Title: Exergy analysis of a wood-stack during dehumidifier drying

Authors: G.L. Vaughan, C.G. Carrington, Z.F. Sun

Addresses: Department of Physics, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand. ' Department of Physics, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand. ' Department of Physics, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand

Abstract: We present a first order model of airflow within the wood stack of a timber dryer during the constant-rate drying period, allowing the exergy destruction and entropy generation rates to be determined for heat, mass and momentum transfer. The effects of varying timber stack and airflow variables on the entropy generation rate are determined. We find that heat transfer is the dominant contribution to entropy generation and observe a well defined minimum in the specific exergy loss rate as a function of relative humidity. Stack design parameters that minimise the overall exergy destruction rate are determined.

Keywords: wood drying; exergy destruction; entropy generation; exergy analysis; wood stack design; dehumidifier drying; airflow modelling; heat transfer; mass transfer; momentum transfer; relative humidity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2007.012063

International Journal of Exergy, 2007 Vol.4 No.2, pp.151 - 167

Published online: 16 Jan 2007 *

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