MODELING MICROWAVE-HEATING CHARACTERISTICS OF GRANULAR HYGROSCOPIC SOLIDS

A model that predicts the microwave heating behavior of granular hygro scopic solids with low spatial dimension-to penetration depth ratio wa s derived. The model consists of an energy transport equation based on a macroscopic application of the law of energy conservation, the seri es solution of Fick's diffusion equation, and a modified Gallaher's eq uation. The model gave a good prediction of the microwave heating char acteristics of white beans. A sensitivity analysis ofthe model indicat es that the microwave heating characteristics of a moist hygroscopic d ielectric is sensitive to initial moisture content, size and heat tran sfer coefficient.