Microwave tomography for control of microwave drying processes

Fellow: Rahul Yadav (ESR 15)

Host: University of Eastern Finland (Finland)

Main Supervisor: Dr. Timo Lähivaara

Background:

Microwave heating is an attractive technology for drying porous materials for example in food and pharmaceutical industries. Microwave tomography, on the other hand, provides a potential framework for estimating volumetric moisture content of porous materials during the microwave drying process. The forward and inverse problem solvers for microwave tomography will be developed in this project. The obtained tomographic image is used to estimate the volumetric moisture content of the target and this information is further applied in online optimal control of the microwave drying process. The work comprises fundamental scientific analyses, software development and technical demonstration, together with groups at the universities in Liberec (Czech Republic) and Karlsruhe (Germany) and an industry partner.

Research Activities / Objectives:

  • Development of forward and inverse problem solvers for microwave tomography
  • Reconstruction of moisture contents of porous materials during the microwave drying process
  • Connecting steps 1 and 2 with process modelling and online optimal control software developed by ESR 14, ESR 7 and ESR 3
  • Testing the approach in real drying processes of porous materials

Secondments: