JP2664000B

In order to dry boards, the boards are guided on racks through a drier and brought into contact with drying air in two stages. In a stage A with a higher drying power, the drying air is supplied at a higher temperature and with an at least average humidity, and in the other stage B, it is supplied at an average temperature and with a low humidity. The waste heat of the outgoing air from stage A is used for preheating the drying air. This process should reduce the consumption of primary energy. For that purpose, a process is known that consists of also using the outgoing air condensation heat. This has the inconvenience, however, of requiring substantially more secondary energy, as important air mass flows are required to transfer heat because of the low condensation temperature. Primary energy should be reduced by using condensation heat without substantially increasing secondary energy requirements. According to the invention, the outgoing air from stage A is supplied to stage B through a heat exchanger arranged in the rack of the drier. The drying air of stage B is supplied in counter-current through the drier with a low humidity and temperature, so that the boards are dried in stage B both by condensation heat and by radiant heat. Thus only a reduced mass flow of drying air is required to transfer the condensation heat. The consumption of primary and secondary energy is low. This invention is suitable for drying boards as for buildings and gypsum plain boards or fiber boards.