Numerical Modeling and Simulation of Electromagnetic Drying Processes

Abstract

Electromagnetic drying processes have been used in industrial applications for many years. New materials with different properties and structures have been recently developed which required the development of new drying systems capable of effectively drying the new materials. In this paper, we use Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) to model and simulate realistic electromagnetic drying processes including induction heating and RF drying. The power deposition patterns obtained from the FDTD code is also used in a finite-difference heat transfer code to evaluate the temperature distribution pattern and optimize rates of drying. Sample parameters used to analyze the RF drying and the induction heating processes include the sample conductivity, dielectric constant along with size, orientation and the geometric arrangement. Specifically, we analyzed the operating frequency, coil pitch, sample to coil diameter ratio, and the possible placement of multiple samples in an induction heating process. Effects investigated in a parallel plate RF drying system include: electrode spacing, electrode length and width, and the spacing between multiple samples. Results of electromagnetic power distributions and temperature patterns are presented.