Drying Characteristics of Large Western Redcedar Timber During Radio Frequency/Vacuum Drying

웨스턴 레드시더 큰 정각재(正角材)의 고주파 진공 건조 특성

Western redcedar timber, 26 by 26cm in cross section and by 200cm long, was dried in a laboratory radio-frequency/vacuum kiln under 65torr of ambient pressure and a fixed frequency of 6.78MHz for the potential rapidly dry large timber. All process data were collected and saved in a computer through a data acquisition system. The temperature in the middle of timber was higher than temperature at the quarter point of timber length and thickness. Temperature gradients developed in the longitudinal and transverse direction of timber. The pressure in the middle of timber was higher than pressure at the quarter point of timber length. The pressure in the middle of timber was lower in the early stage of drying, and higher in the latter stage of drying than pressure at the quarter point of timber thickness. Power density was very highest during heating period and then gradually decreased. The drying curve was approximately linear and the total drying time was 27 hours from an initial moisture content(MC) of 48.6 percent to a final Me of 19.2 percent with only a few mild internal checks in the middle location of timber.