Apparatus for treating green wood and for accelerating drying of green wood

Apparatus for accelerating the drying of wood comprising:

• an enclosed treatment chamber in which the wood is positioned;
• a steam conduit operatively connected to said treatment chamber for supplying steam to said chamber for heating said wood at a predetermined temperature at least about 120 F for a predetermined period of time while maintaining substantially the moisture content of the wood during heating;
• an air source providing air to said treatment chamber for exposing the heated wood to a cooling environment after being heated and containing air of a temperature at least 30 F less than the temperature of said heated wood for the transfer of internal heat and moisture to said air;
• said air source effective for maintaining the exposure of said wood to said air for a predetermined time period.

Apparatus for the reduction of moisture content of lumber comprising:

• an enclosed treatment chamber;
• a plurality of generally rectangular bundles of stickered lumber within said treatment chamber, said stickered lumber including stacked boards that are spaced from each other for exposure of substantially the entire surface area of said boards;
• a steam conduit operatively connected to said treatment chamber for supplying steam to the bundles of lumber in the treatment chamber for a predetermined period of time sufficient to provide a generally uniform heating of the lumber, the steam having a moisture content sufficient to maintain substantially the moisture content of the lumber;
• and
• an air source providing air to said treatment chamber after heating of said lumber for substantially surrounding said lumber, the air having a temperature and humidity substantially less than the temperature and moisture content of the heated lumber;
• said air source maintaining the supply of air to said lumber for a predetermined time period sufficient for the removal of substantial moisture from the lumber.