Seasoning and drying of coconut wood
1988
Penamora, L.J. | Palomar, R.N.
Sawn coconut lumber was subjected to air drying, forced-air drying, kiln drying and combination of these drying processes. The study was conducted to obtain information on the response of coconut wood to each drying method. Specimens used were 25 mm and 50 mm thick boards. Equilibrium moisture contents (e.m.c) of 18-19% were attained in 6-7 weeks air drying for 25 mm and 10-11 weeks for 50 mm boards. Drying time and e.m.c. were highly dependent on the boards thickness and climatic conditions. Twenty five mm coconut boards were dried from green condition to 12% final moisture content (m.c.) in 8 days kiln drying employing the initial dry bulb temperature (DBT) and wet bulb temperature (WBT) of 49 deg C and 43 deg C to final DBT and WBT of 48 deg C and 36 deg C, respectively. The 50 mm boards were dried to 13% in 24 days employing initial DBT and WBT of 40 deg C and 34 deg C final DBT and WBT of 58 deg C and 45 deg C. The wide variations in the initial m.c. of low, medium and high density specimens decreased as the drying progresses to the equilibrium moisture contents. Preliminary air drying of 50 mm boards to about 50-60% m.c. could adequately reduce the high moisture gradients. For 25 mm materials, pre-drying appreciably reduced kiln drying time. By combination of forced-in drying and kiln drying the wood materials were dried to as much shorter period.
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