Operational Performance of a Batch-Mode Dehumidifier Timber Dryer

Abstract

This article reviews the operational performance of a batch-mode dehumidifier timber dryer from a range of perspectives, covering a period of 10 years. The drying rate, energy efficiency, and dehumidifier operating environment are analyzed for an illustrative drying run and for a series of 111 runs. Factors affecting the energy consumption and the productivity of the dryer are assessed. The success of the equipment, the system design, and the methods used for control, air-flow reversal, and heat rejection are discussed. Recommendations arising from the authors' experiences with the dryer are presented.

Keywords:

• Dehumidifier
• Operational-performance
• Timber-dryer

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are grateful to Croft Timber Co. Ltd. for its cooperation and permission to publish this paper. They would like to thank Alan Firth, Louise Jakobsen, Sarah Shannon, Qin Sun, and Michel Van der Pal for their help in data collection and analysis.