Unidirectional multi-path lumber kilns
Embodiments provide a unidirectional multi-path kiln with two or more chambers and generally parallel flow paths extending through the kiln, on opposite sides, from charge entry portals at a first end of the kiln to charge exit portals at a second end of the kiln. Moist heated air flowing from the second heated chamber is received in the first chamber and circulated around the lumber charges with one or more fans. The lumber charges proceed in the same direction on the flow paths through the heated second chamber, which may be an existing kiln. Charge exit portals at the distal end of the kiln and/or intermediate charge portals between the second chamber and a third chamber may be provided with insulating members configured to reduce airflow from the second chamber through the charge exit portals.
1. A method of modifying a lumber dying system, wherein the lumber drying system includes an elongated enclosure having a first end, an opposite second end, one or more charge portals at each of said ends, a longitudinal axis that extends through the ends, one or more interior baffles or walls extending transverse to said longitudinal axis and defining at least a first and a second section of the elongated enclosure, a heater operatively coupled to the second section, first and second guide members disposed through the elongated enclosure on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis and defining first and second flow paths, respectively, that extend through the first and second sections, and one or more fans positioned to circulate heated air from the second section across at least the first flow path in the first section, the method comprising:
operatively coupling a transport system with the lumber drying system, wherein the transport system includes one or more transport devices positioned along or between the flow paths and selectively operable to advance a first lumber charge in a first direction along the first flow path and to advance a second lumber charge in the first direction along the second flow path.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more transport devices includes a first transport device configured to advance the first and second lumber charges in the first direction along the first and second flow paths simultaneously, and wherein operatively coupling the transport system with the lumber drying system includes installing the first transport device.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first transport device is a pusher device, and installing the first transport device includes installing the pusher device between the first and second flow paths.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the pusher device is located outside of the elongated enclosure at or near said first end.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more transport devices includes a first transport device and a second transport device, and operatively coupling the transport system with the lumber drying system includes installing the first transport device along the first flow path.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first transport device is a pusher device.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first and second transport devices are located outside of the elongated enclosure at or near said first end.
8. The method of claim 1 , further including positioning a plurality of sensors along the first flow path, wherein the sensors are operable to detect positions of lumber charges along the first flow path.
9. The method of claim 8 , further including operatively coupling the sensors with a computing system, wherein the computing system is configured to determine, based at least on position data received from the sensors, a current location or travel speed of a lumber charge within the elongated enclosure.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the elongated enclosure further includes an insulating member selectively actuable to open and close at least one of the one or more charge portals at the second end, and the computing system is further configured to actuate the insulating member based at least on the position data received from the sensors, the method further including operatively coupling the insulating member with the computing system.
11. A lumber drying system, comprising:
an elongated enclosure having a first end, an opposite second end, one or more charge portals at each of said ends, a first section at the first end and a second section adjoining the first section, a plurality of baffles dividing the sections into successive subsections, a longitudinal axis that extends through the ends and the subsections, a heater operatively coupled with the second section, and one or more fans positioned to circulate heated air from the second section across the longitudinal axis in the first section; and
a transport system that includes one or more transport devices, the one or more transport devices selectively operable to advance a first and a second lumber charge in a first direction along parallel first and second flow paths, respectively, wherein the first and second flow paths are defined by respective guide members that extend through the ends of the elongated enclosure on opposite sides of, and parallel to, the longitudinal axis.
12. The lumber drying system of claim 11 , wherein one of the sections further includes a first heating member, and the first heating member is selectively controllable to thereby maintain a desired temperature in said section or a desired temperature differential between the sections or between adjacent ones of the subsections.
13. The lumber drying system of claim 12 , wherein the first heating member is disposed in the first section.
14. The lumber drying system of claim 13 , further including one or more additional heating members disposed in a respective one or more of the subsections of the second section.
15. The lumber drying system of claim 11 , wherein the heater is operatively coupled to the second section by a fan and duct system.
16. The lumber drying system of claim 11 , wherein one or more of the fans is a unidirectional fan.
17. The lumber drying system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more transport devices includes a first pusher device configured to advance the first and second lumber charges along the first and second flow paths simultaneously, and the pusher device is disposed between the first and second flow paths.
18. The lumber drying system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more transport devices includes a first pusher device disposed along the first flow path and a second pusher device located along the second flow path.
19. The lumber drying system of claim 18 , wherein the pusher devices are located outside of the elongated enclosure upstream of the first end.
20. The lumber drying system of claim 11 , further including a plurality of sensors positioned along the first flow path, wherein the sensors are operable to detect positions of lumber charges along the first flow path.
21. The lumber drying system of claim 20 , further including a computing system configured to determine, based at least on position data received from the sensors, a current location or travel speed of a lumber charge within the elongated enclosure.
22. The lumber drying system of claim 21 , wherein the elongated enclosure further includes an insulating member selectively actuable to open and close at least one of the one or more charge portals at the second end, and the computing system is further configured to actuate the insulating member based at least on the position data received from the sensors.