Characterisation of water transfer in a low temperature convective wood drier: influence of the operating parameters on the mass transfer coefficient

Different drying cycles were performed in a low temperature convective and homogeneous wood drier in order to evaluate the influence of four operating parameters (wood thickness, air velocity, air temperature and air humidity) on the global mass transfer coefficient. The wood species used in this study was spruce (Picea abies Karst.). From the synthesis of the results, a general correlation has been obtained permitting to accurately calculate this transfer coefficient. Moreover, it justified the use of the simple mathematical model chosen to represent the variations of the parameters characterising the wood and air during a drying cycle.