Convection Heating Based Vacuum Kiln for Timber Drying and its Performance

The technology of vacuum drying of timber has been commercialized in few developed nations. Presently the vacuum kiln is costly process for Indian entrepreneurs due to absence of indigenous equipment in the country. Vacuum drying of timber is very useful in terms of drying cost and drying period. A vacuum kiln of 60 cft capacity has been developed indigenously for fast and efficient drying of Indian timbers including plantation timbers with a view to reduce drying time as well as drying cost as compared to traditional steam based drying. It is based on convection drying. The present paper deals with its features and performance based on vacuum drying of timber of Pinus roxburghii.