Calculation of Critical Efficiency Factors of Microwave Energy Conversion into Heat

A modeling approach aimed at calculating critical efficiency factors of microwave energy conversion into heat for different operating conditions is presented. In the experimental part, an efficiency factor was determined for microwave heating of 13X zeolites in a multimode microwave cavity. A comparison of the obtained results with the results reported in the literature indicated that microwave heating (MH) can be more energy-efficient than convective heating (CH). Moreover, it follows from the performed simulations that maintaining the same adsorbent bed temperatures in MH and CH for increasing gas flow rates rises energy consumptions in CH and decreases the critical efficiency factors, thereby improving the economic efficiency of MH.