Understanding how energy is deposited in materials during microwave heating is critical for many in situ processing scenarios, especially when dealing with granular or powder-based targets like regolith.
In one of my current research lines, I am modeling the behavior of a microwave furnace cavity to study how the electric field distribution translates into localized heating within the material. This work aims to bridge electromagnetic simulations with thermal modeling, helping us understand how the geometry of the cavity, the positioning of the sample, and the material properties influence the temperature profile over time.
The key goal is to obtain a more uniform and controllable heating pattern, avoiding hotspots or uneven gradients that could lead to unwanted reactions or reduced efficiency. This is particularly relevant in applications such as oxygen extraction from regolith, where thermal stability is essential for process performance and system longevity.
By simulating the interaction between the cavity field and the target material, we hope to support the design of better reactor configurations and contribute to the development of more energy-efficient, precise, and compact systems for use in constrained environments like the Moon.
Figure. Graphical representation of heterogeneities introduced by changes in the position of the target inside a microwave furnace at a given time.
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