A numerical and experimental study of microwave drying using a rectangular wave guide

The drying of a capillary porous packed bed of glass beads by microwave energy using a rectangular wave-guide was investigated numerically and experimentally. The effects of moisture content. particle size and microwave power level on the drying kinetics were examined. Most importantly, this work focuses on the prediction of the distribution of the electromagnetic field as well as the temperature and moisture distribution within the capillary porous medium. The model, which combines the electromagnetic, temperature, and moisture fields, predicted results which were in good agreement with the experimental data.