1

Kiln Design and Improved Moisture Content Uniformity

Thom SmithOld Town Lumber Company

• All Eastern White Pine

• Lumber from Different Sawmills

• Variation of Moisture Content %

2

Existing Kilns

• Wet Spots• Over-drying

• Poor Air Flow• Lack of Sensors

Large Temperature Drop• Lack of Control

What do we want in a kiln?

3

Air Movement in Kiln

• Air Speed

4

5

Air Movement in Kiln

• Air Speed

• Baffling

6

Air Movement in Kiln

• Air Speed

• Baffling

• Good Piling

7

8

Heating Requirements

• Use New Technology

9

10

Heating Requirements

• Use New Technology

• Multi-Zoning

11

12

Heating Requirements

• Use New Technology

• Multi-Zoning

• Distribution of Heat

13

14

Humidity Control

• Multiple Wet Bulbs

15

Humidity Control

• Multiple Wet Bulbs

• Good Venting

16

17

Humidity Control

• Multiple Wet Bulbs

• Good Venting

• Good Spray System

Putting it Together

• The Box

18

19

Putting it Together

• The Box

• Control System

20

21

Putting it Together

• The Box

• Control System

• Innovation

22

23

The End