| 摘要 |
<p>A method of seasoning timber involves exposing timber to a vacuum whilst at or at less than substantially ambient temperature, the residual pressure of the vacuum preferably being less than or equal to the saturation vapour pressure of water at the ambient temperature. Water evaporates/boils off from the timber without the need for the input of large quantities of heat, although, to prevent excessive cooling of the timber and slowing of the rate of seasoning, an apparatus for carrying out the method may be provided with a heat reservoir/exchanger (27) for recovering thermal energy from gases extracted from a process vessel (21) containing the timber by condensing the water vapour in the exhaust gases. Then, if exposure to the vacuum is temporarily interrupted by allowing atmospheric air to enter the process vessel (21), the air may first be heated by being passed through the heat reservoir/exchanger (27) before contacting the timber and returning the timber to substantially ambient temperature. <IMAGE></p> |
