Modelling of microwave heating of foodstuff: study on the influence of sample dimensions with a FEM approach

The microwave heating has been modelled by many authors, often using commercial software based on finite element method. Two different approaches have been followed to evaluate the effects of the electromagnetic field distribution: solving the Maxwell's equations and applying the Lambert's law. In this paper we analyse the effect of dimensions microwave heating of cylindrical samples, developing a numerical model solved by a commercial package, FEMLAB, to simulate heat transfer in foodstuff, applying the Lambert's law, as microwave absorption relationship correctly formulated for cylindrical geometry. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.