Abstract

Dewatered digested sewage sludge were heated with microwave and their drying characteristics were investigated on the effect of their surface area, shape, diameter and thickness. The drying characteristics of identical samples in a conventional drying oven were studied. In conventional drying, constant rate period was not found and moisture was evaporated with capillary action. Moisture in the sludge was a bound water and free water was not exist. In microwave drying, the falling rate period was divided into two zones. In falling rate drying period, moisture movement occured by diffusion. The evaporation surface area was a significant variable, the greater heating surface area promoted water removal rate over wide region of water content. Drying rate was slow and constant rate drying period was found in wide moisture content region with increasing diameter. Drying characteristics appeared differently in various shape. In microwave heating, first of all temperature of sludge center was increased and was the highest. Temperature in the constant rate drying period was remained constantly at <TEX>$80{\sim}100^{\circ}C$</TEX>.