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US 11,994,342 B2Granted
Hybrid kiln for drying wood, biochar and agriculture products
AssigneesThe George Washington University, Mississippi State University
InventorsRichard Clive Millar, Thomas A. Mazzuchi, Todd Mlsna
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hybrid kiln system and method for drying material, such as lumber, logs, and timber. A solar air heater uses solar radiation to heat air. The heated air is pushed into a kiln using one or more solar air heater fans. A dehumidifier is also provided to dehumidify and heat the air within the kiln. A method for determining when the solar air heater fans and the dehumidifier should be activated is also provided, and is based upon the temperature difference between the solar air heater's interior and exterior, as well as the relative humidity within the kiln.
Claims18
A kiln comprising:
- a kiln body forming an enclosure with a kiln interior;
- a solar heater outside of said kiln body to generate heated air;
- a plenum coupled to said solar heater and said kiln body to provide the heated air to the kiln interior;
- one or more circulation fans inside said kiln interior to circulate air inside said kiln interior;
- a dehumidifier to remove air from said kiln interior, dehumidify the removed air, and introduce dehumidified air into said kiln interior;
- and
- a moisture detection apparatus having a moisture detector to determine a drying rate inside the kiln interior, said moisture detection apparatus comprising:
- a first water reservoir;
- a second water reservoir;
- a first inlet tube coupled to an output of said dehumidifier;
- a second inlet tube coupled to said first water reservoir;
- a third inlet tube coupled to said first and/or second water reservoir;
- a first inlet valve coupled to said first inlet tube, said second inlet tube and said third inlet tube to direct water from the output of said dehumidifier to said first and/or said second water reservoir;
- a first outlet tube coupled to said first water reservoir and an exterior of said kiln body;
- a first outlet valve to direct water from said first water reservoir to the exterior of said kiln body;
- a second outlet tube coupled to said second water reservoir and the exterior of said kiln body;
- a second outlet valve to direct water from said second water reservoir to the exterior of said kiln body;
- and
- a controller operating the first inlet valve, first outlet valve, and second outlet valve.
16 more elements
A kiln comprising:
- a kiln body forming an enclosure with a kiln interior;
- a solar heater outside of said kiln body to generate heated air;
- a plenum coupled to said solar heater and said kiln body to provide the heated air to the kiln interior;
- one or more circulation fans inside said kiln interior to circulate air inside said kiln interior;
- a dehumidifier to remove air from said kiln interior, dehumidify the removed air, and introduce dehumidified air into said kiln interior;
- and
- a moisture detection apparatus having a moisture detector to determine a drying rate inside the kiln interior, said moisture detection apparatus comprising:
- one or more water reservoirs;
- one or more inlet tubes coupled to said one or more water reservoirs and an output of said dehumidifier;
- one or more inlet valves coupled to said one or more inlet tubes to direct water from the output of said dehumidifier to said one or more water reservoirs via one or more inlet tubes;
- one or more outlet tubes coupled to said one or more reservoirs and an exterior of said kiln body;
- one or more outlet valves coupled to said one or more outlet tubes and to said one or more reservoirs to direct water from said one or more reservoirs to the exterior of said kiln body;
- one or more sensors positioned in said one or more water reservoirs to detect a water level;
- a controller coupled to said one or more inlet valves, said one or more outlet valves and said one or more sensors, and operating the one or more inlet valves and the one or more outlet valves based on the detected water level.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.