WOOD-DRYING SOLAR GREENHOUSE

• US 20090013596A1
• Filed: 07/13/2008
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yin Wang
• Original Assignee: Yin Wang
• Inventors: Wang, Yin
• Granted Patent: US 7,748,137 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 47/17
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/22 Shades or blinds for greenhouses, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/243 Collecting solar energy in general F24S
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/06 Controlling, e.g. regulating, parameters of gas supply F26B21/14 takes precedence; control in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 2210/16 Wood, e.g. lumber, timber
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 25/08 Parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 3/28 by radiation, e.g. from the sun
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/25 Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/12 using renewable energies, e.g. solar water pumping
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249924 Noninterengaged fiber-containing paper-free web or sheet which is not of specified porosity
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/662 Wood timber product [e.g., piling, post, veneer, etc.]

Abstract

A method of drying comprises placing a moist material inside a substantially enclosed solar greenhouse. The greenhouse comprises at least one light transmission roof and/or wall panel that is substantially transparent to solar radiation, but resistant to convective and conductive heat transfer. The interior temperature and humidity of the greenhouse are maintained within their pre-determined ranges while the interior moisture of the greenhouse is effectively reduced to allow a controlled drying of the material. A solar greenhouse for the drying process is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of drying comprising placing a moist material inside a substantially enclosed solar greenhouse, said greenhouse comprising at least one light transmission roof and/or wall panel that is substantially transparent to solar radiation, but resistant to convective and conductive heat transfer;

and maintaining the interior temperature and humidity of said greenhouse within their pre-determined ranges while moisture content of said material is reduced by ventilation or dehumidification of the interior air.

2. A method of drying as set forth in claim 1, wherein said material is a wood based material.

3. A method of drying as set forth in claim 1, wherein said greenhouse further comprises a means for controlling ventilation.

4. A method of drying as set forth in claim 3 further comprising measuring moisture content of interior and exterior air of said greenhouse;

and venting interior air using said means if the interior moisture content is greater than that of exterior air.

5. A method of drying as set forth in claim 1, wherein said roof and/or wall panel comprises a sheet or a film of at least one of glass, polycarbonate, polyacrylics, Plexiglass, polyolefin and composite.

6. A method of drying as set forth in claim 1, wherein said greenhouse further comprises a means for controlling exposure to solar radiation.

7. A method of drying as set forth in claim 6, wherein said means is a switchable smart glass panel, or an adjustable shade screen.

8. A method of drying as set forth in claim 1, wherein said interior temperature is maintained in a range from about 20°

C. to about 60°

C. by controlling ventilation, solar radiation exposure, and/or supplemental non-solar heating.

9. A method of drying as set forth in claim 8, wherein said interior relative humidity of said greenhouse is maintained between about 30% and about 95%.

10. A method of drying as set forth in claim 1, wherein said moist materials is a wood based material that has been pressure-treated with an aqueous composition and its moisture content is about 30% to 300% based on the weight of said wood based material.

11. A method of drying as set forth in claim 1, wherein said greenhouse further comprises a photovoltaic solar panel configured to provide electricity to at least one of a circulation fan, a ventilation fan, a rechargeable battery, an electro-mechanical device controlling the adjustment of shade screen or ventilation opening, and a supplemental heating unit.

12. A product manufactured according to the method as set forth in claim 1.

13. A product as forth in claim 12, wherein said material is a wood based material.

14. A product as set forth in claim 13, and said moist material comprises a soft wood, hard wood, pressure treated wood, bamboo, corn stalk, sugar cane bagasse, straw stalks (such as rice straw and wheat straw), seed flax stalk, engineered wood or any hybrid wood materials.

15. A product as set forth in claim 13, wherein said wood based materials is treated with a composition comprising at least one of a preservative, a flame retardant, a insecticide, a wood hardener, a colorant, and a UV stabilizer.

16. A product as set forth in claim 13, wherein said product has a substantially uniform moisture content throughout its structure and significantly less deformation or fewer cracks due to internal stress created during the drying process in comparison to a conventional high temperature kiln drying process.

17. A solar greenhouse for product drying comprising a plurality of roof and wall panels that are substantially transparent to solar radiation and resistant to convective and conductive heat transfer, a humidity-measuring device, and a means for controlling ventilation configured to effectively remove the moisture inside said greenhouse.

18. A solar greenhouse as set forth in claim 17, wherein said humidity measuring device comprises at least one of a web bulb thermometer, hygrometer, relative humidity sensor, dewcell, and psychrometer;

and said humidity measuring device being configured to measure relative humidity of air inside and/or outside said greenhouse

19. A solar greenhouse as set forth in claim 18 further comprises a mechanism for controlling the interior relative humidity and for removing moisture from the interior of said greenhouse, wherein said mechanism comprises at least one of a humidistat, determination of moisture content differential between interior and exterior air, de-humidifier configuration, and configuration of a means for controlling ventilation.

20. A solar greenhouse as set forth in claim 17 further comprises a means for controlling solar radiation exposure.