Steaming

For those unfamiliar with lumber drying, it may seem strange to inject large amounts of water into a kiln designed to remove moisture. The reason is that the surface of the wood dries faster than the core, and if the surface isn’t re-moistened, it can crack.

In a chamber kiln, approximately 0.5 m³/h of water is injected at certain times. This water is typically heated to around 60°C, but sometimes up to 105°C. Higher temperatures are preferred for drying but may pose challenges for the kiln structure.