Solar drying

Solar drying

Solar seasoning offers a compromise between the low energy requirement of air drying and the speed of kiln drying. A number of different configurations have been tried, including a double skinned inflatable kiln. Because the energy input is variable, the kilns often have effective insulation to hold the heat inside at night time. Some kilns developed overseas can generate temperatures of over 40C inside even though the temperature outside is – 20C.

Solar-drying, which can take nearly twice the time required for kiln-drying, is well suited to high-grade applications such as furniture. Solar-drying is really a slower and gentler form of kiln drying. Some seasoned hardwood producers use air-drying down to fibre saturation point (FSP) prior to stacking the timber in the solar kiln.