Rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis) is a major raw material used in furniture factories in southern Thailand. Proper kiln drying of the lumber plays a significant role on the efficient utilization of the final product. Overall quality-reducing defects in such a materials are inevitable, unless a correct and proper drying process is used. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to develop a three-dimensional numerical model of heat and moisture transfer during the drying process and to conduct physical experiments in order to compare the results between the two approaches. For this purpose, an innovative kiln dryer was designed in the laboratory which will also contribute to the prevention of defects in the wood. The results show that the samples dried at a temperature of 120 °C experienced faster decreases in their moisture content compared to those dried at temperatures of 100 °C and 80 °C. The drying temperature and moisture content of the samples were successfully predicted by the simulation model created in this investigation and the two approaches demonstrated good agreement for temperature and moisture with root mean square errors of 0.50 and 0.19, standard errors of 0.38 and 0.16, and mean absolute errors of 0.94 and 2.18, respectively. These results will help rubberwood drying facilities prevent wood deformation while reducing the drying time required.

橡胶木（巴西橡胶树）是泰国南部家具工厂使用的主要原材料。木材的正确窑干对最终产品的有效利用起着重要作用。除非使用正确正确的干燥工艺，否则这种材料在整体上降低质量的缺陷是不可避免的。因此，本研究的目的是建立干燥过程中热量和水分传递的三维数值模型，并进行物理实验，以比较两种方法的结果。为此，实验室设计了一种创新的窑干燥机，这也有助于防止木材中的缺陷。结果表明，与在100°C和80°C下干燥的样品相比，在120°C下干燥的样品的水分含量下降得更快。通过本研究创建的模拟模型成功预测了样品的干燥温度和水分含量，两种方法均显示出温度和水分的良好一致性，均方根误差为0.50和0.19，标准误差为0.38和0.16，均值绝对误差分别为0.94和2.18。这些结果将有助于橡胶木干燥设备防止木材变形，同时减少所需的干燥时间。通过本研究创建的模拟模型成功预测了样品的干燥温度和水分含量，两种方法均显示出温度和水分的良好一致性，均方根误差为0.50和0.19，标准误差为0.38和0.16，均值绝对误差分别为0.94和2.18。这些结果将有助于橡胶木干燥设备防止木材变形，同时减少所需的干燥时间。通过本研究创建的模拟模型成功预测了样品的干燥温度和水分含量，两种方法均显示出温度和水分的良好一致性，均方根误差为0.50和0.19，标准误差为0.38和0.16，均值绝对误差分别为0.94和2.18。这些结果将有助于橡胶木干燥设备防止木材变形，同时减少所需的干燥时间。