Simplifying convective heat and mass transfer in moisture desorption of beech wood by introducing characteristic transfer coefficients

Fagus moesiaca

) wood samples were 250 × 80 × 25 mm. The experimental installation, designed and constructed for this study, enables the drying process of relatively small samples to be similar to the drying process of real timber. The coefficients of internal conductivity of moisture and checking were calculated by a specially designed computer program for various regimes of drying. The cases with the extreme coefficients were analysed and the analytical dependence was obtained for the coefficient of internal moisture conductivity depending on temperature, instantaneous and initial moisture of wood, and the wood specimen being dried. Finally, an optimal drying process as well as a drying process producing the material of desired quality under the minimum drying costs is suggested.