Over the past decade, there has been a push by lumber manufacturers to install continuous dry kilns, or CDKs, to supplement or replace batch kilns. There are numerous benefits with CDKs, including higher quality lumber, more efficient combustion of fuel, pre-heating of green lumber with heat that would be lost with a batch kiln, and elimination of charge turnover resulting in a significant increase in production efficiency. With all these benefits, comes a substantial problem: a dramatic increase in the generation of kiln condensate.
The regulations that apply to kiln condensate are complex and typically require stringent permits or alternative management techniques. CTI’s white paper provides an overview of the regulations that are applicable to kiln condensate, and it details the legal options lumber manufacturers have in managing it.