Continuous Lumber Drying Kilns

Abstract

The aim of this study is to introduce the continuous kilns, which have a history of nearly 40 years in the world, by comparing them with traditional batch kilns. In the previous studies, although frequency based methods have been tried more for this purpose, the conventional method which is widely preferred in batch kilns is used. However, this method is applied in kilns with lengths up to 90m, while the timber is stacked and moved on motion controlled wagons. On the other hand, depending on the change of equipment and the drying atmosphere that occurs, there are varieties in itself. This relatively new kiln type is not only in theory, but is also preferred by many sawmills. Due to their characteristic properties, it is possible to say that although wood species which can be dried more quickly are preferred to thin lumber, the flexibility of the timber properties can be extended with the technological advances and gained experience. Preferring these type kilns which annual capacities can reach up to 170.000 m³ does not seem economically viable with a plurality of low capacity sawmill in Turkey at this stage. However, it can be said that if some conditions occur, it will start to be preferred and even produced by domestic producers.

Keywords

• Lumber drying,continuous drying kiln,drying duration,drying conditions,drying kiln equipment

Kesintisiz Kereste Kurutma Fırınları

Öz

Bu çalışmanın amacı, Dünya’da yaklaşık 40 yıl geçmişi olan kesintisiz bir şekilde hareketli kereste kurutma fırınlarının, geleneksel sabit kurutma fırınlarıyla karşılaştırılması yapılarak tanıtılmasıdır. Önceki çalışmalarda bu amaçla daha çok frekans esaslı yöntemler denenmesine karşın, sabit fırınlarda yaygın bir şekilde tercih edilen konvansiyonel yöntem kullanılmaktadır. Ancak bu yöntem, uzunlukları 90m’ye kadar çıkabilen fırınlarda, keresteler hareket kontrollü vagonlar üzerinde istiflenip ilerlerken uygulanmaktadır. Diğer yandan ekipman ve buna bağlı oluşan kurutma atmosferi değişimine bağlı, kendi içerisinde de çeşitleri bulunmaktadır. Nispeten yeni sayılabilecek bu yeni fırın tipi teoride kalmayıp, aynı zamanda birçok kereste fabrikası tarafından da tercih edilmeye başlamıştır. Karakteristik özellikleri nedeniyle, daha çok hızlı kurutulabilen ağaç türlerinin ince keresteleri tercih edilmesine karşın, teknolojik gelişmeler ve edinilen tecrübelerle kurutulabilecek kereste özelliklerinde esneklik sağlanacağı da söylenebilir. Yıllık kapasiteleri 170.000 m³’e kadar çıkabilen bu tip fırınların, Türkiye’deki kereste fabrikalarının çok sayıda fakat düşük kapasiteli olması nedeniyle bu aşamada tercih edilmesi ekonomik açıdan uygun gözükmemektedir. Bununla birlikte belirli şartlar oluştuğu takdirde, tercih edilmeye ve hatta yerli üreticiler tarafından üretilmeye başlanacağı söylenebilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Kereste kurutma,kesintisiz kurutma fırını,kurutma süresi,kurutma atmosferi,kurutma fırını ekipmanları

Kaynakça

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