Microwave Drying of Clothes

This paper presents experimental results using a conventional electric clothes dryer that was modified to heat clothes by microwave power. Furthermore, the exhaust air was dehumidified and its thermal energy was partly recovered and recycled to the heater intake of the dryer. In one particular scheme , the energy consumption and drying timefor a typical load were reduced to about 36% and 55% of conventional dryer values, respectively. Although the results are encouraging, further research is needed to conduct multivariable feasibility experiments and to optimize the electrical and nonelectrical design of the modified dryer prior to actual development.