Brunner-Hildebrand claims that its GreenKilns technology cuts the energy needed for timber drying by up to 25% over conventional technologies.
The new system is already in use in a couple of installations in Germany but was receiving its official launch at Ligna.
The heart of the system is its “interconnection process” (THES) which delivers exhaust air from one kiln to a neighbouring chamber (so it requires at least two kilns to operate) rather than expelling it to the atmosphere.
Ducts and transversal tubular fans, controlled by a climate sensor in the roof of the kiln units, facilitate a controlled air flow to maintain the optimum drying climate, while using minimum energy (the fans run only when required).
The system means less water needs to be sprayed inside the kiln (in fact the humidity coming off the lumber provides a sufficient volume of liquid for this). The ‘sharing’ of heat also means the system needs less heat exchanger surface area, piping and fans.
According to Brunner-Hildebrand’s Ingo Wallocha, the GreenKilns system, which is automatically controlled by the company’s Merlin software, cuts thermal energy usage by 20% and electricity requirements by 5% over conventional technology.
“And it can now be fitted as standard with new kilns at no additional cost,” he said. “We can also retrofit to existing units.”
In the UK, Brunner-Hildebrand has recently finished a three-kiln installation at John Gordon & Son, complete with a Uniconfort biomass boiler capable of heating five chambers. A full report on this follows in a later edition.
