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Heating mechanism
However, the strengths of the interaction
of the microwave radiation with the materials of
interest are largely unknown, Since the microwave
heating characteristics of most of the materials
cannot be predicted, research is being performed
to determine
the underlying factors which govern the
microwave response of ores, concentrates,
reducing agents
and other feedstocks used in pyrometallurgical
processes
MEASUREMENT
TECHNIQUES
Three main approaches to determining the interaction
of microwaves with a given material:
(1) quantication of the permittivities as a function of
temperature and process state (no information on
heat transfer or power distributions),
(2) measurement of the absorbed and reected power
to a microwave reactor containing the sample (only
an average measurement of power transfer), and
(3) evaluation of the heating behaviour in a
microwave system (usually no intermediate or
transient information; only nal state).
The
magnetron operated at 3000 V DC and produced high frequency
(2.45 GHz) microwaves and the incident power could be varied
continuously from 0 to 2000 W. In general, magnetrons operate
between
65% and 85% efciency, where the efciency is dened as
the ability to convert the AC line electrical power into microwave
power. The microwaves travel along the rectangular waveguide
to the applicator. The waveguide has a hollow rectangular
crosssection
and is constructed of highly reective metals, such as aluminium.
The applicator is usually a metal box or cavity and is designed
to ensure the transmission of electromagnetic energy from
the waveguide to the sample
ISSUES
(1) The initial capital investment cost is higher than conventional
processing.
(2) The maximum microwave power is limited to about 100 Kw unless
multiple microwave sources are used and this has already been done on
other microwave applications.
(3) The operational costs are dependent on the lifetime of the magnetron
(the usual heat source) but signicant improvements are being made.
(4) Uneven heating can lead to thermal runaway and hot spots.
(5) The efciency of conversion of the electricity to microwaves is
between 65% and 90% (depending on the system design and frequency
selection), so energy is lost as heat in the microwave source.
(6) The technology is relatively complex in comparison to other heating
techniques.
(7) Electrical energy can be an expensive in contrast to hydrocarbons or
carbonaceous materials.
DRYING
Microwave drying rates at 750 W and the conventional drying rates at 140
C of the limonitic nickeliferous laterite ore as a function of the moisture
fraction (Pickles, 2005b).
compares the drying rates of both the conventional and the microwave
drying processes for the nickeliferous limonitic laterite ore and it can be seen
that the microwave drying rates are typically two to ve times higher than