Case Study - Douglas Fir  

A trial load of green sawn 150-200mm wide X 50mm thick regrowth Douglas fir was dried in Gen 4 kilns in Melbourne recently.  Sourced from WFP and MacKenzie Lumber- Chermainus BC, this material is generally regarded as difficult to dry.

Photo- Canadian Douglas Fir dried in Melbourne.

Outcomes-

• Dried in 7 days to 12-15% using less than 0.5 gj/ M3 of heat energy

• Free solar heat contributed 93% of the normal heat energy consumed by conventional kilns

• Electrical energy consumed was less than 25% of that used by conventional technology.

• Quality outcome was high with notable absence of reject “wets” and absence of knot checking and fall-out.

• Total cost of drying was less than $AU15/ M3.

• Vancouver, Canada’s best solar drying months are equal to Melbourne  

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