly for 75 % of the samples. The results show that NIR spectroscopy has potential to predict the drying stress level of the timber surface and to detect critical periods in drying, such as T _max and T _rev.