Application Note

Wood Heating Monitoring using FO Temperature Sensors

Date: May, 2013

Authors: Patrice Dionne (Global Fiber Optic Product Specialist) and Marc Doré (Sales Manager, R & D
Applications)
Neoptix Inc. / Qualitrol LLC
Tel: +1-418-687-2500, Fax: +1-418-687-2524
pdionne@qualitrolcorp.com ; mdore@qualitrolcorp.com

Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................ 1
Drying wood in a high frequency electro-magnetic field........................................................................................................ 1
Elimination of insects and parasites using radiofrequency .................................................................................................... 3
Summary: ................................................................................................................................................................................ 4

Introduction
In the wood industry, microwaves and radiofrequencies are used to perform a quick, uniform and controlled heating of
high value wood material. The mainly known pursued objective for heating pieces of wood is the drying of the wood
pieces, but other goals can be achieved when heating wood in a dryer/oven; for example, it can be useful for eliminating
living organisms such insects and parasites, remodelling of pieces, and fundamental research.

In this note, we focus on 2 applications (drying and elimination of living organisms) where real time monitoring of wood
temperature represents a powerful tool allowing the user to maximize the profitability of the drying equipment.
Emphasis is on the use of fiber optic (FO) temperature sensors as it offers a unique and reliable solution to monitor, in
real-time, the temperature at specific spots on or inside the wood pieces exposed to microwave or radiofrequency in a
dryer/oven.

Drying wood in a high frequency electro-magnetic field

Radiofrequency and microwave are electromagnetic waves that, when absorbed, end up exciting water molecules,
leading to temperature rises of the exposed materials. In the wood industry, dryers based on electromagnetic waves
absorption have the advantages to provide a quick and homogeneous drying, minimizing the appearance of cracks
and slits. This is mainly due to the fact that the heat is directly produced in the wood, in opposition to process
were heat is conducted from the outside to the inside of the sample (using a hot plate for example). On the
next picture is presented an example of radiofrequency dryer:

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 o Advantages of this process:

 Fast drying (about 17 times faster than wood dust burning dryer!!)

 The most homogeneous drying process

 Minimize danger of cracks and slits appearance.

We must keep in mind that microwave and radiofrequency produce heat by exciting the water molecules. Then, for
different moisture content in the wood, the same oscillating electromagnetic field will generate different heating levels.

As precise temperatures must be reached according to each specific need, and considering that temperature has to be
kept inside a certain range to avoid burning and other undesirable changes of material properties, the ability to monitor
the temperature evolution of wood samples allows optimizing and controlling the process. As a consequence, the user
can avoid losses, spend less time with the process, and minimize energy consumption.

o Why monitoring temperatures:

 Avoid excessive temperatures that could lead to color changes and burning

 Characterize the process, minimizing either its duration or the energy consumption

 Ability to adapt the process to different wood essence and lot.

o Why fiber optic (FO) sensors should be used:

 Conventional thermometers used for temperature monitoring, such as thermocouples, are not
compatible with strong oscillating electromagnetic fields

 FO sensors have an almost inexistent electric susceptibility, as they are fabricated with material
that is completely dielectric: they will never interact with the waves, so they will be influenced
by the sample only!

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Elimination of insects and parasites using radiofrequency
Methyl bromide (CH3Br) has been widely used to decontaminate wood infected by living organisms and as a degreasing
agent. As it is highly toxic and depletes the stratospheric ozone layer, the industry is now looking for alternatives. The
use of radiofrequency is a promising solution.

o Problematic of wood decontamination with temperature rises:

 The temperature rises vary inside a sample, due to thermal transfer properties, as well as
sample’s initial moisture content and wave penetration gradients

 Different samples will not react the same way to similar radiofrequency doses

 Living organisms must be killed throughout the wood pieces, without causing damage.

o Monitoring temperatures is a solution:

 Radiofrequencies produce heat inside the wood, and this heat is coming out towards the
surface. The hottest points are thus in the center of the wood pieces

 With multiple temperature acquisition point at different depths, it is possible to adapt the
process in order to reach the decontamination temperature at the surface and to avoid extreme
temperatures in the center.

On the next picture, we show four (4) FO temperature probes, installed at different depths:

One Neoptix T1 FO probe is fixed on the sample surface; inside the sample,
three FO sensors have been inserted at different depths to have a good
overview of the temperature rises at different points. With FO probes, the
process is optimized to have the coldest point (surface) reaching the
decontamination minimal temperature without having a hottest point
(center) getting to an undesirable temperature.

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Depending on the shape and the essence of the wood, the process may vary. On the next picture, we present two
different samples where FO sensors have been used to characterize the sample thermal response in order to optimize
the process:

On the left, 8 FO probes installed at different spots on ash infested with EAB. On the right, 4 FO probes installed
on yellow birch infested with ALB. As heating conditions may differ depending on the sample, monitoring the
temperature allow to adapt the process to the sample.

Summary:
o Radiofrequencies and microwaves provide a quick and uniform heating/drying of wood, minimizing the
appearance of cracks and slits

o The adapted heating parameters of those techniques depend on many factors: wood’s essence, initial
humidity, shape of the pieces, size of the load

o Monitoring the temperature in real-time allows to optimize the process for different kind of samples,
saving time, energy, and wood!

o The FO sensors are the only monitoring technology adapted to strong oscillating electromagnetic field.
As they do not interact with the waves, they represent the perfect solution to really measure the
temperature of the samples in such hostile environment!

Patrice Dionne, Marc Doré

Neoptix Canada LP

Printed in Canada
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