Estudio comparativo del proceso de secado de Eucalyptus grandis en dos secaderos solares ubicados en diferentes zonas y un secado natural a la intemperie durante el invierno

Abstract

In the following report, the results of three drying runs made during winter with boards of Eucalyptus grandis 27 mm thick are shown. Two of them took place in solar kilns, semi-greenhouse type (located in Montevideo and Paysandú), and the third took place outdoors (located in Montevideo). The relative humidity and temperature conditions of the three drying runs were registered and the results obtained were compared. The solar drying in Paysandú lasted 95 days, and achieved a final average moisture content (AMC) of 10,5 % in dry basis. The other solar drying which took place in Montevideo lasted 80 days and achieved a final AMC of 10,5 %. The outdoors drying process lasted 80 days in Montevideo and achieved a final AMC of 22,1 %. Similar results were obtained for both solar drying processes, taking into consideration the differences in design, location and capacity. Comparing the solar drying with the ambient air drying process, drying time from green condition to 22 % AMC in solar kilns was half time of outdoors drying. According to this result, it is possible to replace the outdoors drying process by a solar drying and thus shorten the drying time at a low cost.