IMPROVED REHEATERS FOR KILNS, REHEATER-LIKE STRUCTURES, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS

摘要

Elliptically shaped reheater conduits extend downward into a portion of a flow path that extends through a lower chamber interior space of a kiln chamber. Each of the reheater conduits has opposite ends, defines a length that exten ds between the opposite ends and is perpendicular to the portion of the flow pa th that extends through the lower chamber interior space, defines a first cross- dimension that is perpendicular to the length and parallel to the portion of the flow path, and defines a second cross-dimension that is perpendicular to both the length an d the portion of the flow path. The second cross-dimension is less than the first cross- dimension. Each of the reheater conduits defines outlets positioned along th e length of the reheater conduit. Each reheater conduit defines a pair of vertices between which its second cross-dimension is defined, and the outlets are proximate the vertices. The outlets of adjacent conduits are arranged so that jet-like flows from the outlets cooperate to produce whirling masses of air that travel downstream along the flow path to advantageously provide turbulence that interacts with a downstream stack of lumber. The jet-like flows from the outlets of the reheater conduits reach adjacent reheater conduits and advantageously interact with the boundary layers that extend around the adjacent reheater conduits. Movable dampers are respectively proximate the upper ends of the reheat er conduits and are capable of being moved to adjust the amount of heated air supplied to the reheater conduits. Each reheater conduit advantageously includes an internal converging/diverging section proximate its upper end.