Patent ID: 8481900
Filing Date: 2013-07-09
Classification: B28B,C04B,F26B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method for drying a ceramic material, comprising: determining a power set-point for a first microwave applicator of a drying apparatus; determining a power set-point for at least two additional microwave applicators in the drying apparatus such that a power distribution among the microwave applicators provides an energy per unit of water profile for the additional microwave applicators that is substantially uniform; and operating the microwave applicators at the determined power set-points as the ceramic material is passed through the drying apparatus, wherein the power set-points of the additional microwave applicators are defined by: where: D D DryT is a percent of dryness target of the ceramic material, TP is a total microwave power value in kW, TimeMA is the time of the ceramic material in microwave applicator D PEWL is a potential energy per water content limit value in kJ/lb of water, IWL is an initial ceramic material water content in lbs, and LA is a number of ceramic materials per microwave applicator.