Patent ID: 8046932

Claim:
A veneer dryer, comprising: a drying chamber having an input end and an output end; a primary exhaust coupled to the drying chamber and configured to exhaust gases from the drying chamber as a primary exhaust stream, the drying chamber and the primary exhaust defining a path of primary exhaust stream flow; a wet end seal section coupled to the drying chamber at said input end and configured to controllably receive an out flow of gases from said drying chamber, the received outflow of gases and ambient air forming a mixed gas; a wet end seal section exhaust plenum having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the inlet opening continuous with the wet end seal section, the wet end seal section exhaust plenum configured to receive the mixed gas from the wet end seal section through said inlet opening; an inlet duct extending from said outlet opening; a secondary exhausting passage coupled to the inlet duct, the secondary exhausting passage feeding into said primary exhaust; a heater disposed within said wet end seal section exhaust plenum, the heater configured to heat the mixed gas to a temperature greater than a pitch condensation temperature of volatile organic components in said mixed gas; a first temperature sensor disposed upstream of the heater and positioned to sense a temperature of the mixed gas prior to the heating of the mixed gas by the heater; and an exhausting fan positioned downstream of said heater and disposed between the inlet duct and the secondary exhausting passage, the exhausting fan positioned to exhaust the mixed gas heated by said heater.