FRI SOLAR KILNS

Also known as the FRI solar heated kilns, these are the most popular and widely used kilns in
India.
They have been designed and evolved after decades of studies at the Forest Research Institute,
Dehradun.
The super structure consists of a timber or metal frame, double sheathed on the south, east and
west walls with mm thick clear transparent glass on the outside and !."! mm thick glass on the
inside. In between the glasses, there is a "! mm wide air gap.
The north facing wall is covered with plywood of ade#uate thickness.
The orientation of the kiln is $ast%&est along its a'is. This oriented is suited for most parts of
India. This is also suitable for (hutan.
Its roof has a tilt towards south at an angle with the hori)ontal which e#uals !.* times the latitude
for the absorption of ma'imum energy all round the year.
A hori)ontal false ceiling comprising of a +%corrugated blackened galvani)ed iron sheet,-.
which functions as a solar absorber. The timber stack is placed below this false ceiling for
seasoning.
Two electric propeller fans are mounted as floor level in a vertical partition that is erected on one
side of the stack all along the entire length of the kiln and e'tending up to the false ceiling. The
fans are used for maintaining air circulation in the stack.
The air is re circulated and the heat is continuously scrubbed by the passing stream of air from
the solar absorbing false ceiling. It is supplied to the stack for seasoning to take place.
+ents have been provided at the bottom of the north and south walls for partial venting and
control of fresh air intake. These also help in controlling the relative humidity inside the kiln.
The entire structure may be painted black for ma'imi)ing the absorption of solar energy.
Functioning of solar kilns
This kilns functions on the glass house principle.
/hort wave solar radiation is transmitted by the transparent sheathing into the kiln which is
absorbed by the blackened solar absorber.
The long wave infra%red radiation emitted by the absorber is not allowed to pass out of the kiln.
The sheathing functions as a trap for the incoming solar energy.
In this way, the temperature inside the kiln rises and this seasons the timber which has been
stacked in it.
The fans provided in the kiln help in re circulating the air and maintaining the relative humidity
at optimum levels.
It takes about 0 to 1! days for seasoning timber of average dimensions and moisture content in
this kiln. /everal modifications have been made in this design to suit specific conditions.
i. A water spray of the spinning disc types may be provided to give a floating
mist of very fine drops of water that does not wet either the timber stack or the
floor of the kiln.
ii. This is helpful in seasoning refractory hardwoods which may split and crack
otherwise.
The temperatures in a solar kiln gradually rise as the day progresses and may reach their
ma'imum between 1 to " pm.
&hen a freshly loaded charge is put into the kiln, the temperatures may not rise to very high
levels, but as the timber dries the rise of temperature becomes much more.
2owever, no matter how high the temperature may rise, it usually does not increase more than
about 3!
o
4 and in any case, the rate of increase is very gradual.
Advantages of solar kilns
They are easy to fabricate and operate.
Ideally suited for small and medium scale timber processing industries
The cost of seasoning is very less as compared to other kilns.
These kilns can be readily erected even in remote and far flung areas.
As lower temperatures are involved in the seasoning process, the solar dried timber is less liable
to cracking and splitting than air seasoning and less affected by collapse and warping than
conventional steam kiln seasoning.
The energy re#uired for seasoning timber is much less than other kilns are very cheap.
SKETCHES OF SOLAR DRER