Studies on Vacuum Press Drying of Populus deltoides

Studies were taken up on one-inch thick samples of Populus deltoides to understand its drying behaviour under vacuum press drying. The experiment was conducted under eight different vacuum levels and temperature combinations. The results were analysed to understand which combination gives maximum drying rates in terms of moisture content reduction in various MC ranges. It was found that the samples could be dried to less than 15% MC levels from 90% MC levels effectively in two steps. No serious drying degrades were observed in the samples in spite of taking them through different drying cycles.