A sawn wood drying system, which allows to take advantage of the heat contained in the dry wood that leaves the system to preheat the wet and cold wood that enters the system, the system comprising: a heating chamber, a drying chamber and a cooling chamber, sequentially arranged, and a transport path that allows the transfer of sawn wood through these three chambers; a first air circulation system, which provides a first high temperature air flow inside the drying chamber; and a second air circulation system that provides a second air flow, independent of the first air flow, which allows the heating chamber to be in fluid communication with the cooling chamber by means of external chambers or ducts connecting both chambers.

The present invention relates to a heating element for a timber drying device and a timber drying device using same, the heating element comprising: a concave and convex metal plate sandwiched between vertically laminated timbers and having ridges and valleys alternately formed thereon; heating cables generating heat as power is applied thereto; and a plurality of heat transfer pipes which are tightly coupled to the concave and convex metal plate between the ridges and valleys of the concave and convex metal plate to reinforce the strength of the concave and convex metal plate and into which the heating cables are sequentially inserted to transfer heat generated from the heating cables to the concave and convex metal plate. According to the present invention, with a very simple structure, heat can be transferred evenly throughout the timbers, the heat conduction efficiency from the heating cables to the concave and convex metal plate can be greatly improved, the lifespan of the heating element can be significantly extended, and the convenience of a timber laminating work for timber drying can be greatly improved.

Procedure for drying wood, dried wood obtained therefrom and covering element for containers made of the dried wood obtained.

Of the type applied after the wood has been cut at its source, the wood having lost humidity and the wood having an equilibrium moisture content of about 41% or more.

A process for the production of acetylated wood elements, a cooling system and a wood acetylation plant are described. A process for the production of acetylated wood elements comprises acetylating wood elements and cooling the acetylated wood elements wherein the cooling comprises supplying liquid water to the acetylated wood elements to provide wetted wood elements and exposing the wetted wood elements to a gas flow.

A lumber drying kiln includes a first fan assembly located on a first side wall of the kiln and a second fan assembly located on a second side wall opposite the first side wall. The kiln defines an interior drying chamber and the fan of the first fan assembly is operable to push air through the drying chamber while the fan of the second fan assembly is operable to pull air through the drying chamber. The kiln further includes a first vent assembly disposed on the first side wall of the kiln and a second vent assembly disposed on the second side wall of the kiln. The first vent assembly is operable to exhaust air from inside the drying chamber while the second vent assembly is operable to intake air from the outside ambient atmosphere into the drying chamber. The kiln provides a method for seasoning and conditioning wood.

Embodiments provide a multi-pass kiln with two or more chambers, an entrance and an exit at a proximal end of the kiln, and a reciprocal flow path extending through the kiln from the entrance to the exit. Lumber charges traveling along the reciprocal flow path may travel in a first direction along one side of the heated second chamber before traveling in a substantially opposite second direction along the opposite side of the second chamber. The distal end of the kiln may be substantially sealed, and a pressure differential between the distal end and the proximal end may draw moist heated air from the heated chamber toward the exit and entry to preheat and/or condition lumber charges traveling through the first chamber.

A method for reducing moisture of a material includes applying microwave radiation combined with RF to the material to heat and evacuate moisture from the material during a heating cycle and optionally alternating heating cycles with drying/cooling cycles. In particular, a method is disclosed to reduce a moisture content level of a material that comprises introducing the material or plant vertically into a drying enclosure using a vertical feed mechanism. The method further includes irradiating a portion of the material or plant with microwave to heat and vaporize moisture within the material or plant during a heating cycle; combining or alternating the microwave with RF heating for a time interval during the heating cycle to reduce the moisture content level of the material or plant; and alternating the heating cycle with a cooling cycle. In certain aspects or embodiments, the system comprises at least an enclosure, a vertical track mechanism, a microwave delivery device, a radio-frequency emitter and power supply.

A lumber drying kiln includes a first fan assembly located on a first side wall of the kiln and a second fan assembly located on a second side wall opposite the first side wall. The kiln defines an interior drying chamber and the fan of the first fan assembly is operable to push air through the drying chamber while the fan of the second fan assembly is operable to pull air through the drying chamber. The kiln further includes a first vent assembly disposed on the first side wall of the kiln and a second vent assembly disposed on the second side wall of the kiln. The first vent assembly is operable to exhaust air from inside the drying chamber while the second vent assembly is operable to intake air from the outside ambient atmosphere into the drying chamber. The kiln provides a method for seasoning and conditioning wood.

A sticker for spacing wood is extruded from an aluminum alloy. The sticker can have different configurations. In a first configuration, the sticker has a width about the same as its height, with longitudinal ridges on all sides that grip wood when wood is stacked on the sticker. In a second configuration, the sticker has a width significantly greater than its height, with longitudinal ridges on the top and bottom surfaces, and with smooth side surfaces. The longitudinal ridges have a height within a specified range and are spaced at a distance peak-to-peak within a specified range. The ridges provide good grip of lumber stacked on the sticker yet do not easily plug with wood fibers through repeated use. The extruded aluminum sticker is very rugged and can be used for hundreds or even thousands of drying cycles.

A sticker for spacing wood is extruded from an aluminum alloy. The sticker can have different configurations. In a first configuration, the sticker has a width about the same as its height, with longitudinal ridges on all sides that grip wood when wood is stacked on the sticker. In a second configuration, the sticker has a width significantly greater than its height, with longitudinal ridges on the top and bottom surfaces, and with smooth side surfaces. The longitudinal ridges have a height within a specified range and are spaced at a distance peak-to-peak within a specified range. The ridges provide good grip of lumber stacked on the sticker yet do not easily plug with wood fibers through repeated use. The extruded aluminum sticker is very rugged and can be used for hundreds or even thousands of drying cycles.