Solar powered forced air wood dryer

[dougstove]

Hi;
I have a two story mock-barn garage.
The upstairs gets hot in the sun, the downstairs is cool, and not good for drying wood.
But outdoor wood in my coastal climate needs a roof or it does not dry well.

So:
-I took some scrap 4" metal ducting tube
-cut a hole in the floor of the upstairs and passed the 4" tube from upstairs down to the lower floor
-scavenged a DC computer fan from a scrap computer
-connected it to a small solar panel I had, mounted on the south face of the barn roof (near perfect solar angle, by chance)

Now, the sun comes out, the upstairs warms up, and the fan blows warm dry air underneath my woodstack below.
I will be interested to see whether it makes a difference; I am already thinking of upsizing the fan and the collector panel, or putting more units in other spots into the woodpile.
cheers, Doug

 

[Soundchasm]

Any air moving has got to better than no air moving. You could get a cigar humidifier meter and see if temp or RH changes.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CZLO5W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[chazcarr]

Can we see some pictures? I am thinking of doing this as well since I have some spare parts around.

Thank you

 

[Shawn Curry]

That's a great idea - similar to the design for a solar kiln for drying lumber. Is there an outdoor ramp to the second story, like many barns have? If so, you might consider storing the wood upstairs where the heat is instead. Warmer air can hold more moisture, and therefore conduct it away from your wood faster. More heat + more airflow = faster dry time.

 

[dougstove]

Hi - I will get pictures during the day.
Shawn: I thought about installing a ramp and storing the wood upstairs but the kids use the upstairs for teenage pursuits.

 

[dougstove]

It worked!
I have not gotten good pictures yet, but the area of my woodpile that was ventilated with loft air was definitely dryer than surrounding areas.
When my bins are empty next, I am going to put in a couple more ducts, with more scrap computer fans.

 

[gzecc]

It worked!
I have not gotten good pictures yet, but the area of my woodpile that was ventilated with loft air was definitely dryer than surrounding areas.
When my bins are empty next, I am going to put in a couple more ducts, with more scrap computer fans.

Please don't let anyone see you doing this. You may be taken away!

 

[BrotherBart]

I have had a solar powered gable fan blowing into my woodshed for two years now. Works a treat.

 

[GENECOP]

For my compressed paper and sawdust logs I built a solar dryer, it has wire shelves that will hold about 80-90 Briquets..I built it from stuff I had laying around mostly. In the summer the inside temps get up around 140 Deg....it works, and looks pretty good to....

 

[goosegunner]

I have been thinking one of those shipping containers with a few of the homemade can solar collectors. It would be totally weather proof, rodent proof, the temps would kill bugs and it would hold a crap load of wood.

gg

 

[maple1]

I have been thinking one of those shipping containers with a few of the homemade can solar collectors. It would be totally weather proof, rodent proof, the temps would kill bugs and it would hold a crap load of wood.

gg

Shipping containers can get really hot inside, sitting in the sun. We got one a couple years ago, heat almost knocked me off my feet the first time I opened it on a hot day. If you could add a solar attic vent fan in the right place, keep the wood loose, and tune the air flow, I'm sure it would do all right.

 

[dougstove]

Maple1, where did you get your shipping container?

 

[maple1]

I'd have to check - but I think they were in Burnside, Dartmouth. Came on an Atlantic Tiltload tractor trailer. We had a bit of a tricky spot to get it to, had to wiggle in between a couple of buildings, & trees & a ditch - but he backed it right in first try and dropped it exactly where we had the stakes put.