An Approach for Computing the Average Moisture Content in Batches of Wood Materials Subjected to Thermal Treatment

An approach for the computation of the average moisture content in batches of wood materials subjected to thermal treatment has been suggested. This value of the wood moisture content is needed for calculation and automatic carrying out of optimal technologies for such a treatment of the materials. The calculated by mathematical models increase of the processing medium temperature of basic treatment regime is compared with the real increase of that temperature, which is periodically measured with a sensor in the automatic control system. After proper processing of the obtained differences between measured and calculated temperatures with the software package Table Curve 2D, an equation for calculating the average moisture content of the wood materials in the batch loaded in the equipment for thermal treatment is derived. The good accuracy of the suggested approach is proved for the cases of autoclave thermal treatment of prisms in order to plasticize them before cutting the veneer.