Experimental modelling and intelligent control of a wood-drying kiln

摘要

Proper control of the wood-drying kiln is crucial in ensuring satisfactory quality of dried wood and in minmizing drying time. This paper presents the development, implementation, and evaluation of a control system for a lumber drying kiln process incorporating sensory feedback from in-wood moisture content sensors and intelligent control such that the moisture content of lumber will reach and stabilize at the desired set point without operator interference. The drying process is difficult to model and control due to complex dynamic nonlinearities, coupling effects among key variables, and process disturbances caused by the variation of lumber sizes, species, and environmental factors.