5. Compare Results

Compare Results (Step 5).

Comparing the results sounds like a simple task after all the hard work is done of:

• First, figuring out your goals.
• Second, finding the right adjustment to the drying schedule.
• Third, running one or several kiln loads with the new schedule.
• Fourth, collecting information from the test kiln charges, and
• Fifth, arranging the collected information in a meaningful way.

How can comparing the result be any significant task? Well, in theory it is simple; however, lumber is not a uniform material like steel, plastic, aluminum, etc. Instead we find that the structure and drying characteristic varies greatly within the same specie. The actual value of a specie often depends on its geographical origin. You will even find that the time of year the logs were harvested has a noticeable effect on the drying process. This means that during your testing you have tried to eliminate as much of the variations as possible, but you will never be able to eliminate it completely. Hence the reason that several test charges can help create an average effect, so you do not make permanent changes based on an "abnormal" charge.

The key task here is to determine which type of information to compare. The information chosen for the comparison should have had a significant impact on the changes you have tried to accomplish (or not accomplish by design).

Let's take the abstract idea of achieving a goal with accomplishing a change in the drying result. Considering the goal for an experiment which attempts to reduce the energy consumption without changing the drying conditions, drying time, or quality. There could be times for reducing the fan operation (either by interval operation or reducing fan speed) without extending the drying time or increasing the degrade.