One-year simulation of a solar wood dryer with glazed walls in a Moroccan climate

Abstract

A one-year numerical simulation of a solar wood dryer with glazed walls in a Moroccan climate was developed. This simulation was used to predict detailed and temporal distributions of wood moisture content (MC) and to study the mechanisms and parameters involved in solar wood drying. Calculations were performed for thuya wood (Tetraclinis articulate), which is primarily used in marquetry in the city of Essaouira and is well-known for its aesthetic qualities. Comparisons between the theoretical results and both experimental data and the results reported in pertinent literature were also performed and the results obtained via computer simulation agreed well with the experimental values. Analyses of the studied wood revealed that 15 drying cycles could be achieved within a year for an air velocity of 1 m/s and that the drying process was faster during the hot seasons than in cold seasons (430 h vs. 600 hr). Continued ventilation reduced the drying time, thereby increasing the number of drying cycles (33 vs. 15). Additionally, increasing the air velocity by 100% resulted in more than a 100% increase in the number of drying cycles; doubling the air velocity for thicker boards also resulted in an increase in drying cycles (23 vs. 15).