Time to kiln dry firewood down to 20%

[Duffryn]

whats wrong with air drying?

 

Cost of cash tied up in stock drying, ability to react to demand, yard space taken up, ability to charge a premium for kiln dried. If none of these are a concern ( and they could genuinely well not be) then no need to kiln dry.

[Duffryn]

whats wrong with air drying?

 

Cost of cash tied up in stock drying, ability to react to demand, yard space taken up, ability to charge a premium for kiln dried. If none of these are a concern ( and they could genuinely not be) then no need to kiln dry.

[briquette_seller]

Cost of cash tied up in stock drying, ability to react to demand, yard space taken up, ability to charge a premium for kiln dried. If none of these are a concern ( and they could genuinely well not be) then no need to kiln dry.

 

Just seems, to me, madness to burn wood to dry wood for burning?

I don't see the sustainability?

[arboriculturist]

Ah, more usefull data thanks.

 

Without a RH stat and associated extraction fans, the fan speed settings to give the required frequency air changes are all down to the individual's experience. I expect you spent many hours checking RH levels in prototype kilns before arriving at the settings you use today.

 

I suppose if you are in your 20s' buying an Australian or American style of kiln with programmable humidity control and associated drying schedules, insulation, heat recovery etc etc. and a hefty price tag may be a worthwhile long term investment, that said I am sure 'most' UK kiln packages are very much hit and miss as far as efficiency is concerned.

 

Without the RHI incentive can it ever be viable to kiln dry firewood for sale?

[arboriculturist]

whats wrong with air drying?

 

Air drying is ideal for those that have the space, capital to invest in containerisation, undercover storage, stocks of roundwood and associated processing costs.

 

The kiln dryers can instantly react to demand with little yard/storage space and minimal capital.

 

Enviromentally not great, but how many profitable businesses are.

[arboriculturist]

I think you will struggle to get 70 degrees in the kiln using a biomass boiler ( most are designed to run efficiently at 70-75 degrees). I loose 20 degrees in temperature from boiler temperature to kiln temperature and a further 5 degrees at the back of the kiln. On my 10ft kiln I can dry Larch to 20% in 1.5 days, most hardwood typically 3 days, Oak 4-5 days. Log size makes a big difference on drying times. My figures are based on no more than 12inch logs. Hope this helps

 

Ah, more usefull data thanks.

 

Without a RH stat and associated extraction fans, the fan speed settings to give the required frequency air changes are all down to the individual's experience. I expect you spent many hours checking RH levels in prototype kilns before arriving at the settings you use today.

 

I suppose if you are in your 20s' buying an Australian or American style of kiln with programmable humidity control and associated drying schedules, insulation, heat recovery etc etc. and a hefty price tag may be a worthwhile long term investment, that said I am sure 'most' UK kiln packages are very much hit and miss as far as efficiency is concerned.

 

Without the RHI incentive can it ever be viable to kiln dry firewood for sale?

[briquette_seller]

Air drying is ideal for those that have the space, capital to invest in containerisation, undercover storage, stocks of roundwood and associated processing costs.

 

The kiln dryers can instantly react to demand with little yard/storage space and minimal capital.

 

Enviromentally not great, but how many profitable businesses are.

 

So you invest 50k in a kiln, maybe less maybe more?

 

Well for that, you could easily rent more yard/roof space, buy a fair old heap of cord wood and buy enough "containers" to store all your wood and probably still spare cash

[arboriculturist]

So you invest 50k in a kiln, maybe less maybe more?

 

Well for that, you could easily rent more yard/roof space, buy a fair old heap of cord wood and buy enough "containers" to store all your wood and probably still spare cash

 

I know what you mean - perhaps it is just so much easier and more efficient to kiln dry, as you are dealing with such small amounts of timber at any one time and can have a massive meterage output on a very small footprint?

[briquette_seller]

I know what you mean - perhaps it is just so much easier and more efficient to kiln dry, as you are dealing with such small amounts of timber at any one time and can have a massive meterage output on a very small footprint?

 

What's a massive meterage output?

[arboriculturist]

What's a massive meterage output?

 

Sorry, massive firewood cubic meterage output.

 

I assumed you had a kiln as I guessed you processed 2-3000 cu m of firewood annually. Had no idea you air dried that amount?