Wood drying with solar energy – how Hildebrand is setting new standards
Many modern sawmills now generate electrical energy through photovoltaic systems, as they have large roof areas available and at the same time high self-consumption.
Equipping drying chambers with solar cells has rarely been considered. With a drying chamber’s 100m² roof area, usually only about half can be effectively covered with modules, and the problem remains that the escaping condensate reduces efficiency and can even damage vulnerable components. Precisely because of their reflective roof surfaces, drying chambers are ideally suited for bifacial solar modules. Bifacial means that the panels also generate electricity from their back side, thus delivering a significantly higher energy yield.
A particularly interesting option is the possibility of using the generated solar power directly in the drying chamber’s heating system. Hildebrand offers two solutions: 1. Additional electric heating elements are installed, or 2. The flow temperature is increased via a bypass. This eliminates the need for expensive inverters, as the efficiency of the direct conversion of direct current to heat is inherently close to 100% – a clear advantage over other energy sources. The additional heat can be used in a variety of ways during wood drying. It can accelerate the heating process and thus reduce drying time. It can help prevent heat buildup or continuously support the heating elements, preventing peak heating demands that would strain the boiler system.
All in all, solar power generation in wood drying holds great potential. Not only as a complement to energy and CO₂ saving measures, such as modern heat recovery or the GreenKilns® system, but also for increasing efficiency and flexibility. And what happens at night when the sun takes a break?