Experimental and numerical study of microwave heating in sand columns: Water saturation effects on temperature profiles and heat transfer mechanisms

Key Points

• Temperature profiles significantly vary with different levels of water saturation in the sand columns.
• Heat transfer mechanisms are altered due to varying water saturation—affecting thermal efficiency.
• Experimental and numerical methods were employed to investigate microwave heating effects under specific conditions.
• Results indicate that optimizing water saturation could enhance thermal management strategies in similar applications.