Experimental Validation of a Combined Electromagnetic and Thermal Model for a Microwave Drying of Capillary Porous Materials Inside a Rectangular Wave Guide (Effects of Irradiation Time, Particle Sizes and Initial Moisture Content)

Abstract

In this paper, the experimental validation of a combined electromagnetic and thermal model for a microwave drying of capillary porous materials inside a rectangular wave guide is presented. The effects of the irradiation time, particle sizes and the variation of initial moisture content on the microwave drying kinetics are clarified in detail, considering the interference between incident and reflected waves in the capillary porous materials. The established model has allowed us to determine the space-time evolution of electric field, temperature and moisture content within capillary porous materials during microwave drying process.

Key Words:

• Microwave drying
• Capillary Porous Materials
• Rectangular Wave Guide
• FDTD
• Dielectric Properties

Additional information

Notes on contributors

P. Ratanadecho

Phadungsak Ratanadecho is affiliated with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Thammasat University, Thailand. Kazuo Aoki and Masatoshi Akahori, are affiliated with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan.

K. Aoki

Phadungsak Ratanadecho is affiliated with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Thammasat University, Thailand. Kazuo Aoki and Masatoshi Akahori, are affiliated with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan.

M. Akahori

Phadungsak Ratanadecho is affiliated with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Thammasat University, Thailand. Kazuo Aoki and Masatoshi Akahori, are affiliated with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan.