Experimental study and numerical modeling of heat and mass transfer in rubberwood during kiln drying

Abstract

Rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis) is a major raw material used in furniture factories in southern Thailand. Proper kiln drying of the lumber plays a significant role on the efficient utilization of the final product. Overall quality-reducing defects in such a materials are inevitable, unless a correct and proper drying process is used. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to develop a three-dimensional numerical model of heat and moisture transfer during the drying process and to conduct physical experiments in order to compare the results between the two approaches. For this purpose, an innovative kiln dryer was designed in the laboratory which will also contribute to the prevention of defects in the wood. The results show that the samples dried at a temperature of 120 °C experienced faster decreases in their moisture content compared to those dried at temperatures of 100 °C and 80 °C. The drying temperature and moisture content of the samples were successfully predicted by the simulation model created in this investigation and the two approaches demonstrated good agreement for temperature and moisture with root mean square errors of 0.50 and 0.19, standard errors of 0.38 and 0.16, and mean absolute errors of 0.94 and 2.18, respectively. These results will help rubberwood drying facilities prevent wood deformation while reducing the drying time required.