The concrete decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) process using microwave technology is investigated theoretically in this paper. A one-dimensional uniform plane wave is assumed for the microwave propagation and the microwave field and the power dissipation within the concrete. Also, by considering the effects of the microwave frequencies, a one-dimensional model of unsteady heat and mass transport in the concrete is developed to evaluate variations of the temperature and pressure distributions with the heating time. The effects of the microwave frequency (f), microwave power intensity (Qo,avg), the thermal boundary conditions on the front wall, and the concrete porosity (Φ) on the microwave power dissipation (Qd,avg), temperature (T), pressure (P), and evaporation rate (Δm) distributions are all investigated in the present model. Finally, the effects of the presence of a steel reinforcement and its location on the microwave power dissipation, and the temperature and inner steam pressure distributions are discussed accordingly.

Issue Section:
Heat Conduction
Keywords:
Augmentation and Enhancement, Condensation, Porous Media
Topics:
Concrete slabs, Heat transfer, Microwave heating, Steel, Microwaves, Concretes, Energy dissipation, Pressure, Temperature, Boundary-value problems, Condensation, Decontamination, Evaporation, Heat, Heating, Microwave propagation, Nuclear decommissioning, Porosity, Porous materials, Steam, Waves
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