Numerical analysis of microwave heating: Fundamentals and applications

Abstract

Abstract In recent years, microwave-assisted materials processing applications are on the rise in terms of novel processes being developed and increased coverage of materials that can be processed. In general, the studies have been of experimental nature. Since microwave heating has extensive application in food processing at an industrial scale, literature on the research involving numerical studies is available in this domain. It is primarily focussed on determination of the distribution of temperature and the rate of heating of a food sample. The evolution in materials processing applications using microwaves has paved the way for exploring numerical analysis to predict and control the response parameters required for efficient material processing. This paper presents the theoretical background of electromagnetic wave propagation along with the heat transfer mechanism required in the numerical studies of microwave heating. The steps for this multiphysics-based numerical analysis are also discussed. An account of the state of microwave heating simulation research is presented as well. The unpredictability of microwave heating mechanisms coupled with fast-developing novel applications makes microwave heating simulation quite challenging. In addition, the merits of such numerical analysis present a case for extensive future research.