How to Dry Wood Shavings​?

Wood shavings are a by-product of wood processing and have a wide range of applicability. However, the high humidity of undried wood shavings not only affects the effectiveness of use, but may also lead to mold growth or inefficient combustion. Therefore, drying wood shavings is a critical step to improve their quality and economic value.

Why Need to Dry Wood Shavings?

1. Prevents mold and rot. High-humidity wood shavings tend to harbor mold and bacteria, leading to spoilage. Drying wood shavings extends their storage time and keeps the product clean and sanitary.
2. Improves combustion efficiency. Wood shavings are often used as a biomass fuel, but high moisture content reduces combustion values and produces more soot and exhaust gases. Drying wood shavings improves combustion efficiency and reduces pollutant emissions.
3. Improved use. In applications such as animal bedding and horticultural mulch. Dried wood shavings are lighter and more hygroscopic, making them better for use.
4. Easy transportation and storage. Wet wood shavings are heavy and bulky, making them difficult to store and transport. When dried, the weight and volume are significantly reduced, reducing logistics costs.

Methods of Drying Wood Shavings

Natural Air Drying

Spread the wood shavings out on a sunny, well-ventilated counter top (e.g., tarp or mesh screen). Stir the shavings regularly to ensure even drying.

This method is suitable for small-scale operations or emergency use. It is low cost and environmentally friendly, but time consuming and very weather dependent.

Mechanical Drying

Using a Rotary Drum Dryer

Wood shavings are fed into a rotating drum heated by a burner or steam system. Hot air circulates inside the drum and as the wood shavings pass through the drum, the moisture evaporates.

Using a Belt Type Dryer

The shavings are evenly dispersed on a moving conveyor belt and hot air is blown across the belt to remove moisture.

All in all, using a wood shavings drying machine is suitable for large batches. The both drying methods ensure that the dried wood shavings are fast and evenly heated. However, it increases energy consumption and initial investment costs.

Dehumidifier

For small batches or specialized applications. Wood shavings are placed in a humidity and temperature controlled environment. The dehumidifier absorbs moisture from the air while heat accelerates the drying process.

How to Choose the Right Drying Method?

There are various methods for drying wood shavings, which need to be selected based on a combination of factors such as usage, scale and cost.

For small-scale needs or low quality requirements, natural air drying is sufficient.

For industrial use, mechanical drying machines can quickly achieve low moisture levels and improve quality, increasing productivity and lowering operating costs in the long term.