A vacuum kiln, such as our iDRY system, operates on the principle of creating a controlled environment where the pressure is reduced below atmospheric levels. This vacuum environment facilitates faster and more efficient drying of wood compared to traditional kilns.
Here’s how it works:
- Initial Loading: The wood to be dried is loaded into the kiln chamber. It’s important to ensure that the wood is properly stacked and spaced to allow for adequate airflow and uniform drying.
- Evacuation: Once the wood is loaded, the kiln chamber is sealed, and the air inside is gradually evacuated using vacuum pumps. As the pressure decreases, moisture within the wood begins to vaporize at lower temperatures than in atmospheric conditions.
- Temperature Control: While the vacuum removes moisture from the wood, temperature control is crucial to facilitate the drying process effectively. The kiln’s heating elements are activated to elevate the temperature within the chamber, promoting evaporation of moisture from the wood.
- Moisture Removal: As the temperature rises and the vacuum persists, moisture within the wood vaporizes and diffuses towards the surface. The vacuum environment accelerates this process by reducing the pressure, allowing moisture to escape more readily.
- Condensation and Removal: The moisture vapor extracted from the wood is condensed back into liquid form using condenser coils within the kiln. This condensed water is then collected and removed from the kiln, either through a floor drain or via the vacuum pump.
- Monitoring and Control: Throughout the drying process, sensors and controllers monitor various parameters such as temperature, humidity, and pressure to ensure optimal drying conditions. This allows for precise control and adjustment of the kiln environment to achieve desired moisture content levels in the wood.
- Completion: Once the wood reaches the desired moisture content, the drying cycle is complete. The vacuum is released, and the kiln chamber is opened to allow for removal of the dried wood.
Overall, a vacuum kiln offers significant advantages over traditional kiln drying methods, including faster drying times, reduced risk of defects, and improved quality of the finished wood products.
Sizes: 1 inch up to 4 inch thick. Maximum of 16 feet long.
- Lead times will vary.
- Each kiln cycle is 1-3 weeks long, depending on thickness of the material
- Our queue is on a first-come, first-serve basis.