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Keep your wood dry by John McGeorge

Boiling Point
Front cover of Boiling Point issue 22
Issue 22 (1990) Stoves - Other Uses
ArticleKeep your wood dry
AuthorJohn McGeorge?
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A tree is a pump that moves thousands of gallons of water from the ground up to its leaves every year. The leaves capture the sun's energy and provide sugars which are the building blocks of which leaves, bark, seeds and wood are made. The structure of the tree trunk and branches is what we use for fuel.

Freshly cut live trees are about 50% water. The water is locked up in the cell structure of the wood. Most wood cells are elongated tubular structures which run the length of the tree or its branches. As the wood dries, the cells empty. The loss of moisture is very important as it increases the heating value of the wood. If you examine the end of a seasoned log you will see checks and voids caused by the shrinking of the log as it dries.

As the wood dries out the weight decreases making it easier to handle. The decrease in moisture is also important because it dehydrates the various compounds which form creosote. When they are dry they will burn with the wood rather than evaporate and condense on the colder chimney walls and can cause serious chimney and roof fires.
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[top] [end]Contents: Boiling Point 22: Stoves - other uses

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BP22: Stoves other uses - BP22: Other uses of stoves - BP22: Puffing Rice - BP22: Biogas Properties, Stoves and Lamps - BP22: Bellerive Develops Bakery Oven for Kenya - BP22: The Bakery Programme - BP22: Expanded Coal Utilization Project - BP22: Household Cooking Fuel - BP22: Company House Kitchens - BP22: Keep your wood dry - BP22: Self-help for Forests - BP22: The Clay Testing Centre - Sudan - BP22: Duma Institutional Stove - BP22: "REDI" Stove Trials - BP22: Solar Box Cooker - BP22: The Kelly Kettle - BP22: Extentionists' Blue! - BP22: Stove Profiles - Thai Bucket



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Page created: 04 August 2008; Last edited: 03 September 2008; Version: 0
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Pagename: BP22:KeepYourWoodDry @HEDON: FVMA