Thermal energy storage for a solar wood drying kiln: estimation of energy requirement

The present work has been undertaken to estimate the size of thermal energy storage system (TESS) for a prototype solar wood drying kiln. Total heat loss per unit time per unit temperature difference with ambient has been determined with help of an active sensible heat of water based TESS. Results suggest that on maintaining temperature of 50 °C inside kiln, total heat loss from kiln was 201.5 kJ h−1 °C−1 for the prototype solar kiln used in the study. It was also found that a passive sensible heat of water based TESS in kiln was able to maintain higher temperature for longer duration as compared with kiln without any heat storage system. On the basis of results obtained, it is estimated that total heat storage of 83,000 kJ/day is required in order to run 1 m3 solar wood drying kiln in night also. © 2016, Indian Academy of Wood Science.