The Forestry Forum
General Forestry => Drying and Processing => Topic started by: vfauto on December 11, 2017, 07:57:43 PM
What is the hottest the solar kiln will reach?
Don't really know, but I have documented 180 deg F in mine. Used a chart recording thermometer. Be advised, my kiln is a bit different from most, and I do live in the deep south...I normally see 40 deg over ambient, even on cloudy days...
If the wood is fairly wet, then the extra heat will be used for evaporating water. So, a solar kiln will run maybe only 10-20 F hotter than outside. This is good, as the energy is being used for drying.
If the wood is dry, the extra heat will not evaporate moisture as easily so the kiln temperature will reach 30-40 F above outside. Any hotter means that solar input and the heat created is not being efficiently used for drying. Probably there is a relative humidity issue, as with heat and low RH the woood has to dry. Maybe, the vents are not open enough.