Steam drying of wood particles - increase in the product quality, decrease of the energy demand and emissions

Steam drying stands out for a higher degree of efficiency compared to drying with air. After the technical difficulties had been overcome, meanwhile the steam drying of wood particles became possible on an industrial scale. The system presented allows a saving of approximately 10 % of the demanded thermal energy. In an existing plant the increase of the flow rate is approximately 15 %, and the available capacity can be increased even by 30 %. The significant emission decrease of approximately 98 % for the total carbon is guaranteed by the integrated combustion of the exhausted vapors. The steam drying results in an increase of the particle board quality. The swelling decreases by 10 % while the bending strength increases by 10 %. Thus, the steam dying increases the partical value of particle board at reasonable costs.