Qualitative Aspects of Convective and Microwave Drying of Saturated Porous Materials

The differences in distribution and temporal evolution of temperature, moisture content, and drying stresses in saturated capillary-porous materials by convective and microwave drying are analyzed. The analysis is based on the mechanistic model of drying taking into account the coupling effects in the heat and mass transfer. The results of numerical simulation allow better understanding of the difference in thermal and mechanical behavior of dried materials to which the energy necessary for drying is supplied volumetrically (microwave drying) or through the material surface (convective drying). The study is carried out on an isotropic cylinder as a model material.