Design, electromagnetic model and experimental validation of a 2.45 GHz mono-mode microwave rotary tube furnace for high temperature applications

Jules Vermeiren, Vincent Goovaerts and Jef Vleugels

Energy, 2025, vol. 331, issue C

Abstract: A design is presented for a continuous high temperature microwave rotary tube furnace, based on a cylindrical mono-mode cavity that generates multiple heating zones along the cylinder axis in a TM013 mode. The microwave cavity has an inner radius of 67.5 mm, is equipped with open flanges, and contains a rotating mullite process tube. The electromagnetic field distribution can be tuned and optimised via the microwave frequency and the adjustable cavity length. The practical window of operation ranges from 2.4 to 2.5 GHz and 180–235 mm respectively. Numerical modelling was used to predict suitable process conditions and to assess the effect of flanges, process tube and thermal insulation material on the electromagnetic field distribution. A combination of multiple modelling cycles with experimental observations allowed to make sound estimations of the dielectric properties for the process tube and thermal insulation material. The ‘multiple heating zones’ concept of the TM013 heating was consistently verified by experiments. A proof of concept for the continuous high temperature operation of the system was provided through the successful dehydration of waste cement fines at 850 °C. Validation experiments were supported by multi-physics simulations, coupling the electromagnetic field distribution and thermal profile evolutions during microwave heating.

Keywords: Microwave processing; Rotary kiln; Calcination; Dehydration; Modelling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:331:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225026076

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.136965

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