Simulation and Optimization of the Continuous Oriented Strand Board Pressing Process

This study has the following two objectives: (1) development of a 3-dimensional steady-state model for heat and mass transfer during continuous pressing of oriented strand board (OSB) and comparison with data from an industrial operation and (2) optimization of operating conditions for continuous pressing. An extensive sensitivity analysis indicates that the dependency of the permeability on the board density is crucial for better prediction of the temperature and pressure values measured in the mat during pressing and may explain discrepancies between data and numerical predictions reported in previous studies. Once the model is calibrated to experimental data, a genetic algorithm is employed to optimize the overall hot-pressing of OSB by determining conditions that maximize the operating profit, while ensuring that delamination is prevented and sufficient resin curing is achieved. This algorithm is shown to determine operating conditions that result in a higher profit than that obtained by the current practice of the industrial operation.