The assignment 1.3 entails choosing a relatively complex term in my field of work and to define it in 3 ways including parenthetical, sentence and expanded definitions. Communication is vital to any working environment, emergency situations or even in daily lives when talking to others. Therefore, this exercise will help us build the skill in defining complex terms.
The main objective of this exercise is in demonstrating a relatively complex term to others who do not have expertise or experience in certain fields.
Term: kiln
Reading situation: a business manager of a construction company is consulting a lumber manufacturing company for bulk order of construction grade lumber.
Parenthetical Definition
The lumber for the construction company needs to be dried in a kiln (a chamber where lumber is dried by heat).
Sentence Definition
Kiln is a large chamber in a rectangular box shape where it houses various components like the heat pipe and heat blower for the purpose of drying lumber.
Expanded Definition
Kiln is a crucial device required by lumber manufacturing companies for drying lumber. These are typically called Kiln Dryers and at least one device is needed in every sawmill or wood product making company.
What does a kiln dryer have as components and what are their purpose?
Certain amount of lumber can be housed in kiln dryers to be dried. The drying operation is crucial in the lumber industry because it is “a standard practice in wood production mills and serves to efficiently bring green lumber moisture levels down to workable range” (Morgan). Any excessive moisture inside wood can cause warping or cracking in the finished product. Therefore, lumber is always dried in kiln dryers before they are put to use.
Operating Principle:
First, lumber is stacked with thin wood strips between each level “for sufficient air circulation” (Morgan). Then, it is put into the kiln dryer. Once it is put into the kiln dryer, the kiln operator set the temperature and desired humidity level inside the kiln. The operator frequently checks the mean moisture content of lumber inside the kiln dryer by using a moisture meter. The moisture meter is a hand-held device consisting of two needles which are stuck into lumber and measures the amount of moisture inside a piece of lumber.
Analysis of parts:
Kiln dryers are composed of heat pipes, heat blowers and vents. Heat pipes are heated by various methods including hot steam or boiled oil. The heat blower, which is basically a fan “which use circulating heated air to more rapidly remove the excess moisture from the wood” (Morgan). The heated air then moves away the moisture coming out of lumber and discharge them through vents located in the roof.
Visuals:
Figure 1. A typical kiln dryer with a stack of lumber housed in it.
Negation:
Kiln operation is sometimes referred to as just ‘drying’. This can create confusion when working in a sawmill or dealing with people who do not have expertise in wood products industry. Kiln drying is not the same as drying since the drying can represent just drying wet wood in the sun to remove water on the surface.
Sources:
Luiz Oliveira. ReserachGate.
Figure 1: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Basic-components-of-kiln-lumber-drying_fig1_229000375
Tony Morgan. Wagner Meters.
https://www.wagnermeters.com/forest-products/industry-info/what-is-kiln-drying/
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