Comparison of experimental results with analytical solutions and two dimensional model of oak drying in an evacuated kiln

In continuation of a series of tests, the original results of oak drying in an evacuated kiln are presented here for different plate temperatures and for various pressures in the kiln. These results include more particularly the drying curves, the evolution of temperature, of moisture and of pressure in and on the wood. They evidence the pressure and the levels of temperature occurring in the wood during the drying period. These results also allow the development of two types of drying models : a simple monodimensional model of drying curves from the analytical solutions of the equations of water diffusion in the wood and, moreover, a model, in two dimensions, of temperature, moisture and pressure fields in the wood by applying the finite element method. The boundary conditions of the second model can be fixed with precision thanks to the results of the first model. In both cases, the proposed solutions are justified by experimental results.