US 11,994,342 B2
Hybrid kiln for drying wood, biochar and agriculture products
Richard Clive Millar, Lexington Park, MD (US); Thomas A. Mazzuchi, Washington, DC (US); and Todd Mlsna, Starkville, MS (US)
Assigned to The George Washington University, Washington, DC (US); and Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS (US)
Appl. No. 17/277,826
Filed by The George Washington University, Washington, DC (US)
PCT Filed Dec. 19, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/067577
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 19, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/132299, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 25, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/782,106, filed on Dec. 19, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0113088 A1, Apr. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. F26B 9/06 (2006.01); F26B 3/04 (2006.01); F26B 3/28 (2006.01); F26B 21/04 (2006.01); F26B 21/08 (2006.01); F26B 23/10 (2006.01)
CPC F26B 3/283 (2013.01) [F26B 3/04 (2013.01); F26B 9/06 (2013.01); F26B 21/04 (2013.01); F26B 21/08 (2013.01); F26B 23/10 (2013.01); F26B 2210/16 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A kiln comprising:
a kiln body forming an enclosure with a kiln interior;
a solar heater outside of said kiln body to generate heated air;
a plenum coupled to said solar heater and said kiln body to provide the heated air to the kiln interior;
one or more circulation fans inside said kiln interior to circulate air inside said kiln interior;
a dehumidifier to remove air from said kiln interior, dehumidify the removed air, and introduce dehumidified air into said kiln interior; and
a moisture detection apparatus having a moisture detector to determine a drying rate inside the kiln interior, said moisture detection apparatus comprising:
a first water reservoir;
a second water reservoir;
a first inlet tube coupled to an output of said dehumidifier;
a second inlet tube coupled to said first water reservoir;
a third inlet tube coupled to said first and/or second water reservoir;
a first inlet valve coupled to said first inlet tube, said second inlet tube and said third inlet tube to direct water from the output of said dehumidifier to said first and/or said second water reservoir;
a first outlet tube coupled to said first water reservoir and an exterior of said kiln body;
a first outlet valve to direct water from said first water reservoir to the exterior of said kiln body;
a second outlet tube coupled to said second water reservoir and the exterior of said kiln body;
a second outlet valve to direct water from said second water reservoir to the exterior of said kiln body; and
a controller operating the first inlet valve, first outlet valve, and second outlet valve.