Nyle's L200 dehumidifying kits open doors to new markets for small businesses

The advanced Nyle L200M dehumidifying system with controls

Do you think high-quality lumber drying is too complicated or expensive for your small operation? Hannes Viljoen says you're in for a pleasant surprise. Nyle's L200 small smoke-free dehumidification systems that can dry lumber down to 12% moisture content or less are now available in Southern Africa.

Nyle is the largest North American kiln and drying systems manufacturer. The company has been around for 45 years and successfully installed over 7000 systems worldwide. In June 2022, Nyle and South Africa's kiln drying company Timber Soft cc announced their "Kilns 4 Africa" partnership in a drive to bring small kiln technology to Africa.

Hannes Viljoen of Timber Soft says kiln-dried timber products sell for a third more than wet-off-saw or air-dried lumber. Architects and buyers are increasingly specifying kiln-dried timber, and many consumers are beginning to reject wood that has not been kiln dried.

"The L200 dehumidification (DH) system is ideal for small sawmills, pallet and wood processing plants, and furniture manufacturers," says Viljoen.

It can also heat-treat wood and pallet components and pallets for compliance with the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No 15 (ISPM 15). The standard is an international phytosanitary measure developed by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) that requires wood materials thicker than 6mm to be heat-treated.

Compact and smoke-free

The corrosion-resistant aluminium cabinets and specially coated DH coils give the machines an extra-long life. There are L200 systems that have been in operation since the 1990s. The estimated life span of the L200s is around 20 years when run and maintained correctly.

The L200 is a compact, high-performance, smoke-free DH system. In standard mode, the unit removes roughly 113kg of water in 24 hours, and in hybrid mode, it removes about 250kg in 24 hours.

Drying rates

Depending on the safe drying rate of the timber species, the drying rates are:

• Up to 10 cubic meters of 25mm wet-off-saw hardwood: between two to five weeks.
• Up to six cubic meters of green softwood or fast-drying hardwood: between one to two weeks in standard DH mode.
• Up to six cubic meters of green softwood or fast-drying hardwood: Between four to seven days in hybrid DH mode.

Power

The L200 heat pump technology is 220V single phase and uses 40% and 60% less energy than conventional kilns. It draws a maximum of 36 Amp, which reduces as the load dries. Once on-temperature, and when electric heating is not called, the energy required drops to between 12 and 16 Amps depending on how wet the timber load is.

The circulation fans draw the balance of the power needed to run the unit. There are usually four or eight 190 Watts 400mm diameter fans that each draws a maximum of 3 Amps. It drops to about 2.2 Amps when the kiln is on temperature and moisture starts decreasing.

During tests on a load of freshly cut oak, the electricity usage from a cold start was 247 kWh for the first day, dropping to 58 kWh per day once all was on temperature. Whenever a dry bulb setpoint increases, the kWh usage for the 24 hours increases to roughly 90 kW.

The DH units/compressor part can operate up to 50°C, while the motors are rated up to 72°C.

Controller

The L200PRO advanced controller can run time or moisture content-based schedules and offers four operation modes: standard DH, Hybrid DH, Heat Treating, and Dump Cycle.

It has a colour touch screen, and electronic dry bulb, and wet bulb sensors. Two additional PT100 temperature probes can work as dry and wet bulbs or core temperature probes when heat-treating for ISPM15.

The controller is data-log to SD card enabled and emails data on demand. Viljoen says a handy feature is the controller's virtual network computing (VNC) capability that allows remote access through the internet.

An auxiliary heat output disables electric heating and enables the auxiliary heat from water, steam or another direct or indirect heating system to reduce electric heating costs.

Inside a kiln kit

Package options

The units are available from Timber Soft and backed by a one-year Nyle warranty in South Africa. "We are selling them in kit form for do-it-yourself installation. Timber soft can do part or all of the installation at an extra charge," explains Viljoen.

6m Kit
L200 DH base unit with L200 Pro control panel

• 4 circulation fans
• 6-meter fan truss with baffles, power vent kit, trolleys and rails.
• Perfect for a 6-meter insulated shipping container or if the customer decides to build their own chamber, plans are available.

12m Kit 1
L200 DH base unit with L200 Pro control panel,

• 8 circulation fans,
• 2 x 6-meter fan trusses with baffles, power vent kit, trolleys and rails.
• Perfect for a 12-meter insulated shipping container or if the customer decides to build their own chamber, plans are available.
   

12m Kit 2
2 x L200 DH base units with L200 Pro control panel,

• 8 circulation fans,
• 2 x 6-meter fan trusses with baffles, power vent kit, trolleys and rails.
• Perfect for a 12-meter insulated shipping container or if the customer decides to build their own chamber, plans are available.

Custom design

A single customised controller can run several L200 units for a larger hardwood kiln. 

Cost-saver coming soon

Viljoen says Timber Soft is working on various ways of cutting the costs associated with drying timber.

The first soon-to-be-launched innovation is an indirect "mini rocket stove" system powered by wood waste. It will reduce drying costs by speeding up the initial heating process.

By: Joy Crane
Source: WoodBiz Africa Magazine

Read the July issue here