Heat flux and heat generation characterisation in a wet-laminar body in microwave-assisted drying: an application to microwave drying of leather

Abstract

Heat fluxes through a laminar body have been modelled from a parabolic temperature distribution assumption when the material is irradiated with microwaves and immersed in a convective air flow. The heat equation has been analysed and a relationship between thermal conductivity, temperatures and net heat flux through the material surface has been established. This study has been successfully applied to leather hides when they are dried in a combined microwave-hot air oven. With regard to the development of this work, dielectric and temperature measurements have been demonstrated to be of the utmost importance.