Milled lumber steaming chambers
Journal
Wood, design & technology
Date Issued
2022-11
Author(s)
Abstract
This paper describers the steaming chambers used for thermal treatment of milled lumber. The
steaming process is a principal operation, as part of the primary wood processing. This technological
process is a relevant prerequisite for obtaining quality lumber for final manufacturing. Steaming
processes take place in constructed facilities called steaming chambers, under normal range of
barometric pressure. This paper presents the two methods used for milled lumber steaming, direct
vaporization and indirect vaporization. The two methods are characterized by different functional
principles and different installation of the steaming chambers. An important aspect for obtaining
quality lumber is the level of automatization of the steaming process. Automatization is composed by
technical equipment for process monitoring and allows precise insight into the steaming process. The
traditional manual steaming chambers monitor the color of the condensate as an indicator of the phase
of the steaming process. Alongside automatization, this paper describes the industrial energetic and
water supply installation of the steaming chambers.
steaming process is a principal operation, as part of the primary wood processing. This technological
process is a relevant prerequisite for obtaining quality lumber for final manufacturing. Steaming
processes take place in constructed facilities called steaming chambers, under normal range of
barometric pressure. This paper presents the two methods used for milled lumber steaming, direct
vaporization and indirect vaporization. The two methods are characterized by different functional
principles and different installation of the steaming chambers. An important aspect for obtaining
quality lumber is the level of automatization of the steaming process. Automatization is composed by
technical equipment for process monitoring and allows precise insight into the steaming process. The
traditional manual steaming chambers monitor the color of the condensate as an indicator of the phase
of the steaming process. Alongside automatization, this paper describes the industrial energetic and
water supply installation of the steaming chambers.