Natural wind drying of willow stems

摘要: Abstract The process of natural wind drying willow (Salix viminalis) stems in large piles was investigated. A simple model developed for stems. Large-scale experiments were conducted and data statistically analysed. Whether a pile uniform After harvest (between November April), during storage until August the average moisture content reduced from about 1.0 to between 0.2 0.3 kg (water) kg−1 (DM), which approximates equilibrium content. Moisture diffusion within stem is long-term governed by relative air humidity ambient temperature. Evaporation at outside short-term rainfall, global radiation. Within single stem, summer becomes more or less uniform. In stems, uniform, except top forms only small part pile. Covering not necessary. good results indicate that an efficient low cost method.