Heating and drying wood using microwave power

Abstract: The potentials for moisture flux in wood during microwave heating have been investigated experimentally and theoretically. The experiments were performed in three different kinds of microwave applicators. A computer model based on the finite difference method was developed to describe and predict the heat and mass transfer. The main conclusions are that microwave energy of 2.45 GHz frequency makes it possible to heat and dry pine and spruce 20 - 30 times faster than with conventional methods without any deterioration in drying quality. Some hardwoods are dried in approximately half the time compared to the softwoods. The drying method evokes unique results either with diminishing colour changes or with possibilities to create such during drying. However, to avoid unevenness in the electromagnetic field distribution and considering the limitation in power penetration depth the drying should be performed on line where wood components continuously are fed through a microwave field.