Virginia Tech Solar Kiln | Dept. of Wood Science and Forest Products at ...

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http://www.woodscience.vt.edu/about/extension/vtsolar_kiln/

10/24/2010 4:01 PM

Virginia Tech Solar Kiln | Dept. of Wood Science and Forest Products at ...

2 of 3

http://www.woodscience.vt.edu/about/extension/vtsolar_kiln/

Virginia Tech Solar Kiln

Lumber is usually dried to a specific moisture content prior to further manufacturing or use. While lumber can be air-dried, the humidity in
most localities prevents the lumber from reaching the moisture content required for the stability needed for interior use. The kiln
discussed is designed to be inexpensive to construct and be simple to operate.
The solar kiln described was designed, constructed, and tested at Virginia Tech. This design is based on 25 years of research and
development on the solar drying of lumber in the United States and foreign countries. Drawings for two versions of this kiln are available;
one for 800-1,000 bd ft and the other for 1,500-2,000 board feet of lumber. Both kilns will dry a load of lumber in approximately one
month of moderately sunny weather at its location in Blacksburg, VA.
While there are several different types of solar kilns for drying lumber, the kiln described here was designed with two major objectives in
mind:
1. The kiln must be relatively inexpensive to construct
2. The kiln must be simple to operate
Drying lumber can be a complex process where accelerating drying without having quality loss often requires extensive knowledge and
experience. The design of the Virginia Tech solar kiln is such that extensive knowledge, experience and control are not required. The
size of the collector keeps the kiln from over-heating and causing checking and splitting of the wood. The kiln is simple to construct and
utilizes a passive solar collector, four insulated walls and an insulated floor. The roof is made of clear, greenhouse rated, corrugated
polyethylene.
Publication describing Virginia Tech's solar kiln construction and operation
Plans for the 2,000 board foot kiln (PDF 16 KB)
Pictures of construction of the solar kiln

2010 Solar Lumber Drying Course Information

There will be two 1/2 day courses offered in 2010. One will be held on Friday April 9th in Durango, Colorado and the other on May
20th in Richmond as part of the Richmond Expo.
Friday, April 9th in Durango, Colorado. Solar Drying and Dry Kiln Workshop. Durango Community Recreation Center.
Sponsored by the stadd of the Colorado Wood Utilization and Marketing Program. For more information and registration,
please contact Amanda Bucknam at: amanda.bucknam@colostate.edu or 970.491.0801. Brochure [PDF 135 KB]
Thursday, May, 20th in Richmond, Virginia as part of the Richmond Expo, sponsored by Virginia Tech and the Virginia
Forest Products Association. Course information and registration.

Useful Links
Discussion Forum on Solar Kiln Operation
Introduction to solar assisted drying

Contact Information
Dr. Brian Bond
Email: bbond@vt.edu
Phone: 540-231-8752
FAX: (540) 231-8868
1650 Ramble Rd.
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0503

Bill Lewis's Solar Kiln

Bill Lewis attended our 4th Solar kiln course in April, 2006.

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Virginia Tech Solar Kiln | Dept. of Wood Science and Forest Products at ...

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http://www.woodscience.vt.edu/about/extension/vtsolar_kiln/

2010 Department of Wood Science and Forest Products | 540.231.8853 | All rights reserved.

10/24/2010 4:01 PM