Abstract:

Water accounts for around half of the total mass in living trees, and therefore large savings can be achieved if logs are dried before transporting or burning. Methods: An air-drying model for piled logs of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. and Eucalyptus nitens H.Deane & Maiden was developed. Daily moisture content (MC) loss was modelled based on meteorological variables and pile characteristics. The trial had a factorial design with two species, two debarking treatments (with or without bark) and two log lengths (244 and 350 cm). Independent trials started in July 2007 (winter), October 2007 (spring) and January 2008 (summer). There were five replicate piles per season and treatment. Wood pile masses were weighted weekly or twice weekly using a crane, a 10,000 kg balance and chains to hold the piles. Results: The main and interactive effects of seasons and treatments on daily MC loss were highly significant. However, the effect of season (climate) was far greater than the main effects of treatments or the season × treatment interaction. Overall, E. globulus dried 20 % faster than E. nitens, debarked logs dried 8 % faster than barked logs and 244 cm logs dried 3 % faster than 350 cm logs. Daily MC loss for the current day was better explained by a power function of MC at the start of the day, daily air relative humidity, daily air temperature and the number of logs per square metre of pile cross-section (or an equivalent average log diameter). Conclusions: The air-drying model for piled logs can be used to predict drying times (days) to achieve a given target moisture content, providing a new tool for decision-making in forest transport and industrial planning.

Keywords: