Journal of Microwave Power and Electromagnetic Energy (JMPEE)

 

TITLE

On the Radio-Frequency Heating of Moist, Porous Earth-Type Materials by Guided Wave propagation Along Embedded Parallel Conductors [PDF]

AUTHORS

M. Nachai, S. Chute, and F. Vermeulen

1992

27

3

143-159

YEAR

VOLUME

ISSUE

PAGES

 

Abstract

Radio frequency heating of moist, porous earth-type materials by a guided wave process using parallel conductors embedded in the material is considered. A numerical algorithm is introduced that permits sequential solution of Maxwell's equations and the heat transfer equation. The resulting simulator can predict the changing electro magnetic fields and temperature and moisture distributions throughout an arbitrary inhomogeneous material undergoing radio frequency heating. Further, it accounts for the evolution of steam in those regions where the steam temperature has been reached. A detailed discussion of the mathematical model and of the salient features of the guided wave process is included, along with comparisons of numerically predicted result is with data collected from a series of scaled physical model experiments.

 

Key Words: Radio-frequency heating and drying, Electrothermal modelling, numerical field computation.