Pitch
Solar powered wood drying reduce the moisture content of wood in half the normal time.
Description
Summary
A solar firewood dryer will cut the wood drying time in half and the wood you cut and split in late summer or early fall should be ready to use later in the winter. The fully seasoned wood will burn cleaner with less creosote and smoke and also burn more efficiently. The solar firewood dryer can be built by anyone in an afternoon.
The dryer’s slanted roof ideally should be set-up toward the south. Due south is best, but 25 degrees west or east of due south will also work. The right exposure lets the wood receive the maximum amount of the sun’s heat to speed up the drying process. It is important to split the logs to speed drying before putting them in the dryer and to keep the wood off the ground with bricks, concrete blocks, pallets, 2×4’s, fence posts, etc. Stacking the wood in a criss-cross pattern also facilitates drying.
Before the pesky winter rain and snow come, make sure the plastic sheeting has no rips or tears that allow the wood to get wet as well as wood is dry when it is showing cracks or splits to the center of the piece.
Category of the action
Adaptation
Who will take these actions?
The key actors are:
Governments, I/NGOs, Improved Cooking Stove Company, Individual and concerned stockholders.
What are other key benefits?
The key benefits are:
- Wood burn cleaner with less creosote and smoke and also burn more efficiently.
- A solar firewood dryer cut the wood drying time in half and the wood cut and split in late summer or early fall should be ready to use later in the winter.
- Energy savings
What are the proposal’s costs?
The approximate cost for dryer around $45 US, but can depend on the region.
Time line
Within 1 year baseline survey and building a solar dryer.
Related proposals
References
http://www.realworldsurvivor.com/2013/02/28/build-a-solar-wood-dryer
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